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Smart Ways to Stay Cool This Summer in Your Food Truck

Staying Cool In A Food Truck 1

As you know, running a food truck is an exciting and rewarding venture! However, when summer arrives with its blistering temperatures, it’s essential to find ways to stay cool. Balancing the demands of a food truck and the summer heat can be challenging, but we’ve got practical tips below so you can beat the heat and stay cool this summer.

1- Dress for success

Choosing the right clothing can make a huge difference in staying cool while running a food truck. If you have a uniform, be sure it’s summer-friendly with breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. Avoid multiple layers or accessories that might limit your ability to cool off. Also, remember that darker or black clothing absorbs more heat, making the clothing warmer to wear!

2- Air circulation is our friend

While running a fan does take energy, it can make all the difference to ensure you have some air circulation inside your food truck. You can also cool your truck off with no power if you have two windows opposite of each other, which will create cross ventilation! Also, consider using portable air conditioning units or swamp coolers to create a cool atmosphere.

3- Stay hydrated with popsicles 

Most people like popsicles, but what about popsicles that can also hydrate you too? Something simple to keep your staff happy and on their feet are homemade electrolyte popsicles. These delicious, fun, and no added sugar treats are perfect to stay cool on a hot summer day. Here’s a link to a recipe that is quick and easy.

4- Throw the towel in (the fridge)

Another cost-effective and simple way to cool off this summer is prior to a shift start, take some towels or extra rags, wet them, and then put them at the bottom of the fridge. Later on, take them off and place them around your neck as a cold wrap, and let the cool down commence!

5- Location, location, location

When arriving at an event, try to park your truck in a location that offers some shade, if at all possible. If you aren’t able to secure shade, try to find a location that is either concrete or gravel, which are both going to be significantly cooler than asphalt. 

Staying Cool In A Food Truck 2

6- Limit heat-producing appliances

Cooking is inevitable with all food trucks. However, consider tailoring your summer menu to avoid having a grill, fryer, and oven running all at once. If altering a menu isn’t a possibility, try to power down any appliance whenever you can. Even lights can produce extra heat you don’t want or need!

7- Stay hydrated

This is pretty straight-forward, but can often be overlooked! Hydration is the key to staying cool and performing your best for your customers. Prepare the day before an event by consuming plenty of water as your body will be better hydrated for the next day. Bring plenty of water for the event to ensure you and your staff stay hydrated and don’t start suffering from heat exhaustion.

8- Know the signs of heat exhaustion

The first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one. While working during a hot summer day, if you start experiencing any of the symptoms below, you are in danger of heat exhaustion:

  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Poor coordination
  • Anxiety
  • Weak, rapid pulse
  • Sweating heavily
  • Thirst

If you are feeling one or several of these symptoms, be sure to lie down in shade or air-conditioning for an extended break, drink water, and cold compress, if available. If your symptoms worsen, call 911 immediately. 

Remember, staying cool isn’t just about comfort, it’s also a crucial element for the success of your food truck business during the scorching summer months. Running a food truck in the summer can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can beat the heat and keep your cool.

For more food truck owner tips for success, check out The Truckster Blog or consider getting the Truckster Vendor App.

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Seven Tips to Find the Perfect Food Truck For Your Summer Event

Food truck for events

Summer has finally arrived, which means it’s time to get outside! It also might mean that you are hosting an event and looking to hire a food truck. Whether you’re planning a company outing, a birthday party, a family reunion, or a neighborhood block party, selecting the perfect food trucks can make all the difference. In this blog post, we’ll explore tips for pairing the ideal food trucks for your summer events and how Truckster can make your event a success!

1. Know Your Audience:

Before selecting cool food trucks for your event, it’s important to understand the preferences and dietary needs of your audience. Think about the demographics, cultural backgrounds, and age groups attending your event. The good news is most food trucks will be able to accommodate specific dietary needs upon request. Determine if you have a few meals that should be available, or if you want it to be available for most or all of the participants (then you might actually consider a gluten free option or a vegetarian truck). If it’s a few meals, then you can include it in the additional notes in your catering request. If it’s for everyone, then consider choosing those specific cuisines for the request.

2. Research Food Truck Offerings with Truckster:

Don’t just Google “food trucks near me”. By using the Truckster app, you can conduct thorough research on the local food truck scene and explore the diverse food truck options available. Look for food trucks that offer a range of cuisines, from international flavors to local specialties. Check each food truck’s profile on Truckster for recommendations and reviews. 

3. Embrace Variety:

They say variety is the spice of life – and food trucks are no different! Consider selecting food trucks that offer different types of cuisine, such as Mexican, Asian, BBQ, vegan, or dessert-focused trucks. With Truckster, you can filter your food truck search with 54 different cuisine types. By providing a variety of options, you can cater to different tastes and preferences, ensuring that every attendee finds something they love. This variety also creates an exciting and dynamic atmosphere at your event.

Mexican Food Truck for event

4. Coordinate Menus:

If you’re selecting multiple food trucks for your event, it’s important to make sure that all of the menus complement each other. Look for trucks that offer a variety of menu items, allowing your guests to enjoy either apps, main courses, or desserts. Don’t forget to give your guests the option of selecting something more hearty or something lighter. Lastly, if you aren’t hiring multiple trucks, ask Truckster’s catering team which food styles are the best general crowd pleasers or will match your event the best!

5. Consider Speed and Efficiency:

During summer events, efficiency is key to keep the lines moving smoothly and prevent long waiting times (we wrote another blog post about that exact topic!). When choosing food trucks, consider their speed of service and capacity to handle large crowds. Ask about their past experience with similar events or rely on food truck experts like the Truckster catering team to provide you with their recommendations. Also, check to make sure that the food truck is set up with online ordering with Truckster, so guests can have the option to order ahead and skip the lines if they want.

6. Engage with Food Truck Operators:

Establishing good communication and rapport with food truck operators is essential. Reach out to them to discuss your event requirements, the number of attendees, and any special considerations, which can all be done through Truckster. Ask about their setup requirements, power supply needs, and any additional services they may offer, such as branding or customized menus. Building a strong relationship with the food truck operators will help ensure a successful partnership and a smooth execution of your event.

Food Truck for outdoor wedding https://www.wanderingwagonbars.com/

7. Consider Aesthetics and Branding:

Food trucks can also contribute to the visual appeal of your event. Consider the aesthetics of the food trucks and how well they align with your event theme or branding. Be sure to visit the food truck’s Truckster profile to check out their truck photos. This attention to detail enhances the overall ambiance and creates a cohesive visual experience for attendees.

Pairing the perfect food trucks for your summer events requires careful consideration of your audience’s preferences, thorough research, and effective communication with the food truck operators. By understanding your audience, and utilizing Truckster’s catering service, your next summer event will be one people talk about for years to come!

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How to Throw a Party : 5 Party Planning Tips

If you haven’t heard the news, in-person events are back! After years of socially distanced gatherings, virtual happy hours and postponed weddings it’s finally time to grab our loved ones and celebrate. As we take on the post-pandemics ‘new normal,’ the event industry, like many others, has had to be resilient and learn how to adapt. People’s attitudes have shifted – “The pandemic has introduced a new concept to our thought-matrix: Is this essential? In other words, is it worth it?” Says  Teeg Stouffer, Co-founder of the American Association of Event Professionals. To address this concern, event planners across the world are shifting their focus and ‘experience-forward events’ are widely becoming the norm (pulling those newly defined introverts out of their houses!)

Most of us have probably forgotten how to throw a party. So, whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday party, corporate gathering, etc….we’ve put together 5 party planning tips for your next event to elevate the experience and throw a celebration your guests are sure to rave about for years to come.

  • Food Anywhere and Any Way You Want It…

How many weddings have you gone to where it’s the same basic choice of chicken or steak? I think we can all agree that the traditional, catered dinner we all know (and dislike) is one trend we should be leaving behind in 2022. With the wide variety of food trucks and cuisines they serve, why wouldn’t you choose something different. Mix and match cuisines to amplify variety, stick with strictly savory or forgo your traditional wedding or birthday cake for something exciting like churros. Food trucks for parties are totally unique and will provide your guests with an experience they’re not likely to forget.

food trucks for parties

Photo Credit- Truckster

BONUS! Aside from the obvious delicious food and unlimited options… utilizing a food truck to cater your next event ALSO allows you to support local businesses! 

  • Let’s Be Real

Traditional photo booths might be a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped snapping pics. In fact, more than ever, people are looking for that perfect, instagrammable spot to strike a pose and flash a smile. According to many event planners, “creating a space that uses bright colors, textures, and/or florals, where guests can take selfies, is in”. An open space installation is great – this will allow guests to move around more naturally and interact to get those beloved candids.

People haven’t just changed how they want to take a picture, but also the type of picture they’re taking. All across social media people are dropping filters and their carefully curated feeds for a more ‘authentic’ version of them. There’s been a societal shift for us to all be more real online. Consider providing disposable cameras and allowing your guests to capture your event in the moment. You’ll be revisiting those classic instagram ‘photo dumps’ for years to come. 

  • Cheers & Hold the Alcohol Please!

As more and more people are ‘sober curious’ it’s becoming clear that you don’t need alcohol to have fun at an event. We’re expecting crafted mocktails to be a staple at all 2023 events. Instead of offering the usual boring substitutes like soda or water (yawn!) – cater to all of your guests and request your bartender or mixologist whip up a few non-alcoholic options that fit the vibe of your event. This small, but thoughtful, addition is sure to elevate any cocktail hour!

how to throw a party with drinks

Photo Credit- Bridgesward

Your curated cocktails and mocktails can also serve as decoration at your event. Champagne towers can still exist sans champagne… swap out the bubbly for a martini or spritz tower. Another trend we’re expecting to pop up more in 2023 is specialty cocktail walls. This party planning tip is the perfect way to pair form with function. 

  • Jammin’ to Live Music

Finding the right music and entertainment for your event is one of the biggest decisions! This will determine the vibe of your event. Do you want people to be up on the dancefloor and rocking out? Or are you hosting a more intimate gathering and want something soft in the background? A live solo musician can fit any and all of your needs. Event experts are expecting an increase in the number of solo performers to be booked for events in 2023. Providing the perfect combination of live music and a personalized setlist of your favorite tunes… we can understand the hype!

  • The Classics are Getting a Color Makeover

If you’re attending a wedding in 2023, the bride’s dress might be the only white you see. According to Alexandra Denniston, Owner & Lead Planner, Eventlightenment Planning “The traditional blushes and neutrals of the past are fading into the background and all things color are taking a front seat in a lot of wedding decor, floral, and complimenting elements like stationery and rentals”. We can expect to see a lot of brides and event planners having a greater enthusiasm for vibrant, rich colors and textures. 

Don’t shy away from incorporating color in more creative ways as well. Swapping out your glassware for an eclectic mix of hues adds a personal touch and elevates your tablescape. 

party planning tips - colorful decor

Photo Credit- Rachel Claire

Whether your style is bold and eclectic or traditional and timeless… we can’t wait to see how you’ll celebrate this year with these 5 party planning tips!

Interested in learning more about food trucks for parties and how you can bring a food truck to your next event? Browse our directory of local food trucks in your city. Get a quote using our catering cost calculator and read more on what goes into food truck pricing. 

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How to avoid a line during a food truck catered event

You booked a food truck to cater your event, yay! But now you’re concerned that people may be stuck in line instead of mingling, dancing, enjoying overall merriment. Fear not! We have several tips on how to feed your guests faster and avoid lines at food truck catered events!

People Queuing Up For A Food Truck

Limit the menu options

Limiting the menu can drastically reduce ticket times. Choose your favorite 2-5 menu items (or ask the truck which items they suggest) to cut down on the decision factor and help trucks expedite food faster. 

Buffet setup

Instead of a typical ordering service, have your truck set up a partial or full buffet of food options. This ensures fast service and also puts some of the work on the guests, which makes the time going through the buffet more entertaining than simply waiting to be served. If you’re looking for extra speedy service, you can consider a double-sided buffet as well.

Food truck at a high end catered wedding Chellise Michael Photography

Individually pre-packaged meals

This has become more common to adhere with various COVID restrictions and allows trucks to quickly pass out meals to guests. We recommend ordering a certain amount of each meal, or be prepared to purchase a few extra meals than number of guests attending so that one option doesn’t run out.

Individually packaged catered meals

Control the flow of people

Send people for food in intervals to avoid a crowd overwhelming your truck all at once. 

Bonus tip : Use songs as table numbers and have guests approach the truck when their song is played! 

Creative example of table numbers

Add another truck

This will increase the cost, but could make the event run more smoothly and provide a variety of options to your guests.

Other questions about how to avoid lines at food truck catered events or other food trucks related questions? This is what we do. Contact us directly or submit a general catering request to get started.

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Plated Dinner, Family Style, Buffet, Oh My!

Think food truck catering means everyone is lined up, waiting for food? Think again! While that is an option, food trucks are well versed in catering experiences from sit down dinners to casual dance parties. Choose which service feels right for your celebration + your guests!

Food Truck Service

Guests go directly to the truck and order off the menu. Trucks have a variety of options and you can choose to offer their full menu or limited options. Expect guests to wait 5-15 minutes as food is prepared to order. This is best for a cocktail style of event and not a seated dinner.

Visual of what a buffet setup looks like

Buffet

A beautiful display of food that can be set up in front of the food truck or on a table elsewhere at your event. This is the fastest service style for a catered event. This option is more difficult to control meal sizes, so expect a slightly higher cost per person. 

Visual of what family style service looks like

Family Style

This is less common for food trucks, but still an option with some truck concepts. Food will be served on large platters across tables for guests to serve themselves. Similar to buffets, expect a slightly higher cost per person to provide ample serving sizes for each table. Depending on the truck, there may be rental fees for dinnerware and serveware. 

Visual of what plated service looks like

Plated Dinner

This is a special request for most food trucks. This option has clear cut food costs but may include additional fees for server staffing and dinnerware rentals. Plated dinners are served as coursed meals and can create an elevated atmosphere.

A chef serving a plated dinner

Plated dinners will typically be the most expensive option, given the staff and training requirements to pull off such a sophisticated event. Many food truck owners have backgrounds in fine dining so this style will not be new to them.

Visual of what drop off service looks like

Drop Off

Food trucks do not provide a service but instead drop off prepared food prior to your event. This is the lowest cost option and most flexible in terms of number of people and minimum but does not include the “food truck ambiance.”

Our Recommendations for Your Event

We recommend the following services for these types of events however choose which option will be best for your event’s atmosphere!

  • Weddings : Family Style or Plated Dinner
  • Concerts : Food Truck Service
  • Cocktail Hour : Food Truck Service or Buffet
  • Corporate Event or Gala : Buffet or Plated Dinner
  • Intimate Affairs : Drop Off Service

Ready to review food truck options for your event? Check out Truckster‘s  catering page to get started.

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How many food trucks should we book for our wedding?

Catering

The number of guests attending, the amount of time for food service, the style of service, the cuisines you choose, your catering budget and the atmosphere you want to create all have an impact on how many trucks you should hire. If you have a large guest list, consider hiring an additional food truck to ensure no one is waiting for too long to eat. Read on for some other points to consider.

hors d'oeuvre

Service Considerations

Multiple trucks will provide food choices and dietary options for everyone!
If you want everyone served at the same time, multiple trucks will be able to serve simultaneously to a large party. If your wedding isn’t a seated dinner and people can order and eat at will, then one truck can handle more guests.

Buffet service can be prepared in advance and one truck will be able to feed a larger group of people faster.

For a seated dinner, one or multiple trucks could be an option, however not all trucks offer this service style.

Cuisines

What type of food are you looking for? Certain cuisines are faster to serve than others. A burger that is grilled to order will take longer than a pulled pork sandwich that was smoked earlier that day.

High end hors d'oeuvre

Cost

Each food truck will have its own rental costs in addition to food service. You will have to pay a premium for each truck, however this is similar to other catering services when you want additional options. Multiple food trucks may cost a little more, but are still likely to be more affordable than a formal catering option (Plus way more fun + memorable!)

Catered Meal First Course

Truckster tip : Consider booking a truck for each course! We suggest tapas for an appetizer truck, burgers or pizza for a main course and of course a sweets truck for dessert!

Don’t worry about tracking down trucks that complement each other or negotiating several proposals. Truckster makes it all easy! Fill out our catering inquiry form to get started!

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Food Truck Wedding : How Much Does It Cost?

Wedding party eating pizza and having fun Wyn Wiley Photography

You’re getting married, yay! You’ve started planning your big day and are already overwhelmed with the costs adding up. The biggest wedding day costs are the venue, the attire, the photographer, the decor, and ……the catering.

Pinterest worthy of photo of a bride and Groom enjoying slices of pizza Tanner Burge Photo

You’ve decided on a nontraditional, laid-back event, celebrating the best way you know how – with really great food! But how much will indulging your guests (and yourselves!) with amazing eats cost? 

Bride and Groom feeding each other ice cream cones Olivia Strohm Photography

The contributing factors when determining how much food truck catering will cost are :

    • Date (Are you getting married on a Saturday evening during the busy season of June? Or on a Sunday afternoon in March?)
    • Number of Attendees
    • Type of Catering Service (Is it a drop off buffet or plated course meal?)
    • Type of Food

Bride Eating and being silly

Use our Food Truck Cost Calculator for a budget estimate of your day and to get started booking your favorite food trucks! You don’t have to sacrifice your favorite burgers for rice pilaf!

bride and groom feeding each other pizza Angela Ruscheinski

For more about the dollars and cents behind hiring food trucks, check out our blog on What Goes into Food Truck Pricing. Ready to get started? Submit your catering request on Truckster to easily book for your wedding weekend festivities!

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Challenges Continue in 2021 for the Food Truck Industry

Help Wanted Photo

Supply chain issues and hiring challenges are hot topics right now, but do you know how they affect food trucks? Food truck owners hoped for an easier year after 2020’s pandemic, but supply issues, food shortages, unpredictable gas availability and pricing, and hiring complications have led to a whole new set of challenges.

Here’s the Short Version

The U.S is currently having supply and demand issues; essentially there are more buyers than there are goods to buy. This imbalance and other economic factors of the past year have led to the largest inflation rate in over 13 years, causing businesses to struggle yet again.

Poultry is Getting Pricey

You may have heard that Starbucks is running low on flavored syrup or that Disneyland ran out of their coveted churros, but did you know there’s a nationwide chicken shortage? This is a real issue for chicken-centric trucks and restaurants who are grappling between taking a hit to their business or raising their prices.

The cost of poultry has doubled in the past year due to many factors, including a reduced supply after the winter storm in Texas (a major chicken producing state), an increase in chicken delivery due to the “chicken sandwich war”, and the labor shortage reaching farmers. Chicken is just one example of countless food supply issues trucks are currently facing.

Gas Prices & Mobile Businesses  

We’ve all seen gas prices fluctuate and your local stations cover their pumps in the last few months. As you can imagine this is a huge problem for mobile businesses. Trucks have complained about driving around their cities looking for available gas while in a rush to get to their shifts on time.

