From Kitchen to Cab: Mastering Trucking Margins | The Long Haul

In this special edition of The Long Haul, live from the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) 2026, host Adam Wingfield sits down with Ilya, the founder of ICV Express, to discuss a masterclass in trucking resilience and unconventional strategy.Ilya shares his unique transition from the high-pressure world of the restaurant industry—where he managed kitchens at Chipotle and opened fast-casual brands in Manhattan—to becoming a successful owner-operator. He reveals how the razor-thin margins of the culinary world taught him to "squeeze" every bit of profit out of his trucking operation, from meticulous oil sampling to understanding his truck's specific torque curve. Follow The Long Haul Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices