Bobby Simpson’s path to franchising was shaped by decades in the trucking industry. After earning his commercial driver’s license (CDL) at 25 and buying his first semi, he built a trucking business from the ground up. When he decided to transition to an office-based role, he saw franchising as a way to enter a new industry with the support he never had. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK provided the established systems, brand recognition and resources he needed to make that move successfully.
“Franchising provided the support I never had,” Simpson said. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK had been in business for nearly 30 years when I joined, which meant they had established relationships with financial institutions, insurance brokers and truck vendors. It was a much easier process because I didn’t know the moving business, and household goods moving is a highly regulated industry. I could not have started this business without the backing of a franchise.”
As a successful TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisee with three territories, Simpson had already built a strong foundation in the moving industry. When TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK launched in 2023, he and his nephew, Bryan Payne, saw an opportunity to expand their services and meet the growing demand for junk removal. With many of their moving customers needing disposal solutions, adding junk removal was a natural next step. Now, as they work to establish and grow this side of the business in a competitive market, Simpson values the franchising model more than ever for its operational support, brand recognition and built-in resources.
1851 Franchise sat down with Simpson to discuss his partnership with his nephew, their franchising journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and their plans for expansion with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Bobby Simpson: I come from a family rooted in the trucking industry, which ultimately shaped my career path. My father and uncles worked at a local factory assembling Mack truck semis, so I was immersed in the world of trucking from a young age. My dad would take us to family day, and we’d sit in the big semis — I always enjoyed that. I went to truck driving school after college, got my CDL at 25 and bought my first semi. I spent about 30 years in trucking before deciding I wanted to transition to an office-based job, avoiding the road, construction, traffic and weather challenges. That’s when I started looking into TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
I had read about the company’s success in business magazines and saw it consistently ranked as one of the top moving companies. When the opportunity opened up in Maryland, I took it. I still operate my trucking company but more in a managerial capacity, while I focus on running my TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK businesses.
I became a franchisee with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK in Frederick, Maryland, in 2019. Two years later, I expanded into Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, partnering with my nephew, Bryan, who had been my operations manager in Frederick. More recently, I acquired the West Virginia territory, adding Martinsburg to our market.
When TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK launched, it was a natural fit. Our customers frequently need junk removal when they move, so it made sense to offer both services. Bryan and I partnered on this venture as well.
1851: How did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Simpson: When I started my trucking business, I had no guidance. I had to figure out insurance, licensing and everything else on my own. Franchising provided the support I never had. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK had been in business for nearly 30 years when I joined, which meant they had established relationships with financial institutions, insurance brokers and truck vendors. It was a much easier process because I didn’t know the moving business, and household goods moving is a highly regulated industry. I could not have started this business without the backing of a franchise.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Simpson: At first, I was hesitant about the franchise fees. I wondered if there would be anything left after paying them. But I quickly realized that nobody would know me without the brand’s name. How many moves would I get as "Bobby’s Movers" compared to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK? The name recognition is worth the investment.
Beyond that, the franchise provides dedicated support in every division — digital advertising, financial consulting and business operations. I can call someone at any time for answers, guidance, or even just a morale boost. The resources they provide make a huge difference.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Simpson: I was always seeing TWO MEN AND A TRUCK vans on the road, and I liked that people often thought it was a local company even though it was a national brand. I wanted to move into a different industry while staying connected to trucking, and moving made sense because I was already familiar with trucks, local vendors and repair services. I also knew I would need a strong support system, and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was always ranked highly in training and franchisee support. That convinced me it was the right move.
When TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK was introduced, it felt like a seamless expansion. The corporate team was looking to add junk removal to their offerings, and they initially opened it up to existing franchisees. Bryan and I jumped on it because we saw the demand among our customers.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Simpson: Two Men and a Junk Truck corporate encourages us to have at least two trucks, so expansion is definitely in our future. That means adding to our fleet and bringing on more team members.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Simpson: If you’re considering TWO MEN AND A TRUCK or TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, now is a great time. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has been around for decades, but TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is still new, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity for growth.
The businesses work well together. I use the same accountant for both, and corporate allows you to keep key staff members across both operations. That continuity makes the transition easier.
If you're looking to get into franchising, I’d recommend taking advantage of the resources available. We went to corporate headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, for three days of training before we even signed on. We also spoke with early franchisees who had already built up their junk removal businesses, and that helped us understand the potential. Franchising isn’t easy — it’s a big financial commitment — but if you follow the playbook, the support is there to help you succeed.
ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:
Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is a national, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 48 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Each location is independently owned and operated and together, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK network has performed more than 10 million moves since its inception in 1985. In 2025, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was named a top franchise brand by Franchise Business Review and was also featured on Entrepreneur’s Franchisee 500 list, where the brand was ranked No. 1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. The moving company known for moving people forward also received the No.1 Spot for Best National Moving Company in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards contest. In 2021, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was acquired by ServiceMaster® Brands, which is a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. For franchising opportunities, visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com.
ABOUT TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK:
Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is a full-service junk removal company that is committed to conquering your clutter. From furniture pickup and removal, getting rid of appliances, debris cleanouts, and more, TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK will do it all, so you don’t have to. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is part of ServiceMaster® Brands, a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is the sister brand of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK which is a national, full-service franchised moving company with each franchise being independently owned and operated. Currently, there are more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has performed more than 9.5 million moves since its inception in 1985.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
SPONSORED
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Franchisees Simpson and Payne expanded their Frederick, Maryland-based business by adding TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, seeing a natural fit between moving and junk removal.
