Food Trucks OK’d at Public Rest Areas in California
The state is allowing food trucks to set up at rest stops on a temporary basis with a permit.
May 12, 2020 | 2 min read
LOS ANGELES—The coronavirus lockdown has been devastating for many foodservice operators. It is especially difficult for food truck operators since foot traffic and social gatherings have come to a halt. But in Los Angeles, some of the city’s 800 operational trucks are looking at a new customer—the American trucker, reports Business Insider.
Under an executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsome April 16, the California Department of Transportation is temporarily allowing commercially licensed food trucks to sell at public rest areas statewide in order to boost sales and give the state’s large population of truck drivers more opportunities for hot meals. Normally, commercial activities are restricted by law at California roadside rest areas. Gov. Newsom’s order suspends the restrictions for 60 days.
Although there are no rest stops in Los Angeles proper, surrounding counties have several. The food trucks must have the proper permits to work the rest areas.
“Food trucks rely on people to gather. That model went away pretty quickly,” said Ross Resnick, founder of the food-truck-booking company Roaming Hunger. “When you close your eyes and imagine a food truck, you imagine a group of people.”
Many truckers have faced challenges as restaurants they normally would go to have closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. As reported in NACS Daily, restaurants like McDonald’s and rest stops like Pilot Flying J and Love’s have been doing their best to provide practical and safe ways for truckers to get food.
LA food trucks may still operate during the pandemic so long as customers follow social-distancing protocols while waiting to order and pick up food, according to the city website.
When the state’s lockdown began, some food trucks saw business drop about 20%, according to the Los Angeles Times. For others, the decline was as much as 60% to 70%. Some food truck owners shuttered their businesses rather than operate at a high loss or rely on delivery services that can take as much as 30% of an order.
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