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Eclipse Transervices Corporation evolves as Ron Mencl leads the way in brokering


BY STEVE BRAWNER Contributing Writer


Ron Mencl wasn’t sure what to do with his


life back in 1992. He’d owned his own carrier once before, but that was back in the 1970s in a terrible economy and a difficult regulatory environment, and it hadn’t lasted long. He’d then enjoyed success in the corporate trucking world, which was asking him to relocate far too often. His parents were ready to retire and offered him the bar and grill they had owned for 45 years in tiny Virginia, Nebraska. He didn’t really want to do that. Ten an old friend from high school asked


him if he knew someone that could help him to transition the 40-truck company he owned from being leased to other carriers to being in compliance and running under his own


authority. After first saying no, Mencl decided to quit his job, come home and take advantage of the opportunity. What started out to be a six-month project lasted five years and became Eclipse Transervices Corporation’s first major client. Covering the United States and Canada,


the brokerage firm specializes in transporting dry bulk items in hopper-bottom and end- dump trailers. Its products include food and feed ingredients, produce, minerals, grain, fertilizer, and organic bulk products. It also brokers dry and liquid tank loads and occassionally some van and flatbed loads. Te company began hauling organic


products more than 20 years ago – much of it organic grain that is made into feed for organically raised chicken. Hauling for


these clients can be challenging because contamination with nonorganic food must be prevented. If contamination occurs or if the paperwork isn’t right, a load loses its organic certification, it will be rejected, and a $12 bushel of organic corn will become a $4 bushel of regular corn – and Mencl’s company has to eat the difference. But while that can be a barrier, it also can


be an opportunity. “When it first came out, it was


challenging,” he said. “Tere were a lot of people who wouldn’t do it, so that’s actually why we did so well at it at first because it didn’t really scare us.” Te company also offers equipment leasing, rental, repair, consulting, and


NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 6, 2015 — www.nebtrucking.com


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