Cargo Services
Indianapolis-headquartered international freight forwarder founded in 1992 providing import/export logistics by land, sea, and air, customs brokerage, warehousing, distribution, and trucking to manufacturing, life sciences, and industrial enterprises across an 80-plus country partner network; acquired by OIA Global in April 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cargo Services does
Cargo Services, Inc. (CSI) is an Indianapolis-headquartered international freight forwarder and US customs broker founded in 1992 by John Rowe and Steve Fugate. The firm provides turnkey import and export logistics across land, sea, and air, alongside customs brokerage, domestic trucking, and warehousing and distribution from a 17,000 square foot facility with five docks near the Indianapolis airport. Its customer base spans manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, plastics, animal feed, food, publishing, and recreational vehicles, with explicitly named enterprise customers including D.D. Williamson (food ingredients) and MBG Brybelly Ipco LLC (general merchandise).
The company's technology stack centers on shipment visibility rather than AI-driven automation: the CSI Live Track platform offers real-time container tracking; the CSI Portal, powered by Logixboard, provides customer-facing shipment management; and a Tariff Impact Spreadsheet on Google Sheets tracks IEEPA, Section 232, and Section 301 duties. Global reach is delivered through an agent network spanning 80+ countries, supplemented by memberships in the World Cargo Alliance and the National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (NCBFAA), plus required federal licenses from FMC, DHS, USDOT, IATA, and ICC.
Go-to-market is enterprise field sales executed by tenured account managers without a voicemail system, complemented by content marketing (industry blog, social, email newsletter), PR coverage in local business media, and active participation in industry events including the WCA Conference in Dubai, WWETT Show, and TPM23. The firm generates revenue through transaction-based fees on freight forwarding, with customs brokerage compensation bundled into carrier rates and warehousing/distribution billed as managed services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. On April 7, 2026, Cargo Services was acquired by global supply chain provider OIA Global, becoming a subsidiary with operations continuing under the CSI brand and with founders Rowe and Fugate remaining in director-level leadership roles.
Cargo Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cargo Services
- Legal name
- Cargo Services Inc.
- Website
- https://cargos.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Indianapolis-headquartered international freight forwarder founded in 1992 providing import/export logistics by land, sea, and air, customs brokerage, warehousing, distribution, and trucking to manufacturing, life sciences, and industrial enterprises across an 80-plus country partner network; acquired by OIA Global in April 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cargo Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Cargo Air Freight Forwarding (Airport-to-Airport / Door-to-Door) (TLACAAAA), Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Export/Import Documentation Preparation (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Shipper’s Letter of Instruction) (TLACAHAD)
Keywords
Where Cargo Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cargo Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Freight Forwarding Services: International freight forwarding services including ocean freight, air freight, export logistics, import logistics, customs brokerage, trucking/domestic transportation, and warehousing and distribution services. Revenue generated through service fees for logistics coordination, transportation management, and customs processing.
- Customs Brokerage: U.S. Customs entry preparation, compliance services, and customs documentation handling. Service compensation is included with carrier rates and charges.
- Warehousing and Distribution: Warehouse storage and distribution services at their 17,000 square foot Indianapolis facility with five docks for loading/unloading.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Custom freight forwarding services priced based on shipment requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cargo Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cargo Services is an international freight forwarder providing turnkey import and export services by land, sea and air. Core offerings include ocean and air freight forwarding, import and export logistics, customs brokerage, domestic trucking, and warehousing and distribution from its 17,000 sq ft Indianapolis facility. The company supports clients with regulatory-compliant documentation, tariff guidance, and real-time shipment tracking through its CSI Live Track and CSI Portal platforms.
Product overview
Cargo Services is an international freight forwarding company providing a comprehensive suite of logistics services, including freight forwarding (export and import logistics by land, sea, and air), customs brokerage, domestic trucking, and warehousing and distribution. The company operates its core freight forwarding platform alongside supplementary tools including CSI Live Track for real-time shipment tracking, a customer portal (CSI Portal) for account management, and tariff resource information to help customers navigate regulatory requirements. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the company was acquired by OIA Global in April 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Freight Forwarding Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 backpacks with books distributed to foster youth
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cargo Services
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cargo Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cargo Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- OIA GlobalflagshipOIA Global acquired Cargo Services, Inc. on April 7, 2026. The acquisition establishes OIA Global's direct presence in Indianapolis and advances its strategy to grow its owned network. CSI's long-tenured customer relationships and high-touch service model align with OIA Global's approach. Business operations continue without interruption for existing CSI customers and employees.
