As CEO of Apex Transit Solutions, Marina Ivanov remains deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the business while also leading the company’s long-term strategy, growth, and culture initiatives.
Unlike many executives in transportation, Ivanov operates with a hands-on leadership style and stays directly connected to customers, drivers, dispatch operations, recruiting, safety, and financial oversight.
Her daily responsibilities include overseeing fleet operations, customer relationships, strategic account growth, recruiting and driver retention initiatives, operational planning, and process improvement. She works closely with dispatch and operations teams to ensure freight is moving efficiently while maintaining strong service levels for customers and realistic expectations for drivers. Ivanov is also heavily involved in business development and relationship management, regularly communicating with shippers, brokers, insurance partners, financial institutions, and technology providers.
She's also played a major role in modernizing the company’s operational infrastructure, including implementation of new systems and operational workflows designed to improve visibility, efficiency, and scalability. She actively participates in recruiting initiatives, mentoring, leadership development, and industry events that promote opportunities for women in transportation and supply chain leadership.
One of her most impactful advocacy efforts involved helping support North Carolina House Bill 472, legislation designed to ban predatory booting of commercial vehicles and ensure timely cargo release. After Apex Transit Solutions and several other carriers experienced costly and disruptive towing and booting practices, Ivanov used her platform to speak publicly about how these practices negatively impacted drivers, carriers, and the supply chain. Through collaboration with the North Carolina Trucking Association and legislative stakeholders, the bill ultimately passed the North Carolina House unanimously.
Ivanov was named the overall winner of the Rising Stars category for this year’s Women in Supply Chain Forum™ award, presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive and co-founder of the Women in Supply Chain Forum™, sat down with Ivanov to discuss protecting carriers, supporting drivers and building people-first culture.
Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive: One of your most impactful advocacy efforts involved helping support North Carolina House Bill 472, which is legislation designed to ban predatory booting of commercial vehicles and ensure timely cargo release. Through collaboration with the North Carolina Trucking Association and legislative stakeholders, the bill ultimately passed the North Carolina House unanimously. Walk us through what the bill does and the steps taken to get a bill like this passed.
Marina Ivanov: At Apex, we were directly dealing with these predatory booting situations. We were being charged $6,000 or more just to remove a boot. Freight was held hostage, and we had no choice but to pay. Once I realized how widespread this problem was, we couldn’t just sit back. We had to do something. That meant countless emails, phone calls, and multiple trips to Raleigh, N.C., to meet with legislators.
I saw firsthand how advocacy works. The North Carolina Trucking Association did an incredible job uniting the industry and ensuring our voices were heard. Watching the bill pass the North Carolina House unanimously was incredibly rewarding. It was proof that when people come together, educate lawmakers, and push for practical solutions, real change happens. In the end, it wasn’t just about trucks, it was about protecting carriers, supporting drivers, and keeping freight moving.
Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive: You’re also passionate about building a people-first culture within the trucking industry. Why is this so important? And what are some of the ways you successfully build a people-first culture?
Ivanov: You know, some people are into gardening or cars. My passion is people. I’m endlessly curious about who they are, where they’ve been, and how they’ve grown. That curiosity builds trust. At Apex, we’ve created a loyal team because we genuinely invest in understanding one another. People-first isn’t just a phrase, it’s what drives us.
Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive: What inspired you to pursue a career in supply chain?
Ivanov: Honestly, I didn’t pursue trucking, it found me. I grew up watching my dad as an owner-operator and thought, no way I’m doing that. I was actually on a path toward dentistry. But when life hit hard, my husband and I needed a solution. We bought a truck, he started driving, and suddenly, I was in supply chain. It wasn’t inspiration, it was necessity. And I’m grateful for where it led us.
Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive: What supply chain trend do you think will have the biggest impact over the next five years?
Ivanov: Ironically, the more AI we have, the more human connection we’ll need. I think we’ll see a real trend toward in-person engagement, more face-to-face meetings, more conferences, and more time spent actually knowing who you’re working with. Building trust and relationships will be more important than ever.
Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive: What's a skill you've intentionally developed that has made the biggest difference in your career?
Ivanov: Hands down, it’s been my interpersonal communication skills. Navigating conflict, listening deeply, and bringing people on board through clear, honest conversation, that’s changed everything. When you can communicate in a way that builds buy-in, that’s when things truly move forward.
Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive: If you could solve one supply chain challenge overnight, what would it be?
Ivanov: If I could solve one supply chain challenge overnight, it would be detention. Long wait times impact everyone. They cost drivers valuable hours, create operational challenges, delay deliveries, and ripple throughout the entire supply chain. Our drivers' time is valuable, and when trucks are sitting instead of moving, nobody wins. Finding a better solution to detention would improve efficiency for carriers, shippers, drivers, and ultimately the customers we're all working to serve.
