“On Aire Ep. 14 w/ Dee Pack and Matt Frerking – The Art of Industrial Real Estate Podcast” featuring Dee Pack and Matt Frerking from Cargo Largo
📦 From Salvage to Success: The Reverse Logistics World of Cargo Largo 🎙️ Episode 14 of On Air with Team Jensen
In a unique onsite episode recorded directly from the sales floor of the brand-new Cargo Largo retail store, the team sits down with CEO Dee Pack and President Matt Frerking. This episode pulls back the curtain on “Reverse Logistics”—the specialized industry of managing the 1% of the global supply chain that doesn’t reach its final destination.
🏠 The “Mother Ship”: A Vision Realized
For over 20 years, Dee Pack envisioned bringing Cargo Largo’s sprawling operations Under One Roof. Previously spread across seven different buildings, the company recently moved into its massive 645,000-square-foot “Mother Ship” in Independence, MO. This climate-controlled facility serves as corporate headquarters, a distribution center, and a high-traffic retail store, significantly boosting productivity and team culture.
🚛 The Masters of the 1%
While most logistics companies focus on forward distribution, Cargo Largo specializes in what happens when things go wrong. Whether it’s an insurance loss, a mislabeled freight shipment, or unclaimed goods, the Cargo Largo team uses critical thinking and decades of expertise to determine the best path for every item. In fact, they return hundreds of thousands of “live” shipments to their original recipients every year, acting as a vital safety net for major freight carriers.
🔨 The Bid Sale: A Thursday Tradition
A cornerstone of the Cargo Largo experience is the weekly “Bid Sale.” Every Thursday, the public is invited to participate in a live auction featuring over 1,500 lots. From pallets of hardware and electronics to high-end single items like designer apparel and power tools, the bid sale is a dynamic marketplace where “you never know what’s coming through the door next.”
🎒 Cargo for Kids
The company’s commitment to its home in Independence goes beyond business. Through the “Cargo for Kids” initiative, the team has provided over 12,000 grade-specific backpacks and hygiene kits to homeless students in the Independence School District. This effort, supported by an annual golf tournament, ensures that local children have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
🐯 A Team of Experts
With nearly 500 employees and growing, Cargo Largo prides itself on long-term retention—many team members have been with the company for over two decades. Matt Frerking, a Mizzou alum with a background in anthropology and retail, highlights that the “unknown and exciting” nature of the business makes it a perfect fit for those who love to think on their feet and solve new challenges every day.
Learn more about BluHawk at www.bluhawk.com
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