TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Veteran Franchisee:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-bruns-5a58b150/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-terry-bruns-military-veterans-who-became-great-franchisees-2726663" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Terry Bruns</a>Franchise:&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-terry-bruns-military-veterans-who-became-great-franchisees-2726663" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a>From an early age, Terry Bruns knew he would eventually be an entrepreneur. After graduating from high school, he decided to forgo college and join the U.S. Air Force to expand his horizons, see new things and learn about the world. While in the service, Bruns served in an admin role that taught him the basics of logistics and organization.When he left the Air Force after four years, Bruns worked menial jobs as he studied on his own, teaching himself about business, finance and leadership. He made a couple of attempts to start his own business, including a successful eight-year stint of fixing up and flipping houses. Unfortunately, the chaos that followed the bursting of the real estate bubble in 2008 left him sitting on the sidelines and managing properties. He started looking for another investment opportunity and found&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/twomenandatruck/info">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a>, the full-service moving company franchise with more than 430 locations in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and the U.K.“My journey to becoming an entrepreneur was long, but when the time came, I looked at thousands of opportunities and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK really stood out,” Bruns said. “Everyone I know in the system, I really believe they care. We care about each other, our customers, our communities — we’re always there to help each other and help each other be better.”Bruns credits his stint in the Air Force for preparing him for his success as an entrepreneur and, in fact, feels like the franchise system as a whole is well suited for veterans. “Most veterans really want to serve others,” he said. “If you’re like most veterans I know, [franchising gives you] the ability to go out and create an amazing workplace and provide an amazing life for your family.”1851 Franchise talked with Bruns about his journey in franchising, his accomplishments in the industry and the advice he has for other veterans interested in venturing into franchising. The transcript below has been edited for clarity, style and brevity.1851 Franchise: Can you tell me about your background? How does military service play into your history and what was your journey from the military to entrepreneurship?Terry Bruns:&nbsp; I was born and raised in a small town in Idaho. I was a mediocre student and didn’t have much money, and I really didn’t have an interest in college. I joined the United States Air Force right out of high school — in fact, I celebrated my 19th birthday in basic training!Basically, I wanted to expand my horizons — see new things and learn about the world. I felt like I needed to learn some job skills and some life skills. It was a long journey, with a lot of bumps along the way, but I was always working towards entrepreneurship. I’d known since I was a kid that I eventually wanted to own my own business.I got moved into an admin role in the Air Force, where I learned about logistics and organization. I was in the service for four years and, when I got out, I worked some menial jobs while I studied on my own. I taught myself about business, finance and leadership.My first failed business attempt was a youth sports photography business — I struggled, but I couldn’t get it to work. After that, I worked traditional jobs for several years — saved my money and invested. I bought a house to fix up and resell — for therapy as much as anything. I made a little bit of money from that and, as a result, spent the next eight years buying and selling real estate. It was my first successful entrepreneurship. I bought and sold 24 houses before the real estate bubble burst and left everything in chaos. I ended up sitting on the sidelines and managing properties, trying to be a good stay-at-home dad but getting bored. I started looking for other opportunities and that’s when I found TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.I feel like my journey only makes sense when you look at it in the rearview mirror. When I was going through it, it wasn’t a direct road from the military to franchising.1851: How did your time in the military prepare you for success in franchising?Bruns: The most valuable piece was — well, there were two things. One, I learned the value of systems—good, repeatable systems. The military breaks things down so that they’re repeatable and there’s a lot of value to that. It’s all well documented so you can see the value and work at getting better at it.The second thing was training. The military is good at taking the lowest common denominator and training them so that they’re competent at their job. There’s a lot of value in training and helping people get good at their job.1851: What’s your favorite thing about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK?Bruns: Easy question — it’s the people who make up our system. We are the Movers Who Care®. Everyone I know in the system, I really believe they care. We care about each other, our customers, our communities — we’re always there to help each other and help each other be better. We’re pretty good at celebrating successes, but we don’t sit on them. We’re always looking for ways to get better. I guess the best way to put it is that we’re not just willing, but&nbsp;eager to help each other.1851: Looking at your franchise journey so far, what are you most proud of?Bruns: Another easy question, and this one gives me goosebumps. I’m really proud of the people who work in our individual franchises — helping people see a bigger, brighter future for themselves. I personally brought four people into the business and they eventually became franchisees. We’ve had people who used to work for us tell us how good their career is going, and they credit TWO MEN AND A TRUCK rather than college. Seeing people grow into leaders, people getting out of debt, staying out of debt, buying homes — just our people in general and what they do.1851: What advice would you give other veterans considering the transition to franchising?Bruns: Most veterans really want to serve others — our ability to serve others is just enormous. When you look at the workplace as a whole, a lot of employees are underserved by their employers and that gives us an opportunity to step up our game. I haven’t found any other area that gives you a better opportunity to serve. If you’re like most veterans I know, it’s the ability to go out and create an amazing workplace and provide an amazing life for your family.I read Zig Ziglar when I was 20, and I’ll never forget this quote: “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” If you want to serve others, jump in because that’s an amazing way to do it.1851: Anything else you want the people reading this to know?Bruns: My journey to becoming an entrepreneur was long, but when the time came, I looked at thousands of opportunities and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK really stood out. I’m so glad I’m in this franchise system — it’s not perfect, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.&nbsp;Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e9153759e41e51e9/www.1851growthclub.com?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-terry-bruns-military-veterans-who-became-great-franchisees-2726663" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and start your journey.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK - Terry Bruns - Military Veterans Who Became Great Franchisees - 1851 Franchise

Veteran Success Story: Terry Bruns’ Journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise spoke with Bruns about his service in the Air Force and how his military-honed skills helped in his transition to civilian life as a successful franchisee.

