Business Spotlight: Jenkins Diesel shifts gears to change with times

"We've been in business more than 45 years, but a major part of what we do these days is only 3 months old," said Jim Jenkins, general manager of Jenkins Diesel Power Inc. "I've been working here since 1966, and it seems like every time we find our niche, the marketplace evolves, the suppliers change, or our customer base shifts."

Jenkins father, Ed Jenkins, and Jim Ward founded the company in 1955.

Originally known as J & W Truck Service, the company specialized in general truck repairs and wasn't affiliated with any major truck franchises or engine manufacturer.

In 1963, Jenkins bought out his partner and soon obtained a franchise from Detroit Diesel Engines, which then was a division of General Motors.

Through the 1960s and 1970s, the company specialized in selling and repairing Detroit Diesel Engines, and Jenkins renamed the company Jenkins Diesel Power.

During the 1980s, a series of changes forced Jenkins Diesel Power to reevaluate its position in the marketplace. The first change came when the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 deregulated the trucking industry, which altered the nature of over-the-road trucking.

During the 1980s, global competition among construction equipment manufacturers also began to increase, and Detroit Diesel Engine lost its foothold in the market.

Simultaneously, the demand for diesel engines decreased as electric power came to remote areas, such as mining and sawmill operations, which once relied exclusively on diesel-powered engines.

To keep pace with these changes, Jenkins Diesel Power broadened its sales and service base. In addition to selling and servicing engines made by Detroit Diesel Engine, the company began to sell and service engines made by Cummins and Caterpillar. The company also began to sell and service Marmon Trucks, which were made in Garland, Texas.

By 1986, the market had changed again. Jenkins Diesel Power stopped sales and service of Marmon Trucks and affiliated with truck manufacturer Western Star Trucks.

That same year, the company also began sales and service for medium-duty trucks made by Isuzu.

As the market continued to evolve, Jenkins Diesel Power evolved with it.

By 1988, the company dropped its sales affiliation with Western Star Trucks and established a new relationship with Midway Ford in Kansas City, which allowed it to bring heavy-duty Ford truck products to the Springfield market.

While the industry changed, the manufacturers represented by Jenkins Diesel Power also changed significantly.

During the mid- 1990s, Ford Heavy Truck Division became a subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, and was renamed Sterling Trucks.

In mid-2000, Western Star Trucks was purchased by Freight-liner LLC, and became its subsidiary.

These changes prompted Midway Ford in Kansas City to withdraw its new truck operations from the Springfield market.

Effective February 2001, Jenkins Diesel Power officially was issued the combined franchise for Sterling Trucks and Western Star Trucks, which includes sales, parts and service.

According to Jim Jenkins, the combined truck franchise will open up a new and major market for Jenkins Diesel Power.

Over the years, Jenkins Diesel Power's customer base has changed as well.

When the company first opened in 1955, most of its customers lived or worked in the Springfield area.

Today, Jen-kins Diesel Power's customer base includes truck owners and operators nationwide.

Despite the many changes that have taken place over the years, Jenkins Diesel Power has continued to grow, and now employs 92 people.

Three of the company's employees Joe Jenkins, Dan Jenkins and Jim Jenkins are sons of founder Ed Jenkins.

Joe Jenkins, who is semi-retired, han-dles marketing and customer relations, while Dan Jenkins keeps the company's computer system running and up to date. Jim Jenkins serves as the general manager, while his son Kyle applies decals and paints logos on company trucks.

Although Jenkins Diesel Power has changed and evolved a great deal over the years, changes continue. In fact, last year the company renewed its relationship with Western Star and now sells and services that company's trucks. It also sells and services Sterling Trucks and Isuzu Trucks.

Jenkins Diesel Power now bills itself as the "one-stop source for all your medium-duty truck needs."

According to Jim Jenkins, Class A truck sales have dropped off by 45 percent during the past year, which has presented a new challenge for the company. Despite the challenge, the Jenkins brothers are considering relocation and expansion.

They recently purchased a nine-acre tract of land near Interstate 44 and Chestnut Expressway.

"Our location is a handicap to us now," said Jim Jenkins. "I believe moving out close to the highway would make us more accessible, and help us continue to grow in the years ahead."