TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has prided itself on being a welcoming place of work for veterans after their time serving in the military, and we can’t think of a better location that embodies this message more than the Billings, Montana franchise.
Many TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchises employ veterans , but the team in Billings has three in leadership positions – Eric Leggate (general manager), Darius Ray (operations manager), and Jeremy Eide (sales manager) – and their backgrounds in the military have helped them find common ground while transitioning to the moving industry and building a successful team of their own.
The lifestyle at the moving franchise can be very accommodating to those familiar with a military background, and it’s what helps so many succeed professionally with our brand.
“I can’t think of a more accepting place to have a veteran work,” said Eric Leggate, a member of the Montana Air National Guard and the current general manager at the Billings franchise. “Whether it’s veterans that are out of the service or people like myself who are still in the service.”
Leggate is still an active member of the Montana Air National Guard, but after returning from deployment in 2021 and being a stay-at-home dad for a while, he felt it was time to get back into the workforce and found his way to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
The lifestyle at the franchise quickly showed similarities to what he experienced in the military, and this made the work transition even easier.
“The comradery and building up your team with discipline and accountability is very similar to the military,” Leggate said. “Everyone craves having a place to belong, feeling like they are making a difference, and having fun. At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we have that culture of brotherhood and making everyone feel like they are a part of a team and that they are making a difference.”
Comradery is a common theme you’ll hear from veterans working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK when they’re comparing the similarities of the job vs. time spent in the military. It’s a job that requires teamwork to be done successfully, something any veteran knows all too well.
“We definitely have a very specific style that I think plays well with this line of work,” said Ray, who served in the United States Air Force as a cryptologic linguist . “Direct, hardworking, and mission-focused. It is hard work that can drop morale some days, but you are right there next to your buddy working hard to get the job done. A lot of comradery.”
The veteran-presence at the franchise can also be a selling point, which is how Eide found his role as the sales manager.
“I was new to the area trying to get more involved with the great veteran community in Billings, and ran across a veteran opening a moving company,” said Eide, who served in the Marines in the Medium Helicopter Squadron 268. “I saw a chance to get involved in an established company opening a new location, so I jumped right in.”
For all three, they can play off one another’s experiences in military life while adapting to the new lifestyle of working at a moving franchise that’s operating in a new market. It’s challenging, but rewarding, and together they are helping TWO MEN AND A TRUCK build a name for itself in the Billings community.
Their success is another example of how working with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK after time in the military can be a great career transition, and all three would recommend the company to veterans looking for work.
“I would recommend a job here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to any veteran because veterans understand veterans,” Eide said. “We understand the good days and the bad days. We understand accountability and promote comradery. It’s also the most fun career I’ve had.”
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.