TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sumlar-45206a213/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-los-angeles-veteran-led-trio-2732426" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">James Sumlar</a> spent five years in the Marines and several more navigating the complexities of the logistics world as an owner-operator. He knew the industry from the driver’s seat, but he also knew that a market as massive as Los Angeles required a strategic approach.To meet that challenge, Sumlar first assembled a powerhouse leadership team consisting of friends and partners&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-crenshaw-62ba6a390/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-los-angeles-veteran-led-trio-2732426" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jason Crenshaw</a> and Joseph Reese to bring TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to the LA market. As a national, full-service franchise specializing in comprehensive home and business moving, storage and junk removal, the brand offers the structural support the trio needs to scale in a major city.By combining Sumlar’s logistics expertise and military discipline with Crenshaw’s proven track record of scaling a business from the ground up, this veteran-led group is bringing the brand to LA for the first time.Sumlar and Crenshaw sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss their transition from independent business owners to franchise partners and why they said yes to the high-stakes LA territory. Here’s what they had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?James Sumlar:&nbsp;I’m a Marine Corps veteran and have since been in logistics. I ran my own trucking company for years, but I reached a point where I wanted to build something larger. I’m constantly looking for my next investment and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offered a system I could grow alongside family and people I trust.Jason Crenshaw:&nbsp;I owned and operated Gym Stuff 4 Sale LLC for more than seven years here in Huntington Park. I know what it’s like to build something from the ground up, so coming into this venture with James and the support of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK felt like the right evolution.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Sumlar:&nbsp;I owned and operated my own trucking company. I started looking into several franchises in different industries, but once I saw the structure of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, I knew it was the right fit.Crenshaw:&nbsp;James approached me about this opportunity, and having run an independent business, I saw the value in taking my years of operational experience and plugging it into a franchise model. It allows us to focus on scaling rather than having to build every single system from scratch.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?Sumlar:&nbsp;Now that I’m in it, the biggest lesson is, yes, you’re given the tools, but you still have to be the one to do the heavy lifting. It’s a partnership, not a hands-off investment.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Sumlar:&nbsp;It was the presentation and the people. When I met the recruiters at an expo in LA, they showed me a system that worked. It was surprising to realize that such a massive territory like Los Angeles didn't have a franchise yet. Being the first to plant the flag here is a huge opportunity.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Sumlar:&nbsp;Right now, our focus is stability and excellence. I want to get a full year under our belt to really understand the seasonal flow of the LA market.Crenshaw:&nbsp;With my background in sales and James’s background in operations, we’re looking to scale. Once we’ve solidified our reputation here, expansion is definitely the goal.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Sumlar:&nbsp;This is a true family-and-friend-powered business. We each bring a different strength, and it’s a real team effort.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Sumlar:&nbsp;Do your research and look for the veteran discounts! There are a lot of resources out there for veterans to get into franchising. Also, don't be afraid to talk to other owners. I spoke with several neighboring franchisees before signing.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 $3.5 billion in system-wide sales. For franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-los-angeles-veteran-led-trio-2732426" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.

james sumlar, jason crenshaw and joseph reese owners of two men and a truck 

How a Veteran-Led Trio Is Bringing TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® to the Greater Los Angeles Area

1851 Franchise

James Sumlar, Jason Crenshaw and Joseph Reese are blending military discipline and business expertise to bring national moving leader TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to the heart of Southern California.


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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success

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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

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK MOST READ STORIES

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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

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How a Veteran-Led Trio Is Bringing TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® to the Greater Los Angeles Area

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