If you have opted for a food truck rather than a trailer and your food truck stops working you will need to get a tow. Even if you have a trailer there is a chance you will at some point need to make use of a tow truck should your trailer get stuck in soft ground. Although a circumstance like this should be largely avoidable, I have a story that clearly shows how it could happen to anyone. A customer demaned that I park on her lawn against my better judgment. With the customer’s continued insistence I eventually agreed to park as they desired, and then during their event it began to pour rain. When it was time to leave, my food truck became deeply embedded in the customer’s lawn. After several hours of attempting to dislodge it I ended up calling a tow truck and, with much difficulty and lawn damage sustained, eventually managed to get my truck back on asphalt so I could drive it home at three in the morning. The exact same scenario could happen with a trailer rather than a food truck. Additionally, trailer owners should read this section because much of the advice below also pertains to how to handle a broken piece of kitchen equipment that necessitates the cancellation of scheduled appearances.
When you need to get towed it creates a huge interruption for your operation. If you have to cancel scheduled shifts you end up losing revenue while also having to cover an unanticipated expense. This is why we have stressed the importance of preventive maintenance for your equipment and vehicle as well as sound budgeting in earlier parts of this course. Some things are out of your control, but you can limit the frequency of needing a tow by taking proper care of your food truck. You can also anticipate that you will need a tow at some point and do your best to be prepared financially when that day comes.
If you find yourself in a situation where your truck has broken down, you will need to call a tow truck. For this reason it is advisable to have a company in mind before it happens. You will also need to know specific specs for your truck, such as it’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and length, to be certain that the tow company that comes to assist you has a truck capable of moving your vehicle. Ask your mechanic who they work with and when a break down happens consider the option of having your truck towed directly to your mechanic’s garage. However, if your truck breaks down immediately before a particularly big event, it may make sense to have your truck towed back to your commissary and then again to the site of your big event. If you anticipate making enough money at your event such that the cost of the extra tows will be more than offset by the revenue you avoided losing, this is a sensible business decision.
Also consider the nature of the repair that will need to be made and how long your truck is likely to be unavailable. For example, if you have a flat tire, you can probably have your truck back up and running within 24 hours, although some trucks may require a tire that necessitates a special order. You can take information from the walls of your existing tires and specify the exact tire replacement you are in search of over the telephone. This way you can be certain your truck will go to a garage that has the exact type of tire you need in stock and potentially avoid having to relocate your vehicle to another garage or have your truck languish while your tire is backordered. It is a good idea to befriend your regular mechanic and help him understand the nature of your business. If done successfully, he will prioritize your repairs over other jobs. Offering him and his staff a free meal may go a long way to achieving this goal.
If there is something wrong with the drive train of your truck, it may be down for weeks or longer. If you find yourself in the unenviable position of needing to replace your truck’s engine during peak season it may make sense to hold off on repairs until a slower time of year while getting towed to a location where you can permanently operate until peak season winds down. While this would necessitate making daily runs to and from your commissary with an auxiliary vehicle, it may be preferable to losing all revenue during your best time of year. Furthermore, your core customers may become sympathetic to your plight and support you even more than they would have if you didn’t need to have major repair work completed on your truck. Think flexibly and keep an open mind!
Assuming your truck has broken down and you want to get it repaired right away, have it towed directly to your mechanic’s garage. Talk to your mechanic about this in advance so you do not surprise him if and when the situation occurs. While your truck is out of commission, reach out to any customers that may be affected as early as possible. If you know you need to cancel, explain the situation, apologize, and offer to reschedule if at all possible. If rescheduling is not an option, offer to help your client find an alternative solution if you are able to do that. This could be as simple as recommending another food truck or catering option, or offering to work the event as scheduled, but with a pop-up tent setup if you have the appropriate equipment to do that. If you collected a deposit for the event and you have to cancel be sure to refund it. Additionally, send along a modest gift card to be used sometime when you are back up and running.
If your truck cannot stay plugged in onsite at your mechanic, be sure to empty the truck of any perishable inventory before it is serviced. Move product to your commissary so it can be safely stored and used when you are back in business. When you find yourself in this situation the two most important things you can do are to put yourself in a position to lose as little money as possible and maintain good relationships with your clients so you do not gain a bad reputation and lose future business opportunities. Keep these things in mind as you navigate the challenge of an out-of-service vehicle.
Key Takeaways:
*If proper care is taken a tow should very rarely be needed and is unlikely to cause catastrophic interruption
*Though less likely, it is possible for a trailer to need a tow
*A tow and subsequent repair is a significant expense that causes you to also lose revenue
*Have a tow truck in mind before you need it and have your tow truck go directly to your mechanic
*Consider towing your truck to a big event and then for a repair if you will come out ahead
*Arrange for electric power at the mechanic or remove refrigerated inventory from truck to store in commissary
*Communicate transparently with event contacts that may be affected; offer alternatives if cancellation is necessary
*Practice regular maintenance to reduce the likelihood of needing a tow!