Food Truck

A food truck is a large vehicle equipped to cook and sell food. Some, including ice cream trucks, sell frozen or prepackaged food; others have on-board kitchens and prepare food from scratch.

Sandwiches, hamburgers, French fries, and other regional fast-food fare is common.

Food Truck Market is Growing

Many talented chefs with great concepts but without enough money to open their own restaurant opened a food truck to bring their cuisine to their communities.

• 2008 – Financial crisis occurs. Mobile food services have a boom in industry growth.

• 2009 – 2014 Food truck industry grows by 12.4% 

• U.S. food truck industry was valued at $803.8 million dollars in 2014.

• U.S. food truck industry was valued at $856.7 million dollars 2015.

• U.S. food truck industry is estimated to be valued at $996.2 million by 2023

More affordable for start-up than a restaurant.

Average cost to start a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant: $250k-$500k. Average cost to start a Food Truck Business: starting at $75k up to $200k

Driver & License Requirements

The type of license that food truck drivers need depends on the gross vehicle weight of their vehicles. Food trucks and mobile kitchens, shows typical examples of food trucks with GVWs of
8,600 to 16,000 pounds, compared to their curb weights of only 3,493 to 3,919 pounds.

Commercial Driver’s License

To drive trucks weighing 26,001 pounds or greater, drivers need a commercial driver’s license. The CDLs most likely to be held by food truck driver are: 

Class B, which allows towing of trailers less than 10,000 pounds, 

Class A, which allows towing of trailers weighing over 10,000 pounds. 

Class C license is for those transporting passengers. 

Although requirements differ slightly by state, applicants must pass a knowledge test and a skills test, using a vehicle similar to the one he expects to operate. Applicants must also surrender any licenses issued by another state.