Greener Roads Ahead: Celebrating Earth Day at Knight Transportation
Last month, members of our Knight-Swift corporate team celebrated Earth Day by volunteering with the City of Phoenix. Through this hands-on effort, our employees helped plant 50 trees, trail maintenance, and removed invasive species at Papago Park.
Together, our team came together to give back to the local community and support a cleaner, greener environment. At Knight Transportation, we believe sustainability starts where we live and work, allowing us to create meaningful impact beyond the road.
We’re excited to share a recap of our Phoenix team’s Earth Day efforts and their commitment to a more sustainable future. Below, watch the video to see our team in action and learn more about how they helped make a difference.
How Our Team Gave Back This Earth Day
This year, our Earth Day volunteer efforts made a powerful impact across the country.
What began as a shared commitment to sustainability grew into a nationwide movement, driven by our team’s dedications and passion.
Because of their commitment, employees gave time from their workdays to support nature and conservation in local communities.
Together, the KNX family rolled up their sleeves to make a difference through hands-on community outreach and environmental stewardship.
Along the way, our teams participated in a variety of sustainability initiatives, including:
- Planting trees
- Picking up trash in local areas
- Removing weeds
- Clearing out invasive plant species
Each of these efforts played an important role in preventing the rapid spread of invasive plants and protecting local ecosystems. Ultimately, every action – no matter the size – contributed to healthier environments and stronger communities.
Earth Day Across The KNX Brand
Our Earth Day service projects reached communities across the country, demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting natural resources and supporting the places where we live and work.
In fact, our volunteer efforts took place in communities nationwide, including:
- Chattanooga, TN
- Dothan, AL
- Memphis, TN
- Ocala, FL
- Phoenix, AZ
- West Valley City, UT
From coast to coast, our teams showed environmental responsibility starts locally while creating a meaningful nationwide impact.
Together, these efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to making a positive difference today and for generations to come.
Our Volunteers In Action
The Impact of Our CRES Team
Each year, Glen Thomas, SVP of Knight-Swift’s Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES), and his team lead these efforts by planning and coordinating impactful projects at locations nationwide.
At the heart of this work is a deep passion for service at the local level. As a result, the CRES team upholds these traditions while providing a workplace that supports our people and strengthen our culture.
Beyond service, the CRES team oversees all aspects of Corporate Real Estate for facilities and properties the company owns and operates.
This comprehensive responsibility includes:
- Real estate acquisition
- Sales
- Leasing
- Building new locations
- Refreshing and modernizing older facilities
- Ensuring environment compliance across all properties
Most recently, for Knight Transportation, the team refreshed and expanded the Gulfport office and completed updates to portions of the Portland office. At the same time, the team is refreshing and reconfiguring Swift locations to better align with drivers’ needs.
Growing Our Traditions: The CRES Team’s Commitment to Service
Service Projects became a tradition for the CRES team four to five years ago.
Initially, these efforts began with volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank. The following year, the team expanded its impact by partnering with vendor to raise approximately $30,000, which was donated alongside hands-on volunteer support. During that same time, the team also volunteered at Sojourner Center, a domestic violence safe haven.
Building on this momentum, the team decided to further expand its efforts by establishing Earth Day as a new tradition. The CRES team organizes initiatives each spring and fall, with Earth Day serving as our primary spring event across the country.
Reflecting on these efforts, Glen Thomas shared:
“Coming out here as a team is very rewarding and it’s team building right. There’s nothing better when you can break a sweat with a team member and are shoveling dirt or planting trees. It just builds a deeper connection and expands our purpose a little bit, other than helping the company succeed as a corporation.”
“Ultimately, we can do more in our communities. It makes an impact on many levels – personally, professionally, and, I believe across the organization.”
Driving Sustainability Forward
The Knight-Swift team is proud to continue its tradition of celebrating Earth Day by actively supporting efforts that protect our planet and promote a more sustainable future.
At the same time, Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder that we all share a responsibility to care for the environment – and that meaningful change happens when we work together.
So, why do we celebrate Earth Day?
Observed worldwide, Earth Day is a global call to action focused on environmental protection, sustainability, and climate change awareness.
Through this collective effort, it encourages individuals, communities, and organizations to come together through community action, education, and policy-driven solutions that help preserve our planet for generations to come.
Today, Earth Day continues to inspire action across the globe. In that spirit, the Knight-Swift team is honored to be part of this movement – doing our part to keep our Earth green, resilient, and sustainable.
Watch The Full Phoenix Earth Day Video
To see these efforts in action, watch our Phoenix team’s Earth Day 2026 efforts at Papago Park and learn how we’re making a local impact through community-driven sustainability initiatives.
