Food Truck Ordering — Customers Order & Pay Before They Arrive
Food truck owners' #1 mistake is thinking a **long line is a good sign**. It's not. A 15-min wait at lunch costs you 30% of customers (those who can't wait). Pre-ordering with pickup slots changes the game: customers order in 1 minute from their desk, pay online, and pick up without waiting.
How online ordering works
On your public page, the customer sees your next location and today's menu. They add dishes to cart, pick a pickup window (5- or 10-min slots), enter their email/name/phone, and pay by card. You receive the order instantly via email + dashboard. You prep ahead, the customer arrives at their slot and leaves in 30 seconds.
Why online payment changes everything
When the customer pays upfront, your revenue is locked: no no-shows leaving you with 5 burgers sitting around. You produce exactly what's ordered, cutting waste 20-30%. You also upsell more easily: on the app, suggesting a dessert or drink feels natural (+15% average basket size).
What about walk-up customers?
You can keep taking walk-ups for casual customers. But most revenue will shift to pre-ordering within 2-3 weeks of active promotion (signage, QR code, social posts). Our dashboard shows the pre-order vs walk-up breakdown so you can track the shift.
FAQ
What if a customer wants to cancel?+
Cancellation policy is your choice: free cancellation up to X minutes before pickup (default 60 min), or non-refundable. Configurable in settings.
How do I handle allergies or special requests?+
The order form includes an 'Allergies, instructions...' field where customers can detail. You see the note in your dashboard before prepping.
Are there delivery options too?+
V1: pickup only. V2 planned: integration with DoorDash Drive and Uber Direct for on-demand delivery (you keep 100% of the price, only pay the driver fee).