Our History
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® started in the early 1980s as a way for two brothers to make extra money while they were in high school. Now, nearly 20 years later, the company has grown to more than 200 locations worldwide.
Brothers Brig and Jon Sorber started moving people in the Lansing, Michigan area using an old pickup truck. They had their mom, Mary Ellen Sheets, develop a logo to put in a weekly community newspaper. That stick-men logo can be seen on every truck, sign and advertisement across North America.
The business was so successful that while the brothers were away at college, Sheets continued to field calls for moving services while she also worked a full-time data processing job with the State of Michigan. In 1985, she decided to capitalize on the opportunity by purchasing a 14-foot truck for $350 and hiring a pair of movers. That $350 is the only capital Sheets has ever invested in the company - a great feat considering the company recorded nearly $200 million in revenue in 2007.
Her experience with data analysis, combined with her commitment to customer service, earned her a spot on a 1988 graduate business panel at Michigan State University. When a fellow panelist suggested she franchise her little company, Sheets decided to consult with an attorney on the matter.
In 1989, Sheets awarded the first franchise to her daughter, Melanie Bergeron.
When the company reached 39 franchises, Sheets asked Bergeron to assume the role of company president while she pursued a seat in the Michigan State Senate. MEN AND A TRUCK®'s long track record of aggressive growth continues under Bergeron's progressive leadership and keen business strategies. Bergeron's accomplishments have been showcased on the cover of Franchising World magazine and in numerous other publications, including Franchise Times.
Brig and Jon Sorber returned to their Lansing roots in the mid-1990s to team up with their mom and older sister. Brig Sorber is the current President and Jon Sorber serves as Executive Vice President and is also a franchisee for the Lansing and Grand Rapids, Michigan locations. Both Brig and Jon serve on the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Board of Directors.
That first truck Sheets bought in 1985 has now multiplied into a fleet of more than 1,400 trucks. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the nation's largest franchised local moving company.
The company has come a long way and logged a lot of miles since Sheets purchased that first moving truck. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® system continues to pave the way for future growth and innovation, while remaining steadfast in the core principles of exceeding customers' expectations.
