TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

When Martin Pollack decided to become a <a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-investing-time-in-his-business-allowed-this-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-devote-more-time-to-family-2704717" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> franchisee in his late 20s, he told his wife his plan was to operate the Herndon, Virginia business remotely from their home in Wilmington while maintaining his regular job.

His wife said no.

&ldquo;I have to give the credit to my wife as the smart one because she said she would only support my decision to become a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisee if I moved to the D.C. area to run the business,&rdquo; said Pollack.

So, Pollack, who grew up in the Washington D.C. area, moved into his parents&rsquo; basement while his wife stayed behind in Wilmington and the couple lived on his wife&rsquo;s salary while getting the business up and running. Ultimately this advice paid off and four years later, Pollack now owns three <a href="https://twomenandatruck.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-investing-time-in-his-business-allowed-this-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-devote-more-time-to-family-2704717" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> locations in the greater D.C. metro area and he and his business partner, Adam Slack, are planning to expand to an additional three territories. But like most successful franchisees, investing heavily in the early stages of the business&rsquo; life cycle was key to creating a foundation from which to grow.

&ldquo;Initially I had very little work-life balance. Back then, there were nights that I slept at the office,&rdquo; remembered Pollack.

Pollack spent much of his time creating a solid infrastructure and investing in the people who would eventually handle the majority of the on-the-ground and day-to-day operations. Pollack leveraged relationships he had in place from growing up in D.C. His best friend from high school is his general manager. Two of his other five managers are brothers of friends from high school. While the built-in trust helped in starting a successful business in the first year, Pollack has cultivated a culture and business structure that rewards employees for hard work and dedication to success.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve built a lot of trust with my team over the years,&rdquo; said Pollack. &ldquo;As part of my management strategy, I&rsquo;ve always tried to let each manager run their location as they see fit. I have expectations they need to meet, but I don&rsquo;t want to micromanage. I provide them with feedback, but I let them run it as if it&rsquo;s their own business. If you empower your staff to make decisions, it helps them feel like they are a valued part of the business. We&rsquo;ve really started to extend that further down the chain where we are trying to empower our frontline staff to our movers and drivers beyond what they could expect at any of our competition. It helps them buy into the culture and the success of the business.&rdquo;

Beyond wages that he noted are high compared to competition in the market, Pollack also empowers movers and drivers to take part in job fairs to help recruit new employees or handle quality control calls to get a sense of how customers respond to the services they&rsquo;re providing the community. Pollack is even supporting one of his managers who is taking part in TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&rsquo;s Mary Ellen&rsquo;s Moving People Forward&reg; Scholarship (named after the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK founder) with a goal of becoming a franchisee himself.

The investment in people continues to pay off. Pollack said his locations have reached 97 percent customer satisfaction &ndash; up from the previous 94 percent &ndash; and the business has experienced more than 33 percent growth year-to-date since starting the empowerment programs. He said employees are happier and efficiency has improved since they are able to anticipate and avoid fires more often rather than having to scramble to put them out.

After establishing the business, per his wife&rsquo;s initial request, Pollack has since moved back to Wilmington.

Today, Pollack spends most of his time there and schedules about 10 days per month to work at his franchise locations in D.C. He rarely works weekends anymore and his days are spent communicating with his managers, talking to corporate, and making sure the business is operating successfully &ndash; checking sales, financials and customer satisfaction levels each day and holding daily calls with his managers, in addition to weekly team meetings, to continue growing the business.

All of this has led to a healthy work&mdash;life balance that allows for Pollack to make time for his favorite pastime, fishing, as well as his main focus since the beginning: his family.

&ldquo;When we started this, we didn&rsquo;t have kids and weren&rsquo;t sure if that was something that was on our radar for the future. Our daughter is now 23 months old and now that I have a child, I want to make sure I have as much time as possible to spend with her. Investing in TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and being a franchise business owner means that when I want to spend time with my family, I have the luxury to do that and I wouldn&rsquo;t if I worked in corporate America. The phone never turns off, but I have the flexibility to make hours count with my family now.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

How Investing Time in His Business Allowed this TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Franchisee to Devote More Time to Family

1851 Franchise

Multi-Unit Franchisee Martin Pollack Discusses How to Establish Infrastructure for a Solid Work-Life Balance

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LANSING, Mich. —&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®</a>, a fast-growing junk removal franchise, has been named to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/fastest-growing-ranking">Top New and Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur magazine</a>, a distinction that recognizes standout brands that have begun franchising within the past five years and are demonstrating strong early growth.Entrepreneur builds the list using its Franchise 500 evaluation, which reviews more than 150 data points, including costs, growth, franchisee support, brand strength and financial stability. The Top New and Emerging Franchises list focuses on brands that began franchising in 2020 or later and have started gaining traction in the market.“Watching the system grow like this has been exciting,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka">Randy Shacka</a>, president of TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. “We built the brand to be straightforward for owners, with the support they need behind them, while giving customers a reliable option for junk removal.”TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, now operating more than 70 locations across 23 states, has found its stride by making junk removal simple, handling everything from old furniture and appliances removal to major cleanouts for homeowners and businesses alike.Being part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.servicemaster.com/">ServiceMaster Brands</a> family gives the company a serious edge, drawing on a long history of franchise know-how and resources. ServiceMaster, which has been around since the early days of franchising, manages several service brands across the country, bringing in over $3.5 billion in sales across its entire system.TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK also builds on the trusted reputation of its sister company,&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a>, which has been a leader in the moving industry since 1985 and operates hundreds of locations worldwide.To learn more about franchising with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com">https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com</a>.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. The company handles furniture pickup, appliance removal, debris cleanouts and more, offering a hassle-free experience for residential and commercial customers. With more than 70 locations across 23 U.S. states, the brand operates as a franchise-based business, and each location is independently owned and operated. 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 $3.5 billion in systemwide sales. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is the sister brand of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, a trusted moving company founded in 1985, which operates 430 locations in 48 U.S. states, as well as in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

With more than 70 locations in 23 states, the junk removal concept continues to expand its footprint and gain industry recognition.

