TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

When Erik Andersen left behind a decades-long legal career, he didn’t expect his next chapter to involve hauling couches instead of cases. But when his cousin and business partner, Rikki Forgwe, invited him to join the family’s&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-junk-truck-expands-mchenry-2730792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a> operations, Andersen saw a way to build something lasting — and community-focused.With their second&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-junk-truck-expands-mchenry-2730792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK</a> location now open in McHenry, Illinois, Andersen and Forgwe are growing what began as a family effort to help people through life’s biggest transitions. To Andersen, junk removal isn’t only about clearing space, it’s about finding new purpose for the things people leave behind. From hosting warehouse sales to donating furniture and home goods, the duo is focused on keeping reusable items out of landfills and helping their neighbors in the process.After years in the courtroom, Andersen has found joy in something far more hands-on — seeing families breathe easier after a move or cleanup, knowing they helped turn a stressful task into a positive experience. For him, that’s what success looks like now.1851 Franchise spoke to Andersen about his franchise journey with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Erik Andersen:&nbsp;I was a trial lawyer for about 25 years and needed something new. When the pandemic came along, my cousin and partner, Rikki, had been running two moving franchises for some time. The old owner always told him, “When I’m ready to sell, you get first dibs.” Rikki brought me in, and we bought the two moving companies.We’d always wanted to do junk removal, but it took time to get our footing on the moving side and get established. Once we did, we started the junk business. We bought a new, larger building in North Aurora and doubled our space in McHenry, which allowed us to expand into junk removal.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?Andersen:&nbsp;My perception of franchising was very different. As a lawyer, when I represented a franchisor or franchisee, the goal was always to keep them as separate as possible so one wouldn’t be liable for the other.What’s been great about working with the TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/twomenandatruck/info">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> franchises is that it’s the opposite. Other franchisees root for you to succeed and help you out. The home office has struck a great balance — supportive but still giving you the freedom to do things your own way.Especially with the junk side, they’ve been very helpful. I was lucky to come into moving with an established business, but getting the junk removal off the ground was new. The franchise has been really supportive and has a solid playbook to help you get started.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Andersen:&nbsp;For me, it was my partner, Rikki, and the opportunity he gave me. Rikki knew the business, and going into business with a family member you love and trust made it an easy decision. The franchises were already well established in our communities — TWO MEN AND A TRUCK had been here for about 20 years between the two locations — and I could see it was a successful business.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Andersen:&nbsp;What I hope to achieve is to be a one-stop shop for families and community members who are transitioning — whether they’re moving or just doing a spring cleaning. What really got us into junk removal was seeing a need. We’d be helping someone move, and they’d say, “I don’t want 20 percent of my furniture. Can you help me?” At the time, I had to say no and watch them call another junk removal company. There’s such a natural connection between moving and junk removal, and it was frustrating not to offer the full range of services our customers needed. I want to change that.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Andersen:&nbsp;We’re trying hard not to take everything to the dump and rehome items instead. We’re having a sale this weekend where we’ll be giving away a lot of old furniture and knickknacks. I have a large warehouse that’s basically turned into a thrift store. What we don’t sell, we plan to donate. We’re trying to connect with local organizations that can make use of extra furniture and household goods.It does save us money on disposal fees, but more importantly, many customers care about where their belongings end up. They want to know their family heirlooms aren’t going to waste.It’s a challenge finding outlets to donate or store items. Most people in this business take everything straight to the dump so they don’t have to handle it again, but we’re trying to do better. We want to make a difference by repurposing, rehoming and upcycling what others might call junk. The saying is true — one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Every load has at least one piece worth saving.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Andersen:&nbsp;My advice would be to talk not just to the franchisor but also to other franchisees. If you can find a franchise like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, where both the franchisor and other franchisees support you and work together, then the franchise model is a great one to be part of.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.

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Erik Andersen & TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK logo

Family-Run TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Expands With Second Location in McHenry

1851 Franchise

After 25 years in law, Erik Andersen found a new purpose in helping families transition — now expanding his family-run operation with cousin Rikki Forgwe.

Former Trial Lawyer Expands Family-Run Moving Business With Second TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK® Location

two-men-and-a-junk-truck-expands-mchenry

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Own a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success

Multi- Unit Owner Success Story

Executive Q&A with President Randy Shacka

Learn

Visit Website

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

YouTube

FIND US ONLINE!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success With New Signings, New Franchisees and System Growth

Treasure Coast Business: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Treasure Coast Expands Under New Ownership

TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK® Makes Entrepreneur’s Top New and Emerging Franchises List

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

CONTACT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

facebook

instagram

linkedin

youtube

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

City Of Interest

When are you interested in purchasing a franchise?

Preferred contact method (phone/sms/email)

Preferred contact time

Own a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Franchise

image of franchisee John Bailey Two Men and a Truck owner from toronto 

 How John Bailey Rebuilt After the Recession and Grew to Five TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Locations

two-men-in-a-truck-franchisee-john-bailey-toronto

image of two men and a junk truck owners dedrick hill, darrell hill, and duran mcgregory

Three Brothers are Trading their Diverse Careers to Build a Moving Empire in LA with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

three-brothers-two-men-and-a-truck-los-angeles-launch

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Heidi & Brent Welsh & TWO MEN AND A TRUCK logo

20 Years and 30,000 Moves Later: Meet TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Canada’s Longest-Tenured Owners

two-men-and-a-truck-london-20th-anniversary

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Bill Sweet, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Insurance and Logistics Entrepreneur Launches TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in Prospect, Connecticut, to Create Year-Round Stability

two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-bill-sweet-prospect

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

Former Trial Lawyer Expands Family-Run Moving Business With Second TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK® Location

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS