Tips For Running A Fleet Of Food Trucks

Expanding a single truck into a fleet of food trucks is the goal of many vendors. However, it’s not a simple task. Running a fleet of food trucks involves creating a simplified management process. It should also include delegating responsibilities to truck managers and building a team to handle the demands of daily operations.

Knowing how to run a food truck doesn’t guarantee success in managing fleet of food trucks. This is primarily because owners can’t always spend enough time at each truck to ensure that things run smoothly in each.

Tips For Running A Fleet Of Food Trucks

Simplified Management

Success in expansion of your food truck depends on the building on your concept and not in the truck. Vendors who prefer greeting customers or preparing food must first devote time to organizing a standard process that addresses most of the food truck business duties and hiring the right people to undertake these jobs. Simplified management strategies include the following ideas:

Expanded POS. Subscribe to a multiple-unit POS system that handles the demands of running multiple food trucks smoothly.
Standardize Menu. Use of common ingredients and menus in all trucks so that managers can use standardized inventory and costing systems.
Use Menu Specials. Special menu items can be produced in your commissary and distributed to all of the trucks. Unless of course, your fleet of food trucks will be in cities far away from each other.
Increase Inventory. Take advantage of local sourcing and warehouse-type stores for buying inventory by using a van to make regular or daily trips and deliveries to each food truck commissary.
Use Technology. Use electronic communications to speed decisions and collaborate among separate trucks.

Create systems that handle every aspect of food truck management. Unified systems can handle hiring, inventory control, training, establishing employee conduct, dealing with customer complaints, filing reports and assigning responsibilities for food preparation, service, truck safety, cleaning and maintenance.

Delegate Responsibility

Systems run food truck businesses effectively. The key is for vendors to hire the right people to run them and train their employees. Strategies for success include fostering better communications between owners and managers, customers and managers and workers and supervisors.

Install Cameras. Webcams enable people to see each other and demonstrate how to handle maintenance tasks or complex culinary procedures.
Hold Weekly Meetings. Regular or weekly staff meetings give people opportunities to air grievances, solve problems and make suggestions.
Get To Each Truck Regularly. It is important for owners should regularly visit each truck to interact with employees and customers.
Create A Rule Handbook. Create a uniform code of conduct, and organize guidelines for hiring and firing that managers understand thoroughly.

Owners of multiple food trucks need to devote time to each of the trucks in their fleet, but giving managers and workers time and attention is critical for success. Managing each truck remotely leads to an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality, so focus on maintaining regular communications with your staff teams.

Hiring the right managers, and creating a standard operational plan for all food trucks not only helps owners handle multiple trucks but also increases profits. Taking time to create a management system and training managers to hire, fire and manage operations will also improve customer service.

The Bottom Line

Follow this advice to give yourself the ability to spend more time on the important things. Such as, interacting with customers, identifying new business opportunities and supporting community initiatives when you don’t spend all your time on the day to day operation tasks of your fleet of food trucks.

If you are the owner of a fleet of food trucks, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know about any additional tips that could help those interested in expanding from one food truck. Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section, our food truck forum or social media. Facebook | Twitter