Gas Station Photo

Hiring is Impossible

Along with supply chain issues and food shortages, hiring and retaining workers has become increasingly more difficult. According to experts, staffing problems are due to the food industry competing for a smaller pool of workers, as job seekers are looking for remote work, dealing with childcare disruptions, and other pandemic-based factors. In a recent survey, food service workers listed their top three reasons why they’d consider leaving their jobs as low wages and tips, COVID-19 anxiety, and customer hostility.

Here’s What the Trucks Have to Say

  • “8 years in and this is the worst I’ve seen it.” – Chuey Fu’s (regarding hiring in 2021)
  • “Our cost of chicken has doubled in the last year!” – Killik’s Kitchen
  • “It’s been especially hard as the venues are back to 100% capacity so volume is going up.” – Deja Roux Cajun and Soul
  • “The nature of our needs is tough enough as it but there is zero response when we put the word out to fill positions on all available platforms.” – Solsage Food Truck
  • “Hiring is impossible!” – Just a Buck Truck

How Can I Help?

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for the service industry? Economic experts are unsure, but hopeful for a year on the mend. In the meantime, we all can do our part to help out. Remember to buy from and support your local food trucks. Tipping generously is always appreciated, both financially and psychologically. Please be kind when a food truck runs out of a menu option or has to cancel at the last minute. These entrepreneurs are doing their best amidst unprecedented challenges and we at Truckster are here to help find fill-ins whenever we can.

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A Note from Truckster Co-Founders: 2021 Summer Scavenger Hunt

Hello from the Truckster World Headquarters (aka our home office covered in paperwork, coffee mugs, and whiteboards with illegible scribbles)!

We are thrilled to announce our First Annual Summer Scavenger Hunt! Time to get out your treasure maps (ahem, Truckster apps) and channel your inner-Nicolas Cage.

The hunt will last May through September, with participants earning badges towards monthly prizes, swag, and entry for this season’s grand prize. It felt like a great way to help our users expand their horizons, while gaining more exposure for some of our favorite trucks.

Truckster Logo Hat
Truckster Swag

How to Participate

We’re starting out our first challenge this year in Austin and Denver, where we have our highest concentration of app users, and expanding to more locations in 2022. Each city has 5 featured trucks per month for consumers to track down (think local breweries, neighborhoods, festivals, …). When consumers place an order on Truckster with one of the 5 highlighted trucks, they earn a scavenger hunt badge. Earning all 5 badges wins that month’s challenge. We will send out Truckster swag and other goodies to our monthly winners, and each month’s winners will be entered to win additional prizes. And, we’re going big here, consumers who hit all five trucks May through September will be eligible to win our season’s grand prize! Stay tuned for hints as to what that will be (trust us, you want it).

Starting July 1st, earn your July badges by ordering from:
Austin Trucks
Bluebonnet Brews
El Xolo Tacos
Hands Off My Funnel Cakes
Hungry J’s
The Evil Wiener

Denver Trucks
Rocky Mountain Slices
Dem Boys
Laziz Ya Lebanese
5280 Burger Bar
Arepas Caribbean Food

Starting August 1st, earn your August badges by ordering from:
Austin Trucks
Hands Off My Funnel Cakes
Hungry J’s
Just Like Mama’s Soul Food
Pepe’s Tacos
Tacoly Moly

Denver Trucks
Farm to Truck
Mu Denver
Seb’s Pizzas
TacosTao
Waffle Cakes

Why We’re Doing It

After a year where everything has felt so serious and heavy, we sought out to create some lighthearted fun for our community. Watching friends forced to shutter their businesses, being separated from loved ones, and social injustice and violence plaguing our country, we have leaned into our community of small business owners and fun-loving foodies as a refuge. We wanted to take the opportunity to thank our fellow Truckster’s and reward them with a bit of fun, leading us to gamifying Truckster and creating the scavenger hunt. Let’s support our local entrepreneurs and make a game out of it.

Thanks for listening. We hope you participate with us!

Cheers,
Connor & Molly
Truckster Co-Founders