Rolling Forward - Food Truck Startup & Food Safety Resource - Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by McGucket

Rolling Forward is an initiative presented by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association to support Michigan’s food truck community with resources that prioritize food safety compliance. It covers plan review support, ServSafe® certification and training, managerial control tools, and printable postings and signage for required in-unit practices. It also provides health and personal hygiene references and operating resources. The guide explains getting started, key license types (temporary, mobile, and special transitory units), and core rules for offsite food preparation and SOP submission.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages56

Reading Time2 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Getting Started

License requirements and initial steps

Food Truck License Types

Temporary food service establishment

Mobile food service establishment

Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)

Key Compliance Rules

Offsite food preparation restrictions

Plan review requirements

Food Safety Certification & Training

Person in Charge (PIC) and ServSafe®

R O L L I N GF O R W A R D M A N A G I N G Y O U R F O O D T R U C K O P E R A T I O N T O E N S U R E S A F E F O O D P R A C T I C E S F O R A L L WWW . MICHIGAN F OOD SAFETY . COM R O L L I N G F O R W A R D A F O O D T R U C K S T A R T U P & F O O D S A F E T Y R E S O U R C EP R E S E N T E D B Y T H E M I C H I G A N R E S T A U R A N T & L O D G I N G A S S O C I A T I O N ( M R L A ) T he Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association is proud to present Rolling Forward—a dynamic initiative designed to fuel the growth of Michigan’s food truck community while prioritizing the highest standards in food safety. Whether you’re launching your first mobile kitchen or growing your mobile brand, Rolling Forward offers a comprehensive suite of resources to help you operate safely, confidently, and in full compliance. From licensing and plan review guidance to realworld food safety tools, we’re here to ensure your business is built on a solid foundation. Included in this initiative are: • Plan Review Support: Step-by-step guidance to navigate the plan review process and prepare your mobile unit for inspection and approval. • ServSafe® Certification & Training: Accredited food safety training provided by the MRLA to help you meet regulatory requirements and protect your guests. • Active Managerial Control Resources: Tools to help owners and operators implement strong food safety systems and daily oversight procedures. • Food Safety Postings & Signage: Printable materials and templates for required in-unit signage, temperature logs, allergen alerts, and more. • Health & Personal Hygiene References: Easy-to-follow guidelines and best practices to promote personal cleanliness, proper handwashing and the development of staff illness policies. • Operating Resources: Checklists, maintenance schedules, waste disposal guidelines, and essential information to keep your truck running efficiently and safely. Food trucks are a vital and growing part of Michigan’s culinary scene. With Rolling Forward, the MRLA is proud to support the innovation, energy, and passion of mobile food entrepreneurs—while championing the safety and satisfaction of every guest you serve. Getting Started Your plan to operate will require you to get a license from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Development (MDARD) among other requirements such as registering your business with the state and obtaining a EIN number. MDARD food truck license types are explained in the following pages. Some of the types of licenses are explained here. Temporary A temporary food service establishment means a food service establishment which operates at a fixed location for a temporary period not to exceed 14 consecutive days. Temporary food service establishments use a different application than a fixed, mobile, or special transitory food unit food service establishments. Mobile A mobile food service establishment means a food service establishment operating from a vehicle, trailer, or watercraft that returns to a mobile food establishment commissary for servicing and maintenance at least once every 24 hours. The commissary license number must be recorded in the appropriate location on the application for it to be processed. See the application on page 7 of this manual. 2 FOOD TRUCK SAFETY MANUAL | MICHIGAN FOOD SAFETY . COM Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) An STFU is a temporary food establishment licensed to operate throughout the state without the 14-day limits or a mobile food establishment that is not required to return to a commissary. menu will ask about individual ingredients, including purchasing from approved sources, cold storage, transportation from a commissary kitchen, thawing, cross contamination prevention, cooking, reheating, holding, and date marking. You may also have to pay different or additional fees based on the county that you operate in. Contact the local health department for information.

FAQs

What is Rolling Forward and who presents it?

Rolling Forward is an initiative presented by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association to help food truck operators grow their businesses while prioritizing food safety standards.

What is required to operate a food truck, according to the guide?

You need a license from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Development (MDARD), and you must meet other requirements such as registering your business with the state and obtaining an EIN number.

Can you prepare food at home for sale on a food truck?

No. You cannot prepare food in your home to sell in your food truck. Any offsite food brought to the truck must be made in an inspected and licensed commercial or commissary kitchen.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by McGucket