There are over 50 active food trucks in the Des Moines area to find fresh-tasting food at lunch and dinner. You can find them almost every day set up in parking lots, office complexes, breweries, neighborhoods, and community events.

Over the past few years, food trucks have grown in popularity. They pop up and serve crowds. They offer quick, diverse options to satisfy everyone looking for a bite to eat. Understand that there is much work and preparation to deliver an incredible experience.

Here are some tips to have a great experience with your event.

Reach out to your local City Government and ask what rules or regulations may apply to your event. You may need to apply for and get a permit, and the food truck may also need a permit to operate in your city.
Most food trucks need 35 feet of level space and a minimum of 15 feet of clearance. Before the food truck arrives, a marked designated area is expected. The truck will need to arrive 30-90 minutes before to get ready to serve.
Most food trucks will want to serve 150-250 orders per event or 50-60 per hour. With that in mind, most trucks will serve during lunch or dinner hours. We have spoken to many food truck owners, and they want a minimum of 100 orders and may require a guarantee for smaller events.

If you have a private event, you will have a set fee and menu. This method is similar to hiring a caterer and is the most common. You work directly with the food truck owner and pay them based on the number of needed orders.
If you have a business or location with lots of visitors or foot traffic, most food trucks will want a guarantee on the number of orders. The host would pay the difference if the number of orders is unmet. If you don’t have a guaranteed arrangement, the food truck may not stay for the expected time if the traffic is slow. The food truck wants to deliver 50-60 orders per hour for a successful partnership. Most food trucks don’t want to pay a fee to set up at your event, and having one at your event will most likely draw a crowd. If you are hosting a significant event, be considerate and hire food trucks with different food options.