We talked with two licensed Texas mobile food vendors shortly after their DSHS pre-licensing inspections. Details that could identify them or their cities have been left out — everything else is exactly what they told us.
Operator One: No Fixed Location
Did you have to drive your truck somewhere for the inspection, or did they come to you?
They came to me. I don't have a set location, so the inspector had me meet him somewhere public instead.
How did scheduling work?
He emailed me first, then called to set it up. He was coming from out of town, so it wasn't same-day — but I knew he was coming.
Do you have to be plugged in, or is a generator required?
You can run on a plug if it's available. If not, your generator has to be running so they can check it. Either way works — it just has to be live when they show up.
What about water?
Same idea — it has to be running. They check your hot water and your fridge temps while everything's operating, not powered down.
Did they ask for a variance letter?
Yes — for water fill-up and wastewater disposal. Have that ready.
How particular were they about where the allergy notice was posted?
Not particular at all. Anywhere visible was fine. I was expecting them to be strict about exact placement and they weren't.
What did the actual inspection look like?
Very thorough. He checked every little detail and took about 100 pictures — inside and out. It took about two hours from start to finish.
Anything you wish you'd known beforehand?
A friend of mine who was open and running during her inspection said they had her check her own food and water temps herself while they watched. Mine happened while I was closed, so I got lucky there — but everything still got checked either way.
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A second confirmed operator — licensed around the same time, in a different setup — gave us a useful point of comparison. He moves around and ran his inspection on a generator. His friend, who operates from one fixed spot and doesn't move, was inspected while hard-connected to electrical power. Both passed and were licensed.
What This Confirms for Texas Operators
- DSHS designates the inspection location — for operators with a fixed spot, that's usually where you already operate; for mobile operators, they'll designate somewhere convenient
- Your unit must remain "readily moveable" with no permanent utility connections, and be operable at inspection without needing a hookup — build for full self-sufficiency; treat any allowance beyond that as inspector discretion, not a rule
- Water has to be running, with hot water and fridge temps checked in real time
- A variance letter for water fill-up and disposal is expected
- Allergy notice placement is flexible — it just needs to be posted and visible
- Expect a detailed, roughly two-hour inspection with extensive photo documentation
- If your truck is actively serving, you may be asked to demonstrate food and water handling live
Want to Make Sure Your Food Truck Is Ready Before Inspection?
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