We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jelissa Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jelissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

D3 Delivery was built from the ground up—not just to move furniture, but to move people toward stability, dignity, and opportunity. I started this company after seeing how hard it was for folks—especially Black men, people with records, and those in recovery—to get a fair shot at real work. I knew the box truck game could be a gateway to income, structure, and purpose.

Our mission is to deliver more than just goods. We’re here to deliver second chances. That means creating jobs for justice-involved individuals, building a culture of excellence and respect, and showing people that their past doesn’t have to define their future.

This mission matters to me because I’ve watched too many people get counted out. My father struggled with addiction, and I’ve been in rooms where folks just needed one opportunity to turn things around. D3 Delivery is my way of creating that opportunity—on purpose, with purpose.

Jelissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a mom, a mission-driven entrepreneur, and the founder of D3 Delivery, a final mile delivery and moving company based in North Carolina. I started this company in March 2023 with a single goal: to create real opportunities for people who are often overlooked—especially justice-involved individuals and folks recovering from substance use.

I got into this industry because I saw potential where others saw problems. I knew that with a truck, a trained team, and a commitment to doing the job right, we could create not just income but impact. I didn’t come from a background in logistics. I came from a background in figuring things out, building from scratch, and not taking no for an answer. That’s the same spirit I bring to D3.

We provide furniture and appliance delivery, moving labor, and full-service support for folks who book their own U-Haul but need muscle and know-how to get the job done. We also offer furniture assembly services and short-term contracts for local retailers needing final mile solutions.

What sets us apart is our heart. This business is family-owned and rooted in purpose. My brother Dale is our lead trainer. My mom helps manage operations. We’re not just running a business—we’re building something that gives people a fresh start, especially those who’ve been counted out by the system. I’m also in grad school studying mental health counseling with a focus on addiction recovery, and my long-term goal is to create a recovery-to-work pipeline where people can get clean, get stable, and get paid—through D3.

I’m most proud of the way this business is changing lives. We’ve helped people get their first real paycheck after prison. We’ve given structure, training, and community to folks who’ve never had that before. And we do it all while delivering excellent service to our clients.

What I want people to know is that D3 Delivery isn’t just a moving company. It’s a movement. When you book with us, you’re not just hiring muscle—you’re investing in change.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in business is that loyalty doesn’t always go both ways—especially when you’re dealing with 3PLs.

Last year, I had to end a contract with a third-party logistics company after they withheld a full week’s worth of pay. We had done the work—early mornings, full installs, satisfied customers—and then they just went silent. No warning, no payout, just gone. That hurt, not just financially but morally, because I was responsible for making sure my crew got paid, even when I didn’t.

After that, I managed to land a new contract that I was excited about. It felt like a win. But a few weeks in, they pulled the plug out of nowhere. No communication, no closure—just another reminder that I couldn’t build something stable on shaky partnerships.

That’s when I made a real shift. I stopped relying on one appliance or furniture delivery contract at a time. I started diversifying—building out my local moving services, launching furniture assembly offers, and leaning into direct-to-consumer bookings instead of chasing load boards or middlemen. I built my own brand, created our intake systems, and made sure we had multiple streams coming in.

Now, I run my company knowing that contracts come and go, but your reputation and resilience keep the lights on. And that lesson—learned the hard way—is why we’re still standing.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has definitely been Thumbtack. It gave us consistent leads early on, especially for moving labor and furniture assembly. It helped us build a reputation with verified reviews, and that credibility really opened doors.

Right behind that has been social media marketing—especially Facebook. When I started posting reels, job photos, and sharing real client testimonials, I noticed a huge uptick in messages and bookings. People want to see who they’re hiring. They want to know you’re real, you show up, and you get the job done. Facebook gave us that visibility, especially in local groups and community threads where folks trust word-of-mouth.

Between Thumbtack and social media, we’ve been able to stay booked and keep growing—without relying only on 3PL contracts or load boards. That shift gave me control over our brand and our calendar, which is priceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.d3-delivery.com
• Instagram: d3_delivery
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3-delivery