How do we approach Food Truck businesses?
I’ve seen on Google maps moving businesses and services like locksmiths and they’re on the map, how do we work with Food trucks , since they change locations often ( they usually have a schedule) , at least to create them or rate them.
Any advice and knowledge would be helpful
Hi @mariorosas ,
Great question! But there is no one straight answer. Originally, Food Trucks were not allowed on Google Maps because of their mobile nature. To avoid people navigating to a food truck listed on maps and to find no truck there, the only way a food truck on Maps was legit was if there is an actual sign at the location stating that this is a food truck parking stand with information about when the truck should be there.
When a food truck is permanent. Like it, it never leaves its parking spot, then a food truck may be added like any other food place on Maps.
Now, Google My Business, the program for people that run locations or businesses, has a service for businesses that do not have a public place that one could visit. Think of plumbers or locksmiths that come to your house when you need them and may work out of a workshop that has no opening hours or is open to the public. These types of businesses usually have an area where they operate. This type of “on-call” business also exists in the food industry. Think of a pizza delivery service, etc. These type of businesses show up on Search, but do not have a map pointer as there is no place to navigate to.
These SAB (Service Area Businesses) can only be added by the business owners on their GMB account and not by Local Guides. More recently, I have seen advice that people that run a Food Truck that operates in a certain area, could use the SAB option under the GMB program. The category that is used is most often “Mobile Caterer”. Now if this is correct practice in the eyes of Google or not, is irrelevant for us, because we cannot manage SAB businesses anyway. What we should not do, is add a food truck with a fixed marker, when the truck is not permanently there without the sign that I mentioned earlier.
Thank you so much for your help @JeroenM like always giving the best answers and being understanding. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this and I went and asked about the food truck and it’s stationed there so since it doesn’t move I was able to add it and it was approved!! Thanks a lot @JeroenM I really appreciate you helping me get a step closer to master trailblazer
Only if they are stationary. I don’t think there’s a current solution for that other than this