- Indianapolis ColtsflagshipTitle sponsor of the Books for Youth program in partnership with the NFL Indianapolis Colts since 2009. Program has distributed over 10,000 backpacks with books to Indiana foster youth. Co-owners John Rowe and Steve Fugate actively participate in community events.
- World Cargo Alliance (WCA)coreCargo Services is a proud member of the World Cargo Alliance, a global network of freight forwarders providing access to international logistics services and partnerships worldwide.
- NCBFAAcoreProud member of the National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association of America, indicating compliance with industry standards and participation in industry advocacy.
- MeijerminorPartner in the annual graduation party celebration for youth in foster care, co-hosted with Indianapolis Colts and Meijer. Celebrates foster youth graduates from Indiana's foster care system.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cargo Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- OIA Global: Acquirer of Cargo Services and provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions including freight forwarding, warehousing, and global logistics. Directly comparable as a multi-modal international forwarder, now serving as Cargo Services' parent.
- Expeditors International: Large global freight forwarder and customs broker with full air, ocean, and ground services. Comparable as a freight-forwarding specialist operating across multiple modes, though materially larger and publicly traded.
- Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with strong North American ocean and air forwarding operations. Comparable service portfolio spanning customs brokerage, contract logistics, and integrated forwarding.
- DHL Global Forwarding: Global freight forwarding arm of Deutsche Post DHL, offering ocean, air, road freight and customs services. Comparable multi-modal forwarder with enterprise customer focus and global network reach.
- C.H. Robinson: Major North American third-party logistics provider with strong freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and truckload brokerage. Comparable as a domestic-focused forwarder with Midwest corporate presence (Eden Prairie, MN).
- DSV: Global transport and logistics company formed via acquisitions (including UTi, Panalpina, Agility GIL). Comparable multi-modal forwarder with strong North American presence and air/ocean forwarding expertise.
- Yusen Logistics: Global logistics provider offering international freight forwarding, contract logistics, and customs services. Comparable ocean and air forwarder serving enterprise customers across multiple verticals.
- Kerry Logistics: Asia-headquartered global logistics provider with integrated freight forwarding, warehousing, and customs services. Comparable multi-modal forwarder with cross-border trade expertise.
Direct peers
- Echo Global Logistics: U.S.-based technology-enabled freight forwarder and third-party logistics provider with truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal services. Comparable mid-sized North American forwarder with technology-led service delivery.
Emerging players
- Flexport: Digital-native freight forwarder offering ocean, air, trucking, and customs brokerage through a software platform. Comparable ocean and air forwarder competing on technology-driven visibility and customer experience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cargo Services social profiles
Digital presenceCargo Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Cargo Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cargo Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Cargo Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cargo Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cargo Services
What does Cargo Services do?
Cargo Services is an international freight forwarder providing turnkey import and export services by land, sea and air. Core offerings include ocean and air freight forwarding, import and export logistics, customs brokerage, domestic trucking, and warehousing and distribution from its 17,000 sq ft Indianapolis facility. The company supports clients with regulatory-compliant documentation, tariff guidance, and real-time shipment tracking through its CSI Live Track and CSI Portal platforms.
Is Cargo Services a public or private company?
Cargo Services is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Cargo Services founded?
Cargo Services was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cargo Services based?
Cargo Services is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cargo Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Freight Forwarding Services are the primary driver. The others are customs Brokerage and warehousing and Distribution.
Who are Cargo Services's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are OIA Global, Expeditors International, Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Global Forwarding, C.H. Robinson, DSV, Yusen Logistics and Kerry Logistics. Echo Global Logistics is listed as a direct peer. Flexport is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cargo Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cargo Services.
What industry is Cargo Services in?
Cargo Services's product category is Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACABAE, Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF), with a secondary code of TLACAAAA, General Cargo Air Freight Forwarding (Airport-to-Airport / Door-to-Door). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.