Do you love a specific food truck and they haven't shown up to your location? Unfortunately running a food truck is harder then it looks. This blog walks you through why and how a food truck changes its schedule.

One of the many perks of hiring a food truck for your wedding is the option to build a custom menu with the trucks. You are afforded the opportunity to create a totally unique experience for yourselves and your guests, rather than picking standard catering package A, B or C from a venue.

You may want to think again.

\*\*5/25/18 Update, we couldn't watch more people go through the painful process, we now build trucks and our main three tenants in how we go about it are listed below.

We're not going to go into excrutiating detail on this matter since it's a pretty straight forward issue. We've been rennovating and assisting food trucks for five years now, and we have yet to find a builder that has accomplished the following three key items on ANY custom project:

Three Essentials to a Successful Custom Built Project

1. Adhere to a timeline, and complete the job on time

2. Adhere to a reasonable budget and meet (not exceed!) it

3. Do quality work, the way it was actually requested

It's possible this unicorn is out there somewhere, but we have yet to find it. At least not at a reasonable price. You might say "well, why are you against building custom?" Our knee jerk reaction to that question is that it's almost impossible to reasonably pay back, so it doesn't make financial sense. By the time you've made your two or three thousand dollar truck payment, dealt with the wonky issues surrounding any equipment, and the used truck itself (which, by the way the builder probably bought for less than $10,000), plus the builder's custom project fees, you're pretty deep underwater. Not to mention, any issues that occur under warranty will be fixed, but you will be out of work during that time. At the end of the day, custom or not, you are still buying a flipped, used truck.

But it's under Warranty...

Nothing is free about it, as most custom builders are charging $70,000 to start a build, despite the fact that can buy a fully outfitted trailer for $35,000. "Wait, what?" Are you asking yourself: "Didn't he say above that builders buy 10k step vans and convert them?"

That's correct. The actual contents of a food truck costs around $25,000 (placed into a $10,000 used step van.) Most builders are sourcing the same water tanks, prefab windows, three compartment sinks, water heaters, vinyl etc. This stuff definitely adds up, but if you're good at math, you've got to be asking, "where is the other $35,000 that consists of the $70,000 custom build?" Well, that's labor, overhead and profit. Most builds can be done in a few weeks provided the right crews are in place. Part of the reason you can finance these trucks and get warranties when you build custom is the enormous margin on building them.

Our takeaway is that used is used, and a custom job does not make the truck any more reliable than any other used truck on the road. If you stay on top of things and do regular maintenance, it's very feasible to run a used truck with minimal down time. Some might say "but if you lose your engine, you could be down for three weeks." That's true. However it's also true with that $70,000 custom build, because...you guessed it, it's still a used truck. If you want a new step van to be built out, you're looking at $100,000 easy.

So when questioning, "Can I be down for a few weeks if something goes wrong with my engine?" Just ask yourself if a few weeks is worth $50,000? Let's say it costs $10,000 to repair your truck, and three weeks of down time. The average food truck grosses around $5,000 a week, and actual profit from that well run business is approximately $3,000. Adding up those costs, would you rather be out $19,000 or $50,000? Instead of a custom job, we recommend the purchase of a used truck for $40,000-$60,000, which gives you a reasonable investment that's been in use for a few years. We have helped several owners purchase quality used trucks, and not once have they said, "Man! I wish I would have spent another $50,000 and built one for myself."

Some might wonder why is this being written on an event companies blog? The answer is simple, we're tired of seeing local, small businesses being taken for a ride. Our hope is to find builders who will start treating customers right, who will fulfill the food trucker's requests, and who won't ship trucks with the wrong windows, no propane tanks, unfinished electrical and other items that are not up to code. If you are going to charge people an arm and a leg, then don't just give them the arm and wait to see if they come back and ask for the leg.

No, we don't build trucks, and why? It's not what we do, and there are enough companies out there doing it unsuccessfully. Our goal is to guide you through the process with our industry knowledge, without contributing further to a problem that is already in place.

\*\*Update 5/25/18 - we couldn't ignore the demand being created by trucks being let down. It has started to impact us as a company that supports food trucks in business development efforts by trucks not being reliable enough. We now do build trucks.