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ST. LOUIS, Mo.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®</a> brought franchise owners and corporate leaders together for the company’s 2026 Annual Conference, held Feb. 21-24 at the Marriott Grand in St. Louis, Missouri. The multi-day event focused on collaboration, recognition, and strategic planning as the brand prepares for the upcoming busy moving season.“TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has always been about empowering our franchise owners to grow strong businesses while serving their communities,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka/">Randy Shacka,</a> president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “Annual Conference gives us the opportunity to come together, celebrate the achievements across the system and share the strategies that will help our franchises continue to grow, even in a changing market.”This year’s theme, “Gateway to Growth,” was inspired by the conference’s host city and its historic significance as the gateway to the American West.“We were in St. Louis, which is home to the Gateway Arch, and historically it served as a staging point for explorers and pioneers. Our conference represents a gateway to growth for the system and our franchises”, said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikishook/">Riki Shook</a>, marketing and communications director.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>A Week of Learning and Collaboration</h2>Throughout the four-day event, franchise owners participated in keynote sessions, breakout workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help them strengthen their operations and prepare for the busy season ahead.“A lot of the focus this year was on innovation and technology, looking at where the system needs to be from a sales, marketing and operations perspective,” Shook said. “We really focused on tools for growth and where the moving industry is going as a whole.”The conference also featured a vendor marketplace with record participation from partners providing technology, marketing and operational services to franchise owners.“Having our annual conference at the beginning of the year really sets the stage for the rest of the year,” Shook said. “Franchise owners get to connect with peers, talk about what’s working in their markets and share best practices.”<h2>Recognizing Franchise Excellence</h2>A highlight of the conference was the annual awards ceremony, which recognized franchises and team members for operational performance, leadership, and community impact.During the conference, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK recognized franchises that reached major revenue milestones through the brand’s Million Dollar Club, which celebrates locations achieving significant levels of annual gross revenue.“We also had a new award this year, the Heart of the Brand Award,” Shook said. “That one was really to reinforce the ‘movers who care’ mindset and the support system that franchise owners build within their local teams.”The 2026 award winners included:<ul><li>Founders Award: Berkeley, California — Mark Snyir and Tanya Nickel</li><li>Safety Award: Lubbock, Texas</li><li>Business Moves Revenue Award: St. George, Utah — Justin Phillips and Kirk Phillips</li><li>Boxes and Packing Revenue Award: Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — Britt Lanier and Susan Lanier</li><li>Interstate Annual Gross Revenue Award: St. Louis, Missouri — Naim Gasanov, Doug Haber, John Judson, Tom Schopp, Joel Trost and Steve West</li><li>Multi-Family Award: Columbus, Ohio — Justin and Stephanie Clarey</li><li>Crated Moving Award: Springfield, Virginia — Martin Pollack</li><li>Sales Order Growth Award, Under 18 Months: Huntington Beach, California — Komal and Santanu Bandyopadhyay</li><li>Sales Order Growth Award, Over 18 Months: College Station, Texas — Jay Mellentine and Christine Thomas</li><li>Highest Single Unit Gross Revenue Award: St. Louis, Missouri — Naim Gasanov, Doug Haber, John Judson, Tom Schopp, Joel Trost and Steve West</li><li>Highest Multi-Unit Operating Unit Gross Revenue Award: Minneapolis South, Minnesota — Nick Bailey</li><li>International Move Hero: Sam Hellem - Colorado Springs, Colorado&nbsp;</li><li>Heart of the Brand Award: Taylor Suman — Fort Worth, Texas franchisee</li><li>Newsmaker Award: Twin Cities — Nick Bailey</li><li>Achievement In Excellence Program (AIE) No. 1 U.S. Metro Market: Charlottesville, Virginia — Nathan Bocock and Bryan and Rebecca Feldman</li><li>AIE Program No. 1 Mod-Market: Idaho Falls, Idaho — Terry Bruns, Lucas Keefe and</li><li>Exceptional Customer Service Award: Gainesville, Florida — Mark and Saundria Golden, Chris Hardoin and Anyse Medwedeff</li><li>Humanitarian Award: Grand Rapids North, Michigan — Heidi and Kyle Norcutt</li></ul><h2>Looking Ahead</h2>As the brand prepares for the busy summer moving season, leadership emphasized the importance of refining strategies now so franchise locations are positioned for success when demand increases.“The strength of our brand has always come from the dedication of our franchise owners and the teams they build in their communities,” Shacka said. “When we come together to share ideas, celebrate success and prepare for the year ahead, it reinforces the culture that has driven this brand for 40 years and positions our entire system for continued growth.”ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:&nbsp;Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is an international, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. 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 2026, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was featured on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, where the brand was ranked No. 1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was also named a top franchise by Franchise Business Review and was featured on the Best National Moving Company List by Newsweek. 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&nbsp;<a href="http://franchise.twomenandatruck.com">franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.

Photo of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK annual conference

The brand’s “Gateway to Growth” conference brought franchise owners, corporate leaders and industry partners together in St. Louis to celebrate achievements and prepare for the year ahead.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Celebrates Franchise Growth and Leadership at 2026 Annual Conference

2026-annual-conference-awards

How Investing Time in His Business Allowed this TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Franchisee to Devote More Time to Family

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