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Bulldog Hiway Express President and CEO Philip Byrd is retiring Friday from the Charleston, South Carolina-based heavy-truck he has led for four decades.
![Phil Byrd, retiring president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express, smiles in a company headshot.](https://www.truckingdive.com/imgproxy/mRXkqRevMYyNFVBm-_ozIsWLRDhMKzMpUwnMG_JTgR8/g:ce/rs:fit:1600:0/bG9jYWw6Ly8vZGl2ZWltYWdlL3BoaWxfYnlyZC5qcGc=.webp)
![Phil Byrd, retiring president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express, smiles in a company headshot.](https://www.truckingdive.com/imgproxy/mRXkqRevMYyNFVBm-_ozIsWLRDhMKzMpUwnMG_JTgR8/g:ce/rs:fit:1600:0/bG9jYWw6Ly8vZGl2ZWltYWdlL3BoaWxfYnlyZC5qcGc=.webp)
Philip Byrd, retiring president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express;
License granted by Bulldog Highway Express
The former president of the American Trucking Associations said he has accepted a remote, part-time government lobbying role with the carrier’s parent company, TFI International.
The Canadian-based parent company will directly oversee Bulldog and will not replace Byrd at the helm, he said.
In an interview this week before his departure, Byrd reflected on his tenure at the 200-truck carrier and shared his plans to spend more time with his family at their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
TRUCKING DIVE: Congratulations on your retirement. How long has it been in the works?
PHILIP BYRD: I’ve thought about it — as Father Time continues to deal with people, you know that at some point in time, it’s inevitable that you have to pass the torch and life goes on and on.
God has blessed me with a great, long, prosperous career. If I could choose anything I wanted to do in my life and career, it would be transport, trucking and logistics. God placed me there and surrounded me with great people in my company, awesome employees.
The average length of service at Bulldog is between 15 and 18 years, and this is passed down to our drivers directly from the organisation. We have tried to create an environment where people feel ownership in the organization. They take pride in their work. They work with great integrity and honesty.
Does your departure as CEO have anything to do with the Daseke and TFI International acquisitions?
BYRD: I have been so impressed with the leadership and management at TFI, from the CEO, CFO, COO and everyone beyond, they have been incredibly generous, talented and will do great things. My people are in good hands. The Daseke team is in good hands.
I gave a lot of control when we made the move Dasekeand success is written all over the TFI team. All I want to do is help them become more successful. And I don’t want to be a hindrance in any way, but I want to help these great people do great things with this great organization.
Could you share more about your new part-time advocacy role?
BYRD: It will be the work of internal government affairs that will promote the issues that are critical to the success of TFI and will try to remove the regulations and burdensome legislation that would cause us trouble.
I will keep my finger on that pulse and communicate with TFI leadership what to be on the lookout for and watch out for, because it could have an impact.
What are your retirement plans outside of trucking?
BYRD: I will enjoy my wife and my family – my son, my grandchildren and the things I have neglected for too long. I will give them all my time. I will serve the Lord with mission work and I want to be a light on His path and help people along the way.
I’m off to enjoy my mountain home. My wife and I recently completed renovations on our mountain home on Judd’s Peak in Western North Carolina. We just feel incredibly blessed.