Have questions? Feel free to reach out to us today!

Are you thinking about getting into the Food Truck Business? Check out our seminar that occurs every six weeks.

Practical Setup for Food Truck Catering for a wedding:

We all know that when it comes to wedding catering, great food will make or break your big day. We've already established that food trucks offer customizable catering almost anywhere,  which can make them the perfect choice for your wedding festivities. Whether you need your rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour or reception catered, a late night snack of tacos or donuts, brunch the following morning, or all of the above, Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally can make it happen!

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Today, we'd like to talk a little more​about the logistics of incorporating a food truck (or trucks) into your Wedding. First off, the sooner you contact us with your date and cuisine requests, the better chance we will have of securing your first choice truck(s) and can begin the process of building and finalizing your menu. At least six months notice is ideal so we can secure your truck and get your program built while we button up the fun stuff like the deposit and contract.

Second, we'll figure out where the trucks will be parked and when. In the simplest scenario, on the day of your wedding the trucks will arrive a reasonable amount of time before service start. For example, catering your reception cocktail hour and dinner changes arrival and prep times. Not to mention the style of food you have selected heavily impacts how much time will be needed to setup. So in a utopian world your dinner is at 7:00pm, the trucks will be on site to set up no later than say 5:30pm. However, the food truck catering arrival is subject to adjustment depending on your event's location and itinerary.  For example, if your ceremony is outdoors at 5:00pm, with a cocktail hour nearby, and your reception in the same location (all outdoors) we will schedule the trucks to arrive prior to 5:00pm, even if they are not serving until 7:00pm, so as not to disrupt your ceremony and subsequent events.

The setup time and arrival  is also dictated by the type of service you have selected. If the trucks are serving out of their windows, their setup time is less than if they are arranging a buffet service (indoors or out) for your guests. No matter the style of service and activities you have planned, we work to ensure the trucks will arrive with enough time and be ready to serve in a way that best complements your wedding and guests.

Stop back and check out our next post for "Onsite Kitchen for Fresh Dishes"

Be sure to contact us today to discuss your options!

Organizing a food truck rally is no easy feat! Between chasing down a food truck (or a dozen trucks!) to attend your event, ensuring they are properly licensed and insured, hoping they will show up on the day of, and that they have the capabilities to serve the number of people you have in the time allotted, it's a task with many moving parts. How well versed are we in these difficulties? We've encountered new ones every time we've done an event! With several years of experience in hosting food truck caterings and events in Tampa Bay, we have handled just about every eventuality that may occur during your event - which means we also have a big head start on developing a work-around solution!

Part of our process begins with vetting the food trucks themselves. When you look to hire a food truck it can be a shot in the dark. Are they going to meet your expectations and be reliable? Is their food quality consistent? Can they deliver a great customer experience? Are they able to turn tickets quickly enough? We can recommend the appropriate number of trucks to fit your needs, and who will deliver the services you require. The trucks we work with have been determined to be reliable partners through experience, and know our standards and procedures. We can also help to ensure the trucks have the information they need prior to arriving, in order to be well prepared for your event. This does not mean that every truck we work with is infallible, but our history with the trucks, our knowledge of their strengths and weakness, and the vetting process ensures a much higher rate of success.

If you're looking to have a fun and seamless experience, look to us to handle the hiring of food trucks at your next event. Contact us today at 813-802-9119 or fill out our food truck booking form, and a local expert will contact you shortly to discuss your event in more detail.

Americanweiner is now Merica! This food truck comes back on the road with a new name, new look, new menu items - but still the same great American flavor! Merica serves hot dogs, burgers, patty melts, and more! Talk about a good 'mericun meal.

Check out one of the best dessert trucks in town's newest offerings! LizzieCakes offers coffee and tea now in addition to her dessert offerings. Check out some of the food offered by LizzieCakes in this blog, and make sure to come out this upcoming April to try out this truck's new menu!