Military Veterans Who Became Great Franchisees: Terry Bruns, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

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

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Proudly Serves Those Who Serve: Supporting Veterans on the Move and in Business

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

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<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a> of&nbsp;<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/movers/fl/treasure-coast">Treasure Coast</a> is now owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-wallace-b12b04b9">Rob Wallace</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-jent-74489716b/">Anthony Jent</a>, who took over the Port St. Lucie, Florida, location in September, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tcbusiness.com/local-interest/two-men-and-a-truck-moving-business-under-new-ownership-on-treasure-coast/">recent Treasure Coast Business article</a>.Both owners started their careers with the brand as movers in Ohio. Wallace joined the company in 1996 while in college and later moved into leadership and ownership roles. Jent began as a mover in 2012 and worked his way into operations and management before becoming a co-owner of multiple locations.Today, Wallace and Jent own locations in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, along with additional territories in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The Treasure Coast acquisition is their fourth market together.The location will continue offering local and long-distance moving, packing services and the sale of boxes and packing supplies. The new owners plan to keep the existing team in place and remain involved in the local community.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tcbusiness.com/local-interest/two-men-and-a-truck-moving-business-under-new-ownership-on-treasure-coast/">here</a>.For more information on moving with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, franchising or to find an open position with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | The Movers Who Care</a>.

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

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

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image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

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1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Scott Brutosky and TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK logo

How Scott Brutosky Is Energized with New Opportunity Joining TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK® Franchise in Lake County, Illinois

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LANSING, Mich.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a>,&nbsp;the full-service moving franchise with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating worldwide, is closing out 2025 after a successful year that included new franchise signings and openings across North America, expanded systemwide hiring, and the celebration of the brand’s 40th anniversary.Founded in 1985 as a small side business for two high school students in Lansing, Michigan, the brand has grown into an international moving company that has completed more than 10 million moves. Forty years later,&nbsp;<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> continues to build on that legacy with a 96% customer referral rating and an expanding portfolio of services that includes local and long-distance moving, storage, packing, and boxes and supplies.“At the end of each year, it’s always important for us to reflect on whether we’re winning together,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka/">Randy Shacka</a>, president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “That means our franchisees, our customers, our communities and our internal teams as a franchisor. When I look back at 2025, I truly believe we are stronger today than when the year began.”Throughout 2025, the brand continued to strengthen its franchise network across the United States and Canada. The system recorded 35 franchise transfers, 19 new franchise openings and 15 new franchise signings, welcoming eight owners or ownership groups that were new to the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand.A major highlight of the year was the brand’s annual Career Move Season, a systemwide hiring initiative held from March through May to prepare franchises for peak moving season. The goal for 2025 was to hire 6,500 team members across North America — a target the brand exceeded with 7,006 hires from more than 259,000 applicants.While many roles filled were movers and drivers, franchises also added customer service representatives, marketers, office managers and bookkeepers. The initiative reflects the brand’s long-standing commitment to career development, with one in three franchisees having started as frontline employees and more than 75% of managers promoted from within.“Providing opportunities has always been part of our DNA,” Shacka said. “Our goal is that people come to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and grow — whether that means building a long-term career here or leaving better prepared for whatever comes next.”June once again proved to be the busiest month of the year, culminating in the brand’s Busiest Move Weekend from June 27-29. Across those three days, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK teams completed 4,967 moves, drove more than 721,000 miles, deployed 6,043 crew members, and moved more than 15.3 million pounds of belongings.Shacka said the weekend highlighted the experience, preparation, and culture across the franchise system, with many locations finding ways to celebrate their teams while delivering high-quality service during peak demand.As TWO MEN AND A TRUCK marked its 40th anniversary, the brand reflected on a journey that began with a single pickup truck and grew into a global moving network. Over four decades, the company has logged more than 556 million miles traveled, delivered nearly 32 million service hours, and moved more than 21.6 billion pounds of belongings.The brand has also remained committed to giving back, continuing the legacy started by founder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ellen-sheets-43485a3/">Mary Ellen Sheets</a>. In 2025, franchises across the system participated in campaigns including&nbsp;Movers for Moms®,&nbsp;Movers for Meals®,&nbsp;Movers for Military®,&nbsp;Movers for Mutts® and&nbsp;Truckload of Warmth®, in addition to contributing to&nbsp;<a href="https://convoyofhope.org/">Convoy of Hope</a> and partnering with&nbsp;<a href="https://cheeriodicals.com/">Cheeriodicals</a>.In 2025, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK earned multiple national accolades, including recognition from Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur, as well as Newsweek’s America’s Best Customer Service award. The brand was also ranked No. 122 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, taking first place in the moving and junk-removal category.“These recognitions aren’t our why,” Shacka said. “They’re simply a reflection of the people who show up every day to serve customers and communities. When we stay focused on moving people forward, the results will follow.”In 2026, the company expects to continue operating across its moving, storage, packing, and long-distance services while maintaining its technology and franchise support programs. It is also looking to expand with franchise partners in New York, Texas, and California. To learn more about booking a move, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/">https://twomenandatruck.com</a> and to learn more about franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com">https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.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 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&nbsp;<a href="http://franchise.twomenandatruck.com">franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.&nbsp;

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Military Veterans Who Became Great Franchisees: Terry Bruns, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

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