While spring brings welcomed warmth and a rise in food truck activity, in many parts of the country it also uncovers nasty potholes. While potholes may not immediately seem like a safety risk, the severity of pothole damage can vary greatly and larger or deeper defects in the road can drastically increase the risk of accidents and damage to your food truck such as…

Types Of Pothole Damage

  • Cracked wheels and rims
  • Damaged transmissions
  • Punctured and flat tires
  • Axle damage
  • Kitchen equipment can be damaged
  • Food goods can be thrown around kitchen

This damage can cause accidents which can quickly lead to serious injuries that lead to enormous medical expenses, time away from work, lost income, and even long term disabilities.

How to avoid potholes:

  • Use caution when driving through puddles. Potholes form because of excess moisture that has collected, frozen, and thawed, causing cracks and holes in the asphalt. So where there are puddles there are usually potholes.
  • Be aware of changes in traffic flow. Do you notice that cars way ahead of you are swerving at a certain point in the road? Chances are there’s a pothole up ahead.
  • Memorize the layout of your usual routes. Are there particular neighborhood potholes that drive you nuts? Make a mental note of all the potholes that you encounter on a regular basis. Often drivers zone out and absentmindedly run into the same potholes multiple times. Challenge yourself to memorize their locations.

Already encountered a pothole? Here’s what to do:

  •  Monitor your food truck’s performance and be on the lookout for signs of damage. Has your vehicle started swaying or sliding while turning? Does the front or rear sit lower or look unbalanced? Or maybe the truck just feels “off” when you drive it. If anything about your food truck’s appearance or performance seems altered, and then get it to a preferred auto shop for inspection and maintenance.
  • If your encounter with a pothole has caused serious damage to your food truck then consider filing a claim with the municipal entity that maintains that road. You’ll need to be prepared to fill out a full claim report, including your food truck’s insurance information.

Do you have any additional pothole damage tips for our readers? Share your thoughts in the comment section below or on social media. Facebook | Twitter