Couple opens storage, Penske rental facility on U.S. 2

Kayla and Levi Spencer are making big moves this month with their new two-pronged business. They recently used Kayla’s vehicle expertise as the director of marketing for Kalispell Automotive Group to open a storage facility for boats and RVs and the only Penske truck rental agency in Northwest Montana.

The Spencers spent the past eight months building a storage facility for large vehicles on U.S. 2 West, just off the exit from the U.S. 93 bypass. When Penske Truck Rental came to the Flathead in March to scope out a potential site to expand into Northwest Montana, they decided the location and spacious property at the Spencers’ facility was the ideal place to set up shop.

So in early September, the Spencers jointly opened Highway 2 Storage and the only Penske Rental Agency within a two-hour radius.

“It is very convenient,” Kayla said.

The new facility serves a clear dual purpose. The brand-new storage space includes two buildings with large pull-through bays for boats and RVs, and there is also a fleet of Penske moving vehicles for rent on-site. The Spencers plan on keeping about 10 to 15 different kinds of standard moving vehicles on hand at any given time, and Kayla stressed a renter could get a hold of a vehicle that isn’t on the lot — such as a tractor or a flatbed truck — within 24 hours if they contact the business.

“We can get you whatever equipment you need,” Kayla said.

The Kalispell rental agency is part of a network that is based in Spokane, so a customer could rent a vehicle at another Penske location, like Missoula, and drop it off in Kalispell.

Kayla said it’s a good opportunity since there has been a recent influx of people moving to the Kalispell area. She also pointed out Penske provides moving solutions for commercial customers as well as residential renters, so the new local agency could be a boon for the surging construction industry in the Flathead Valley.

“Especially around here with all the construction that’s going on,” Kayla said, it will likely prove useful to be able to rent vehicles like sleepers—the front of a semi-truck—tractors, flatbeds and long-box trucks.

And there’s more to come on the 5-acre property in the future, too. Kayla said this is only the first phase for the business, and there are plans in place to add two more storage buildings and 90 units of indoor mini-storage.

Highway 2 Storage/Penske Truck Rental is located at 3454 U.S 2 W. in Kalispell. Call 406-314-9910 or visit https://www.hwy2storagemt.com to learn more.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.