Planning an event and thinking about adding food trucks? Great instinct — food trucks draw a crowd, add energy, and give event-goers a reason to stick around. Here’s how to make it work.

Start with variety

Nothing kills a food truck lineup faster than three trucks all serving the same thing. Aim for variety: different cuisines, different price points, something for every kind of appetite. A burger truck, a taco truck, and a dessert truck beat three burger trucks every time.

Think about space and power

Food trucks need room to set up, a safe place to park, and usually access to power and water. Plan the layout ahead of time so trucks can arrive, set up, and serve without chaos.

Promote before the event

List which trucks will be there and what they’re serving, before the event starts. Hunger Beacons and live listings turn “there’ll be food trucks” into “my favorite truck will be there — I’m coming.”

Make ordering easy

Long lines are the #1 complaint at truck events. Order-ahead lets people place their order and pick it up when it’s ready, which keeps lines short and everyone happy.

Know the rules

Check your city’s rules about vendors, permits, and operating hours. Every truck needs to be licensed and permitted to serve in your area — make sure that’s sorted before the event, not the day of.

Get your event on the map

When your event is listed on FoodTruck Express, customers find the trucks before they even arrive. It’s free, it’s easy, and it gets your event in front of people who are already food-truck fans.

Planning an event with food trucks? Email us — we can help you get the word out.