You have finally fulfilled your dream of owning your own business, a food truck.

Food truck trailers are not immune to trouble. Endless things can go wrong in the blink of an eye. Knowing how to identify problems in advance will help you know how to handle a food truck emergency.

1. What could go wrong with a Food Truck?

The same thing that happens to a traditional restaurant could happen to a food truck. So to avoid emergencies, you must first think about them and anticipate events. Research restaurant emergencies and then think about what you would do if they happened in your truck. Here are the possible solutions for such emergencies.

-Power emergency

A power outage means trouble for a traditional restaurant. Food spoils without proper refrigeration.

The same goes for a food trailer. If this happens, you are going to find that your products go bad.

-Inappropriate change

Not having the appropriate change for a customer qualifies as an emergency that will negatively affect your business.

When a customer gives you a twenty euro bill, they need a suitable change or you will immediately earn a reputation for inefficiency and inexperience.

This type of event gives a very bad image and is enough to keep customers from coming back.

-Inconsistent taste

You are a great cook and you can make amazing food. But then your customers start to complain: the food doesn't taste the same as it used to. It is bland or too salty. 

Inconsistent taste can detract from the customer experience and give you a reputation that you won't quickly recover from.

-Physical damage

The same kitchen accidents that happen in a traditional kitchen can easily happen in a food truck caravan. In fact, small spaces make accidents even more likely.

A knife slips, grease is splattered, a kitchen fire breaks out, or an employee slips on a slippery floor. All of this could cause a mobile food truck to shut down indefinitely.

-Beware of business downturn

You may have had great success in the beginning when curious people sponsored it. But now you're noticing that there are no returning customers, and the overall business is slowing down.

This really is a food truck emergency because you need income to operate your food truck. And you can't pay yourself, your bills, or your employees if you don't have customers, no matter how well you manage your money.

2. How to respond to a food truck emergency

Knowing your possible emergencies is the first step to the solution. Planning for such emergencies is the next step.

-Have backup power

Most food truck caravans have the option of using a generator or connecting to electrical power on land. You should invest early on in a reliable generator that will run your entire truck. Make sure you have both the ground power cord and the backup generator fuel available.

You'll also want to test your generator regularly so you can turn it on when you really need it.

-Explore a location

The correct location will deter potential thieves and possibly increase the number of your customers as well.

Find a well-lit area with a roaming police force nearby. You can help feed the agents and keep your business safe at the same time.

-Keep your flavors consistent

Once you develop your secret recipes, write them down. Then make sure to use the same brand of ingredients when you cook. Keeping the same brand and following the precise details of the recipe will ensure a consistent product every day. This will boost your reputation as a consistently tasty great food trailer.

Try your food every day to make sure the quality stays the same. If you are the cook, it is important to make sure something has not been missed. And if someone else is cooking, you need to make sure your cooks don't bypass the recipe.

-Post and practice emergency procedures

Have a plan for physical emergencies and practice executing that plan. Keep your safety protocols posted on your mobile food truck for all employees, and also make sure gas lines are turned off.

Plan emergency staff training, even if your business consists only of you and your family. Make sure everyone knows what to do if there is a fire in the truck or if another physical emergency occurs.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy and up-to-date. Write a note on your calendar or set a reminder on your phone near the expiration date to make sure you never have an old fire extinguisher.

It is also essential to keep a well-stocked first aid kit, with the essentials to deal with kitchen-related accidents such as burns or cuts.

To avoid emergencies in the kitchen, consider the flow of your kitchen. A small space can lead to more accidents, so having a set work pattern and smooth flow will help you avoid problems and also increase your efficiency.

-Know your market

To fight the decline in business, research your potential customer. Understand who you serve at your location and make sure you have food that your potential customers are interested in eating.

Take your time to get to know your community and park in an area where you will have a good customer base.

There are many strategies you can implement to achieve a profitable food truck business.

-Keep cool

To keep your customers coming, make your food, packaging, service, and delivery unique. Ask yourself: "What will make my business stand out from the rest?"

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Prepare for the worst

By understanding potential food truck emergencies, you can plan solutions that will help you avoid a disaster.