Local Mover Two Men and a Truck Expands Into Long-Distance Market
Two Men and a Truck, a company based in Lansing, Mich., that provides local moving services through a nationwide network of independent franchise operators, is expanding its service to include long-distance moves.
On May 8, the company announced that it will begin offering long-distance moves for customers in 12 additional cities after a successful trial begun last year in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando, Fla., and Lansing, Mich. The new locations include Memphis, Tenn.; Rockford, Ill.; Greensboro, N.C.; Toms River, N.J.; Rocky Hill, Conn.; Pasadena, Calif.; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; Omaha, Neb.; Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis.
“We expect to significantly increase our footprint in the long-distance moving space,” Jon Nobis, chief operating officer of Two Men and a Truck, told Transport Topics in an interview May 12.
There are about 3 million interstate household goods moves each year in the United States, of which an estimated 800,000 are handled by professional movers, according to the American Moving and Storage Association.
The Alexandria, Va.-based trade group estimates that industry revenue from local and long-distance transportation of household and office goods, warehousing and storage, packing and distribution and other related logistics services totals more than $12.6 billion annually.
To provide its new moving service, called Value Flex, Nobis said, Two Men and a Truck will use a dedicated contract carrier to haul goods over the road and local franchise operators to provide pickup and delivery services.
“Over the past few years, we’ve looked at options to use different equipment and a different model to better serve our customers who want to utilize our services for long-distance moves,” Nobis said in a May 8 statement . “What we knew is that we are very good at professional loading and unloading, taking care of customers’ belongings and reducing stress for customers during their move. If we were able to find a way to transport those belongings more efficiently across the country, we would tap into an entirely new market with our same great service.”
Nobis said the company will run 10 to 20 trucks, depending on the week and the volume. Goods will be kept in custom-built, 16-foot containers and placed on flatbed trailers. Each container is equipped with GPS tracking systems to monitor the shipment throughout the move.
The new system will enable Two Men and a Truck to offer long-distance moves at a more affordable price, Nobis said. “Previously, we had been priced out of many long-distance moves as certain customers were not in need of time-sensitive, expedited service,” he added.
Two Men and a Truck is the largest franchised moving company in the United States, with 352 locations and 2,534 trucks operating nationwide and 380 locations and 2,700 trucks globally. The company and its franchise operators generate revenue of more than $400 million annually, Nobis said.
