By Anthony Welch

Eric St. Pierre worked for the original Two Men and a Truck business in Michigan while attending Ferris State University.

Long before it was a franchise, St. Pierre enjoyed working for the company’s founder, Mary Ellen Sheets. At the time, the company had just three moving trucks.

“I liked being out and about and not having to work in just one place,” he said. “I enjoyed meeting different people. I liked the physical labor aspect. Moving is stressful for people. It was nice to see how easier you made their lives by lending a hand.”

St. Pierre graduated with a degree in television production. He worked as a videotape editor in a television studio following college. But he just wasn’t satisfied.

That’s when Two Men and a Truck started franchising its business. St. Pierre and good friend/business partner Jeff Walker, who had been working in a steel warehouse, decided to purchase their own franchise. The duo had heard great things about Colorado Springs and, after making a visit to town, decided they would set up shop here in 1993.

“We used credit cards and what little we had and bought a franchise,” St. Pierre said.

St. Pierre and Walker started with just one truck. As their business celebrates its 27th year, the company’s fleet is now 26 trucks.

“Our goal was to add a truck each year,” St. Pierre said.

These days, Two Men and a Truck complete 7,000 moves a year, according to St. Pierre. He estimates about 20 percent of those are helping seniors move in and out of senior facilities or apartments and houses.

“If anyone needs help, it’s the seniors,” St. Pierre added.

The Colorado Springs franchise experienced a lot of growth in its earlier years, he said. As the city continues to expand, Two Men and a Truck saw 10 percent growth during the past five years.

“COVID-19 has slowed that, but we hope to rebound,” St. Pierre said.

Just as other businesses have suffered from the pandemic, Two Men and a Truck saw 26 percent decrease in revenue for the months of April and May, according to St. Pierre. The company also had to alter moving procedures.

“We had to take extra precautions, like wiping down our trucks and equipment at least twice daily. Our men also had to wear face masks, which was hard for them in the hotter weather and when going up to a third-floor apartment,” St. Pierre said. “We also had hazard suits for them when they did any moves in a senior living facility that had a confirmed COVID-19 case. We also closed our office to foot traffic for two months and only assisted customer by phone or curbside delivery of boxes. Our in-home move consultant did his estimates by video walk-throughs with the customers.”

Two Men and a Truck believes in giving back to the community that has given them so much. The franchise is proud to work with the following charities to help give back the to the city of Colorado Springs: TESSA, Partners in Housing, Ecumenical Social Ministries, Care and Share, Air Force Academy Athletics, Coronado High School and Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust. The company also conducts its own local donation programs called Movers for Moms and Movers for Meals.  Two Men and a Truck is a member of the Better Business Bureau, Apartment Association and the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs.

Two Men and a Truck is the proud recipient of the 2016 Better Business Bureau’s Excellence in Customer Service Award. The EICS Award recognizes superior customer service and systematic business improvement initiatives, which promote service delivery within the business community and support an enhanced quality of life in Southern Colorado.

While he’s been behind the desk for years as a co-owner, St. Pierre occasionally pitches in on a move when needed. He misses that part of the business at times while juggling the numerous things an owner is responsible for.

“When helping with a move, you get to watch the progress and see what you’ve accomplished at the end of the day,” he said.

Once things calm down with the pandemic, Two Men and a Truck hopes to expand. Its current location at 3220 Fillmore Ridge Heights is starting to run out of parking room for all its trucks and employees cars.

“We’re looking at getting a bigger office or opening a second office, maybe on the eastside of town,” St. Pierre said. “We’re also planning to add junk hauling services. That’

For more on the company, visit twomenandatruck.com/movers/co/colorado-springs.