EXCLUSIVE Q&A with Dave McGarvey – VP of Strategy & Business Development, Midwest Region, IMC Logistics
In this exclusive Q&A, Dave McGarvey discusses managing regional growth at IMC Logistics and the strategic decisions behind selecting Freight Ninja as their preferred partner for secure, reliable, and scalable parking solutions.
August 10th, 2026
Who are you, and what do you do at IMC Logistics?
My name is Dave McGarvey, VP of Strategy & Business Development for Midwest Region which includes our terminals in Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Detroit, St. Louis, and Minneapolis. I manage our driver hiring, recruiting and retention staff, drayage sales, and customer engagement as well as any special projects that come my way. One of which was a 16-acre depot we had in Channahon that led me to working with Freight Ninja.
Where did you grow up, and how did that shape you?
I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia in Bucks County, PA. It was in interesting time in the 1970/80’s as the area was experiencing an exodus of manufacturers flocking oversees for lower labor costs. Many steel mills, tool and die shops were closing as well. The city and surrounding areas prided themselves on work ethic and effort. It fostered a “get it done” and “doing it right” mentality.
How long have you worked at IMC Logistics?
I started when it was DNJ in 2007, when we had 35 trucks and 14 people in two locations. When DNJ was acquired by IMC in 2010, that allowed us to focus on our core competencies and grow to over 300 trucks and 80 people now in the Midwest Region alone.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Every day or week can be so different. After three decades in global supply chain and logistics, I still find fulfillment in learning new systems and ways to do things, as well as onboarding a new customer or working with a new team member on recruiting and retention. While there are always new ways of doing things, the base blocking and tackling of service remains the same. Exceed your customer’s expectations at any chance.
Is there anything happening in the transportation world that keeps you up at night?
No. After all this time it can be weather situations, port disruptions, volume peaks/dips…the most important thing is having a well-trained team who is enabled figure out contingencies. There’s always something!
How did your relationship with Freight Ninja begin and what value if any did it bring to your group?
We met at an industry networking event. I had a specific need for our Channahon depot. Their team did great follow-up with a site visit, laid out a proposal and it evolved exactly like they had proposed. It’s been an extremely valuable partnership since the jump. FN brought a solution that has served us well for that operation.
If you were collecting a million dollars a year in retirement, what would life look like for David?
I’d love to say not much different than right now, but there might be a beachfront house in Ocean City NJ as well as checking off a worldwide golf course bucket list!
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
Outside of any passed family members, Ben Franklin. Growing up just outside and then going to college and living in downtown Philadelphia, there was a heavy influence of US Colonial History in school and everywhere you looked. His impact as a founding father, the Continental Congress and negotiations with France to help the colonies, not to mention all his inventions. It’d have to be a long dinner!!!
