The food truck industry has continued to expand at a rapid pace. In 2023, there were over 52,600 food trucks in the U.S., according to data from IBISWorld. However, it is not an easy business to enter, as it requires careful planning to select the right truck, equipment, and branding.

In today's episode of the Restaurant Operator podcast, Jordan Schild, president and CEO at Premier Food Trucks, shared several tools to food truck success with moderator Bradley Cooper, editor of Food Truck Operator.

He noted in the podcast that one common mistake food truck operators do is purchasing a used truck as an attempt to save money, only to face very expensive repairs and lost sales down the road. He instead said that it's very important to get a great truck up front, and the cost savings will come over time.

He shared other insights including:

The three biggest features every food truck needs.

• How to make a food truck stand out.
• Avoiding key early mistakes.
• How Premier Food Trucks helps operators.
• Listen to the podcast in full above.