In the trucking industry, making the right choice means everything. For Orozco Trucking, a family-owned carrier based in Illinois, that choice has proven itself over 915 million safe miles and counting.

Founded in 1995 by partners Roman Jeludev and Konstantin Shaposhnykov, Orozco Trucking has grown from humble beginnings into a 600-truck operation serving across the lower 48. Both founders started as drivers themselves. Roman got his CDL in 2004, and Konstantin followed in 2006, learning the industry from behind the wheel before building something bigger.

Their partnership began by chance at a delivery in New Jersey, where Roman invited Konstantin to his truck to share a meal. They exchanged numbers, became fast friends, and discovered a shared vision for how a trucking company could, and should, operate.

"We started with just two trucks," the founders recall in a recent company-produced podcast. From there, they built a business on a simple but rigorous principle: keep trucks under 600,000 miles, prioritize safety above all else, and treat drivers the way they deserve to be treated.

Today, Orozco operates a fleet that's 97% Volvo, and they just ordered 100 more Volvo VNLs.

A fleet built on family values

What sets Orozco apart isn't just the size of their operation. It's the values that drive it: safety, reliability, driver satisfaction, and profitable efficiency. These pillars shape every decision, from which loads to haul to which equipment to spec.

That commitment extends to equipment decisions. Early on, the company tried running used trucks to save money. The experiment didn’t last.

"The used trucks were more of a problem than a solution," explains Alexandr Jeludev, sales manager and son of co-founder Roman. "They'd break down constantly, and you can't provide excellent service to customers when your equipment is failing every other week. That's when we made the decision to start ordering brand new Volvo Trucks, and we haven't looked back since."

Why the VNL works for Orozco

For Alexandr, who manages customer relationships daily, the VNL represents an alignment of everything Orozco stands for.

"I talk to our drivers on a daily basis," he says. "The biggest thing for them is comfort, reliability and safety. With the VNL, our drivers are very happy. They can be on the road for five weeks at a time, sleeping well, actually enjoying themselves."

That driver satisfaction translates directly to customer confidence. Orozco hauls everything from refrigerated flowers and frozen foods to paper products and beer across. Cross country lanes are common, like their Wisconsin to Los Angeles route, where transit time must be perfect or the business disappears.

"Every single time I can guarantee customers, 'I have a truck that won't break down. I have a driver that can get the shipment there on time,'" Alexandr notes. "Having that level of confidence changes everything.”

The fuel efficiency gains haven't hurt either. And the VNL's performance improvements have made a real difference to the bottom line.

"The fuel efficiency improvement was significant for us, especially considering how tight margins have become in the trucking industry,” Alexandr explains.

The Volvo VNL delivers up to 10% better fuel efficiency than previous models through revolutionary aerodynamics and powertrain innovations.

Orozco drivers also benefit from the VNL’s standard Volvo Active Driver Assist (VADA) package. VADA includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane departure warning, and new forward pedestrian detection—features that don't just keep drivers safer, but make the job itself less stressful and more efficient.

"With all these intelligent features, our drivers are more comfortable driving in cruise control in the right lane,” Alexandr adds. “Before, a 550-mile run might come down to the wire on timing. Now our drivers are arriving one to two hours early because they can just load up and maintain a steady pace without issues."

The dealer difference

Orozco's relationship with their local dealer, M&K Truck Centers, has proven equally critical. When the company began receiving their first VNLs, a truck that was 90% redesigned, there was inevitably a learning curve.

"The first two months with the new model really strengthened our relationship with M&K and Volvo," Alexandr recalls. "Whatever issues or questions came up, they were on it immediately."

"M&K demonstrated all the capabilities of the Volvo VNL and the benefits it would bring to our fleet," says Konstantin Shaposhnykov, CEO of Orozco Trucking. "We decided to add a variety of configurations and features, including the advanced safety package, to determine what worked best for our operations."

Jeremy Taylor, regional vice president for Volvo Trucks North America, points to the strength of the partnership. "M&K continues to deliver unmatched customer value with smart solutions. Their commitment ensures that customers receive not only innovative vehicles but also the ongoing support needed to maximize uptime and operational efficiency."

Making an impression

For Alexandr, there's one more factor that reinforces everything the Orozco brand embodies: the impression their fleet makes on the road.

"With our decals on and that blue paint, these trucks look beautiful," he says. "It comes down to looking professional at all times."

When prospective customers ask about equipment—and they do—Orozco has ready answers about fleet age, safety scores, and efficiency. The VNL makes those conversations easier.

The right choice, proven every mile

Orozco Trucking has traveled a remarkable distance from two drivers with two trucks and a shared vision. Today, with a modern fleet of over 600 trucks and 1,100 trailers, they've built something that transcends business and operational metrics: a company where drivers want to work, customers want to partner, and family members want to join.

The decision to go all-in on Volvo, and specifically on the VNL, reflects the same instinct that's guided them from the beginning. Not the cheapest choice. Not the easiest choice. The right choice.