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Food trucks come in different styles and are made for different kinds of food and customers. So, the right food truck depends on what kind of food one wants to sell and where one wants to set up shop.
Vending trucks
Vending trucks are the simplest and cheapest kind of food truck. Many do not even have a kitchen on board. Vending trucks sell food heated up at home, then stored in warmers, coolers, or dispensers in the truck.
Cooking on the way
Buffer trucks usually have the least space and tools, but the food served is freshly cooked or prepared in some way on the truck. It may have some small kitchen tools to prepare or mix basic ingredients, but bigger stoves or fryers are not needed.
Full kitchen food trucks
Full kitchen food trucks have the most space as well as supplies and equipment. They can make all kinds of food from scratch and have more offerings than the other kinds of trucks.
Budget
Things like what type of truck, new or used, and how big will vary depending on how much money is available. There will also be costs to start an operation besides just buying the truck alone.
Condition of the truck
Deciding to buy a second-hand truck means checking its road worthiness and state before getting it. A truck with a little wear and tear inside and outside can sell for less than one that shows a lot of wear. Therefore, while it's okay to buy a second-hand truck, make sure it still has some working capability.
Local laws
Understanding local rules also determines what kind of food truck is best for various regions. Some cities are better for small trucks or even just food carts, while others might be large enough to accommodate kitchen food trucks.
Target customers
Considering the kind of people one wants to sell to will inform what kind of food truck is best suited. Branding can help define what food truck should be used based on the kind of business food truck owners wish to start.
Owners have to work on keeping their food trucks safe and clean just like how restaurants are kept safe and clean, or even more so, especially during the pandemic. Trucks used to sell food have to be cleaned well to keep customers from being sick. Coughing, sneezing, or touching things in a dirty kitchen can cause germs to spread. The same goes for the inside of a food truck. If more people go inside a food truck, it has to be cleaned more often.
Rules on how to massage food trucks vary depending on the country or state. However, here are some common rules across many places:
Food trucks are usually sent to countries or across long places by freight carriers that can handle large loads. Because the trucks are big, it costs more to send them than to send small things. Many businesses that move food carts and trucks have ramps to drive the truck on and tie downs to hold it still so nothing can tip over or break. They also have special covers called tarps so rain does not get on the truck. A food cart or truck shipment takes longer than small shipments because they are big. It usually takes one to three weeks for a food truck to arrive from a far place. Businesses that ship food vehicles do their best to make shipments as quick as possible for buyers. Keeping costs down is also important, so they work hard to keep the shipping price low, too.
All food carts and kitchen vehicles are measured and priced based on their size.
A1: Food carts and kitchen trucks cost different amounts depending on how big or small they are and what kind of kitchen is inside. The least expensive ones - the smallest food carts or the simplest kitchen trucks - can sell food for less than ten thousand dollars. Medium kitchen trucks and bigger food carts with more supplies and tools cost between ten and twenty thousand dollars. The most expensive option, which is the biggest food carts with all the tools, and supplies to make kitchens, costs more than thirty thousand dollars.
A2: All food trucks and carts that sell meals must have some way to keep things cool. Their kitchen, cabinets, or coolers must always be kept below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the safe temperature for cool food items. Burgers, chicken, fish, salads, and any other food that must be kept cool cannot sit at the wrong temperature. If they do, bacteria will make them unsafe to eat. When the food needs to be thrown away, it needs to go back below 41 F. Warmer weather zones and longer transport, delivery, or storage times require more commercial refrigeration, walk-ins and/or ice, too.
A3: Food trucks and trailers are somewhat like apartments and houses. Food trailers are like apartments - they are still homes, but kind of separate. Food trucks are like houses - real homes attached to the ground. Both kinds of living spaces have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Just like apartments and houses are different in what they offer, so are food trucks and trailers when it comes to selling food. Food trucks, or houses, have all the kitchens and supplies right inside - much more room. Trailers, or apartments, attach to other cars and pull along behind - simpler, more space-saving kitchens.
Even though trailers are easier to afford and move, many people still prefer food trucks for the spacious, complete kitchens inside. When it comes to making and selling food, houses attached to the ground provide more room and resources than houses on wheels.
A4: Vending trucks and trailers provide different amounts of space. Vending trucks are the smallest and have the least space for cooking. Cooking trucks are a little bigger and provide more space. Full kitchen trucks are the biggest and provide the most cooking space. Apartment-style trailers, like the smallest cooking trucks, have modest space but are more space-efficient. House-style trailers, like the smallest cooking trucks, have ample room but are more space-efficient. Although trailers offer more space, many still prefer full kitchen trucks for their spacious and comprehensive kitchens.