CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — New changes have been approved granting food truck vendors permission to set up at rest stop to serve truckers delivering essential goods like equipment, food and other supplies to help during this pandemic.
Jeffery Mead, a trucker based in New York, is used to life on the road. He said finding a hot meal amid stay at home orders is hard.
“Sometimes you do have to go out of your way to find something,” Mead said. “It’s not as easy when someone in a car can just pretty much get off anywhere they want. We’re limited to where we have access.”
Greg Esterburg, owner of “Off the GRIDdle," said he understands.
“They need places to stop and eat,” Esterburg said.
He said business has been slow, forcing his team to get creative selling meals in order to stay open. Now, he’s planning to expand serving truckers, like Mead, at rest stops.
A new permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation will temporarily allow food truck vendors to set up shop and sell food to those stopping at the any of the state’s 86 rest areas.
Esterburg has already received his.
“It took me about five minutes to go ahead and get the permit. You have to have a valid license with the state of Ohio and you have to have a valid health permit and a valid fire permit as well,” Esterburg said. “I hope that word gets out quickly that we’re going to be there.”
There is no charge for the permit and vendors who are interested in obtaining one can find them on the ODOT website, here.
RELATED: Gov. DeWine gives food trucks permission to operate at Ohio rest stops to serve truckers