Bobby Simpson’s path to franchising was shaped by decades in the trucking industry. After earning his commercial driver’s license (CDL) at 25 and buying his first semi, he built a trucking business from the ground up. When he decided to transition to an office-based role, he saw franchising as a way to enter a new industry with the support he never had. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK provided the established systems, brand recognition and resources he needed to make that move successfully.
“Franchising provided the support I never had,” Simpson said. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK had been in business for nearly 30 years when I joined, which meant they had established relationships with financial institutions, insurance brokers and truck vendors. It was a much easier process because I didn’t know the moving business, and household goods moving is a highly regulated industry. I could not have started this business without the backing of a franchise.”
As a successful TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisee with three territories, Simpson had already built a strong foundation in the moving industry. When TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK launched in 2023, he and his nephew, Bryan Payne, saw an opportunity to expand their services and meet the growing demand for junk removal. With many of their moving customers needing disposal solutions, adding junk removal was a natural next step. Now, as they work to establish and grow this side of the business in a competitive market, Simpson values the franchising model more than ever for its operational support, brand recognition and built-in resources.
1851 Franchise sat down with Simpson to discuss his partnership with his nephew, their franchising journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and their plans for expansion with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Bobby Simpson: I come from a family rooted in the trucking industry, which ultimately shaped my career path. My father and uncles worked at a local factory assembling Mack truck semis, so I was immersed in the world of trucking from a young age. My dad would take us to family day, and we’d sit in the big semis — I always enjoyed that. I went to truck driving school after college, got my CDL at 25 and bought my first semi. I spent about 30 years in trucking before deciding I wanted to transition to an office-based job, avoiding the road, construction, traffic and weather challenges. That’s when I started looking into TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
I had read about the company’s success in business magazines and saw it consistently ranked as one of the top moving companies. When the opportunity opened up in Maryland, I took it. I still operate my trucking company but more in a managerial capacity, while I focus on running my TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK businesses.
I became a franchisee with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK in Frederick, Maryland, in 2019. Two years later, I expanded into Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, partnering with my nephew, Bryan, who had been my operations manager in Frederick. More recently, I acquired the West Virginia territory, adding Martinsburg to our market.
When TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK launched, it was a natural fit. Our customers frequently need junk removal when they move, so it made sense to offer both services. Bryan and I partnered on this venture as well.
1851: How did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Simpson: When I started my trucking business, I had no guidance. I had to figure out insurance, licensing and everything else on my own. Franchising provided the support I never had. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK had been in business for nearly 30 years when I joined, which meant they had established relationships with financial institutions, insurance brokers and truck vendors. It was a much easier process because I didn’t know the moving business, and household goods moving is a highly regulated industry. I could not have started this business without the backing of a franchise.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Simpson: At first, I was hesitant about the franchise fees. I wondered if there would be anything left after paying them. But I quickly realized that nobody would know me without the brand’s name. How many moves would I get as "Bobby’s Movers" compared to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK? The name recognition is worth the investment.
Beyond that, the franchise provides dedicated support in every division — digital advertising, financial consulting and business operations. I can call someone at any time for answers, guidance, or even just a morale boost. The resources they provide make a huge difference.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Simpson: I was always seeing TWO MEN AND A TRUCK vans on the road, and I liked that people often thought it was a local company even though it was a national brand. I wanted to move into a different industry while staying connected to trucking, and moving made sense because I was already familiar with trucks, local vendors and repair services. I also knew I would need a strong support system, and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was always ranked highly in training and franchisee support. That convinced me it was the right move.
When TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK was introduced, it felt like a seamless expansion. The corporate team was looking to add junk removal to their offerings, and they initially opened it up to existing franchisees. Bryan and I jumped on it because we saw the demand among our customers.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Simpson: Two Men and a Junk Truck corporate encourages us to have at least two trucks, so expansion is definitely in our future. That means adding to our fleet and bringing on more team members.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Simpson: If you’re considering TWO MEN AND A TRUCK or TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, now is a great time. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has been around for decades, but TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is still new, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity for growth.
The businesses work well together. I use the same accountant for both, and corporate allows you to keep key staff members across both operations. That continuity makes the transition easier.
If you're looking to get into franchising, I’d recommend taking advantage of the resources available. We went to corporate headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, for three days of training before we even signed on. We also spoke with early franchisees who had already built up their junk removal businesses, and that helped us understand the potential. Franchising isn’t easy — it’s a big financial commitment — but if you follow the playbook, the support is there to help you succeed.
ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:
Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is a national, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 48 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Each location is independently owned and operated and together, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK network has performed more than 10 million moves since its inception in 1985. In 2025, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was named a top franchise brand by Franchise Business Review and was also featured on Entrepreneur’s Franchisee 500 list, where the brand was ranked No. 1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. The moving company known for moving people forward also received the No.1 Spot for Best National Moving Company in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards contest. In 2021, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was acquired by ServiceMaster® Brands, which is a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. For franchising opportunities, visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com.
ABOUT TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK:
Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is a full-service junk removal company that is committed to conquering your clutter. From furniture pickup and removal, getting rid of appliances, debris cleanouts, and more, TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK will do it all, so you don’t have to. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is part of ServiceMaster® Brands, a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is the sister brand of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK which is a national, full-service franchised moving company with each franchise being independently owned and operated. Currently, there are more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has performed more than 9.5 million moves since its inception in 1985.
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