EXCLUSIVE Q&A with Mike Stark – Vice President of Operations, Central Region, RoadOne IntermodaLogistics
In this exclusive Q&A, Mike Stark discusses managing regional operations at RoadOne and the strategic process behind selecting Freight Ninja as their preferred partner for secure, reliable, and scalable parking solutions.
February 9th, 2026
Who are you, and what do you do at RoadOne?
I’m Mike Stark, Vice President of Operations for the Central Region at RoadOne IntermodaLogistics. At a high level, my job is to keep service predictable through all the chaos. Day to day, that means making sure our managers, dispatchers, customer service teams, safety teams, and drivers have what they need to perform at a high level. If something breaks, I’m responsible for helping fix it – fast.
Where did you grow up, and how did that shape you?
I grew up on the north side of Chicago. And just to be clear – the Cubs are the only baseball team in Chicago.
How long have you been with RoadOne?
Eight years. Long enough to see a lot of cycles, a lot of challenges, and a lot of growth.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Two things really stand out.
-First is the unpredictability. You never know what kind of problem, opportunity, or good news you’ll walk into each morning. Because of that, the job is never boring – and it forces you to stay sharp.
-Second is customers. I’m the escalation point for all customers in my region. Relationships matter in this business. The issues change daily, but when communication is honest and upfront, you can solve almost anything. I really enjoy understanding how our customers operate and giving them operational options that directly impact their business.
Is there anything happening in the transportation world that keeps you up at night?
Honestly, no. Whatever happens to me and my team is happening to everyone in this industry. Congestion, labor challenges, rail issues – none of it is unique. I trust my staff, and I believe we’re equipped to handle just about anything that comes our way.
How did your relationship with Freight Ninja begin?
I met John back in 2021, before it was even called Freight Ninja. At the time, we were just looking for parking solutions. Since then, I’ve watched him grow the company over the last five years or so. It’s been extremely easy to work together, and there’s always a solution when we need one. That reliability makes a difference.
If you were collecting a million dollars a year in retirement, what would life look like?
- 0500 on a lake fishing.
- 1000 on the golf course with a drink in hand.
- 1600 early bird dinner with my wife.
- 1900 at the bar on the beach.
- Wake up and do it all over again the next day.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
That answer has changed over the years. At different points, I would’ve said my father, who passed 30 years ago and was someone I truly looked up to. Then I would’ve said my mother, also passed who was the rock of our entire family.
But where I am today, the answer is my wife and kids. Even though I see them all the time and we have dinner together regularly, they are the most important people in my world. I wouldn’t put anyone ahead of that.