Looking for a wedding caterer? Look no further than Tampa Bay Food Trucks (TBFTR)! Headquartered in Tampa, FL we service weddings throughout the local area, including Orlando, Sarasota and Lakeland. Tampa Bay Food Trucks is a professional food truck caterer that has been active in the Tampa Bay wedding industry for over 4 years. We specialize in wedding receptions (including indoor and outdoor venues), rehearsal dinners, wedding brunches, late night snacks, corporate events, birthday parties, retirement and graduation parties, and employee appreciations.

What makes TBFTR unique is that we're actually about 100 caterers in one. We have the flexibility to customize any wedding package and can help you plan your entire event, or just handle the catering. We are partnered with most food trucks in west-central Florida, and can pair you with the best possible truck(s) for your event. Not every food truck on the street is TBFTR-approved. The food trucks we have selected are all properly licensed, insured, and have a proven track record of high-quality food and service with us. We can ensure you are hiring a truck that will provide prompt and professional service, and mouthwatering food your guests will be sure to remember.

We will work with you to develop a menu that meets your cuisine requirements, as well as your preference for service. We can have your guests order from the truck itself, or set up a buffet. We can handle your entire wedding weekend from start to finish, just your reception, or just a late night request for hot dogs or donuts. We can also provide our TBFTR mobile DJ truck, dance floor, tables, chairs, lighting and assist with other rentals. The sky really is the limit in terms of how you would like to utilize our services.

Call Tampa Bay Food Trucks today, or fill out our information request form Book a Food Truckto get started!

Making of The Mac Shack Continued

Earlier this week we posted about developing a food truck concept, breathing life into an old business and watching the concept take off. At this point, the truck made it's way into the shop for repairs! It took D&S Truck and Trailer several days of chasing down unnecessary electrical wiring and switches within the truck to eliminate the battery issue. They finished the job with a box full of wires to show us, that had accumulated over years of different people working on the truck. Once the truck was restored to proper working condition, we washed it off and began sanding all of the paint that was currently on the truck to prepare it for rebranding.

The exterior was the biggest and most time consuming aspect of the project. We soon discovered the finish on the outside of the truck was uneven, so we elected to paint the truck and apply the logos in decal form. After several days of sanding, a coat of primer was applied, followed by the supreme cheese yellow base coat. With just this basic paint it already looked like a brand new truck!

After the painting was completed, we added wood paneling to the exterior to give the truck a "shack-like" appearance. Next, we went over the wood panels with a stain to give it a nice, weather-beaten look, and sealed it with a clear gloss topcoat.

The interior of the truck was in need of some minor work; namely the cabinet hardware was stripped off in order to make room for the wood paneling that would cover it. A new shelf for the serving window was built, and the hood cover was cleaned and painted to give it refreshed look.

At this point, it was finally time to drive the truck over to one of our sponsors in Land O' Lakes: Local Wraps. They had created some beautiful vinyl logo decals for us based on our favorite design, to add to the exterior of the truck. Local Wraps prepped the truck's surface with alcohol, and applied the vinyl decal.

Always the team to get the impossible accomplished, we finished up at Local Wraps with only 3 hours before it's debut service! We returned the truck to it's owner and Mac Shack was a giant hit at the Lakeland Food Truck Rally at Munn Park in Lakeland, a large rally we host on the second Thursday each month.

We were thrilled to note that the rebranded Mac Shack truck far surpassed the sales accomplishments of the truck in it's former life (with it's original menu and branding) when compared to all of their previous appearances at that same event. We at Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally are here to help you achieve the most possible success with your mobile food truck business. Whether you're brand new to the market, just have questions, or find yourself floundering, be sure to reach out to us today regarding our business consulting services.

\\*\\* Update\\*\\* 3/10/16

During this build we were not able to complete the exterior aesthetics of the Mac Shack for it's debut rally showing. We have since updated the paintwork to the front of the food truck to give it a real shack like look. The completed truck will be appearing at the Lakeland Food Truck Rally today, make sure you stop by and check the Mac Shack out!

Just the Goods was a food truck based out of Lakeland, but it was in need of quite a bit of help aesthetically and the owner, Beth Stokes, didn't want it to be good, she wanted it to be great! That's where our team came in, and pitched the idea of rebranding.