The food truck or trailer is the heart of a mobile business, and when it breaks down, it essentially shuts your doors. It’s the most important investment to maintain for many reasons, and sticking to a plan will pay off as you expand. Whether you’re new to the business or already established, use the following maintenance tips for your food truck and trailer accessories.

How to Care for a Food Truck

1. Establish a Cleaning Schedule & Stick to It

Crumbs, spills, and lingering food particles are going to invite pests into your food truck or vendor trailer. Cooking and prep surfaces can become breeding grounds for bacteria that not only impact food quality but also get you in hot water with health inspectors.

Establish a daily cleaning schedule. Make sure surfaces, utensils, cookware, and gear are all thoroughly cleaned. This ensures you’re looking out for yourself and your customers.

2. Train Staff on Best Practices

Cleaning has a learning curve, so perform quality inspections and train your staff. Make sure they know how to clean grills, fryers, microwaves, and appliances.

Let them know what cleaner to use, and post a checklist with reminders for emptying coffee machines, trash, coolers, and grease traps. The better your staff knows how to clean, the better your food truck and trailer accessories will be.

3. Opt for Green Cleaning

Harsh chemical cleaners, like bleach, may be good for eliminating bacteria, but they can take a toll on surfaces and components. Fumes can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues with employees with asthma and allergies. They’re also toxic when ingested, so choose green cleaning products.

These non-corrosive cleaners won’t wear down your metal surfaces or trailer accessories when spilled. You won’t have to worry about them contaminating food or damaging your food truck if spilled.

4. Perform Quality Inspections

Take a visual survey of your food truck trailer and trailer accessories at least once a week. Make sure the tires are properly inflated and that the hitch is secure.

Loose or worn parts may break down on the road and result in an accident that badly damages your food truck. It’s wise to schedule a professional inspection at least twice a year, so you know nothing is going unnoticed.

Whether you need trailer accessories or a new trailer, Jackssons Trailers of Albuquerque, NM, has a large selection to explore. This family-owned business has offered new and used trailers since 1992, including tilt, flatbed, and ATV trailers. Start exploring their inventory on their website and call (505) 884-0891 to discuss new trailers with a sales associate.