Jake Lawson and U.S. Xpress Enterprises “mutually decided to part ways” on Aug. 12, according to a securities filing.
U.S. Xpress announced the chief commercial officer’s impending departure in a Wednesday 8-K, noting Lawson will remain with the company for four to six more weeks to transition responsibilities. But the filing also revealed a corporate restructure discussed with President and CEO Eric Fuller played a part in the departure.
“Given current market conditions and the Company’s focus on improving profitability, Eric and I agreed the best course for the Company and myself was to restructure and consolidate the executive team, and for me to explore opportunities outside of U.S. Xpress,” Lawson said in a statement.
Lawson has been the company’s chief commercial officer since February 2021, responsible for “sales, pricing and customer engagement,” according to a company announcement at the time. Prior to U.S. Xpress, Lawson had roles in sales, merchandising, e-commerce and product development for Whirlpool Corporation.
When he first joined U.S. Xpress, Lawson said he was drawn by the trucking industry’s ability to transform.
“Trucking, while at first glance was something I had never worked in before,” Lawson said in a company video. “And you’d say, ‘OK, why the interest?’ The interest is really around the transformation side of it, and ... trucking is just the avenue to get there.”
In a statement about the departure, Fuller added: “Jake has been instrumental in maturing our sales, customer experience and revenue management teams during his tenure at U.S. Xpress. Jake’s input has been critical in designing the future structure of our commercial organization and he will be essential in ensuring we have a seamless transition in the weeks ahead.”
Lawson’s direct compensation was $960,000, according to a U.S. Xpress proxy statement. The figure included a base salary of $480,000 plus another $480,000 in short- and long-term compensation targets.
He is also subject to a non-compete agreement, according to his publicly filed employment contract.
