From the Founder
Nicholas Edmond Baucom — Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Two Marines Moving
At Two Marines Moving, damage claims are not something we react to after the fact. They are something we command against before a single piece of furniture is lifted.
Every damage claim represents a client whose expectations were not fully met. We take that personally.
We view damage claims — and the absence of them — as one of the clearest and most objective measures of excellence in the moving profession.
Our excellence is measurable. No boast. No gloat. Just the facts.
The Industry Baseline — and Why It Isn't Our Standard
According to widely cited data from the American Moving & Storage Association, the average moving company operates with an approximate 20% damage claims rate.
1 in 5
Approximately one out of every five moves at the average company results in some form of damage claim.
Not offensive.
Not shocking.
Simply incompatible with how we operate.
Our Standard: Less Than 3%
Industry Average
~20%
Damage claims rate
Two Marines Moving
<3%
Across 17 years and counting
Not half the industry average. Not half of that. Not even half of that. Roughly speaking, our average is about half of the half of the half.
That outcome is not luck.
It is not coincidence.
It is certainly not marketing spin.
It is doctrine.
There are thousands of moving companies across the United States. Only a handful can legitimately claim damage claims performance at this level. Not two handfuls. One.
That's how seriously we take the protection of our clients' homes and belongings.
Damage Prevention Begins Before Move Day
Low damage claims rates do not happen because people are careful on move day. They happen because standards exist long before move day.
Damage prevention starts with:
Hiring standards
Training standards
Equipment standards
Leadership standards
Accountability standards
The move is simply where those standards become visible.
Every furniture pad.
Every wrap.
Every strap.
Every carry.
Every loading decision.
Every placement decision.
The client sees the result. But the preparation began long before the truck arrived.
Our Internal Alert System: Green, Yellow, Red
We do not wait for problems to compound. We monitor damage claims continuously and respond decisively.
Code Green — 0% to 3%
This is the standard. This is where we expect to operate.
Quiet professionalism. Mission accomplished.
Code Yellow — 4% to 5%
Warning. Immediate company-wide corrective training begins.
Not next quarter.
Not next month.
Not when things slow down.
Immediately. The objective: correct the trend before it becomes a problem.
Code Red — 6%+
Unacceptable. Full stop.
At Code Red, training takes precedence over production. A date is selected and communicated to the Reservations Team.
Do not book moves.
That time is deliberately reserved for retraining Moving Specialists and Team Leaders across the organization.
Yes, that means sacrificing short-term revenue. We do it anyway.
Why We Will Sacrifice Revenue
Many companies talk about quality. Very few are willing to sacrifice revenue to protect it. We are.
Production can recover.
Revenue can recover.
A reputation is much harder to rebuild.
When standards decline, training takes precedence.
Not eventually. Immediately.
That philosophy has protected the company for nearly two decades.
Why Reputation Is Not Negotiable
A 6% damage claims rate would likely be considered extraordinary at many moving companies. At Two Marines Moving, it triggers corrective action.
Why? Because we are not trying to be average. We are trying to maintain the standard.
We would rather:
Lose short-term revenue
Conduct additional training
Reinforce standards
Correct problems early
Than compromise long-term trust.
That is how reputations are preserved.
That is how excellence compounds.
That is how standards survive.
The Bottom Line
Anyone can say they care about your belongings. We prefer measurable standards.
We measure damage claims.
We monitor performance.
We establish thresholds.
We conduct corrective training.
We willingly sacrifice short-term revenue.
We protect long-term trust.
Because damage claims are not just paperwork. They are feedback. And feedback reveals whether standards are being maintained.
Excellence is not assumed.
It is measured.
It is maintained.
Excellence measured. Standards enforced. Reputation protected.
Mission First. Team Always.
Semper Fidelis,
Nicholas Edmond Baucom
Founder & Chief Executive Officer — Two Marines Moving
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