California Catering Truck Insurance

Catering truck insurancevehicles there overnight for washing, unloading,
Not many agents/brokers write catering truckand morning loading of food.
insurance as they don't have a contract withThe drivers purchase their goods for sale at the
companies that will write that type of coverage.commissary, although you may discover that
There's a certain type of knowledge needed tooutside purchases were also made. The
write the risk with catering truck insuranceDepartment of Health Services have very strict
properly. There are basically (2) categories ofrequirements with regards to the purchase of
operators:food for sale. Food must be obtained from an
They are, hot trucks and Mobile Food Preparationapproved vendor, approved facility, or approved
Vehicles (MFPV), which allow food to be preparedcommissary.
as customers order, and cold trucks, IndustrialThe owners and operators of the vehicles have
Catering Vehicles (ICV), which sell onlyto meet certain requirements for various
prepackaged foods.governmental agencies. The owners are required
The hot trucks have at least a driver, (which isto register their vehicles with the Health
usually the taxpayer), and a cook, who may be aDepartment. All vehicles must have a valid County
family member. The cold trucks in most instances,Health Permit.
only need a driver since it is a self-service vehicle,Vehicles are usually inspected annually in order to
however, they are not limited to just the driver.renew their license by the Health Department.
The average cost of the trucks is approximatelyThe license, showing the name of the owner,
between $50,000 - $100,000. The trucks may bemust be on display in the vehicle or on the
owned by one individual, serving as the ownerpersons of the driver.
operator, or several individuals may own a fleetSelling any goods, wares, or merchandise on public
of trucks and lease them to various individuals tostreets and sidewalks on foot or using a pack,
operate; or they can be individually owned andstand, or push cart is illegal without the approval
then leased to another individual to operate.of the Department of Building and Safety.
The drivers/owners of food trucks are linked toThere are also stringent health codes that must
specific commissaries stocking and storing theirbe followed and enforced to operate safely and
trucks overnight. The commissary is a wholesalewithin the guidlines of the dept of health in order
supermarket where the drivers are able to buyto be able to operate the food business. State
food and supplies in bulk. The trucks are assignedlaws also require catering truck insurance.
to a commissary and are required to park their