13 Ice Cream Truck Secrets Almost No One Knows About

The classic sound of an ice cream truck instantly encourages kids to ask their parents for money for an ice-cold treat. The secrets hiding in these cute vans, revealed the publication Reader's Digest.

Photo: IStock

Top sellers never change

Despite all the advancements since the ice cream truck's inception, the true favorites never change. At least according to Hamidu Jalloh, an ice cream truck driver with 25 years of experience. He said his best sellers are "ice cream sandwiches, Bomb Pops, cartoon-themed ice creams - Bug's Bunny, SpongeBob, Spiderman."

Mister Softee First Class Machine

Without the Electro Freeze soft ice cream machine, Mister Softee would not have been able to produce their iconic treat so quickly. The truck's built-in appliance can transform this dessert's signature concoction into real soft ice cream in just two minutes.

Mister Softee has a secret menu

The famous ice cream truck appeared in 1956 in Philadelphia. An industry veteran, it still boasts a secret menu, like many fast food restaurants and food trucks. You only need to know the basics of ice cream to enjoy a one-of-a-kind treat.

On the subject: What better saves from the heat: hot tea or ice cream

The style of the ice cream truck hasn't changed much

Sure, you have trendy, redesigned ice cream trucks like the Los Angeles-based Recess, but for the most part, they stay true to the traditional look. The reason has a lot to do with human psychology and our tendency to get carried away with antiques because they take us back to simpler and easier times.

Competition can be fierce

Just because they sell sweets doesn't mean that ice cream truck drivers are always so nice to each other.

“Sometimes I might go out of town for an event,” said Jim Malin, owner of Jim's Ice Cream Truck. “One day a driver came up to me and asked if I had the right to trade here. I said, “No, I’m only here for an hour,” and he said, “Okay, I’m calling the police.” They're trying to get the police to take you out of town."

Not exactly an environmentally friendly business

Ice cream trucks tend to have diesel engines, and the truly "vintage" models have to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the freezers to work. Not exactly an environmentally friendly business. But Nissan is working on a zero-emission ice cream truck model called the Sky to Scoop that will revolutionize the industry if fully implemented.

Maintenance gets expensive

You might think that running an ice cream truck is less expensive than, say, opening a brick and mortar store. But maintaining a vehicle can be costly.

“I buy a new engine almost every two years,” noted Teddy Atas, Mister Softee truck driver. “I don’t keep track of how much it costs, but it’s a lot.” Besides, I have to pay for gas. The truck has two tanks, so that's the expensive part. And we are assessed by the health department, so we have to keep everything clean and up to date.”

Ice Cream Truck Drivers - Independent Contractors

Once upon a time, big brands like Good Humor hired full-time employees to hit the road in their iconic cars. But these days, drivers own their trucks, meaning they work for themselves. It's a bonus because they can set their own schedules, but in terms of everything it entails, it's tedious. Drivers must obtain permits, pass health checks, and find legal parking spaces, among other duties.

There are rules of the road

Every business has its own rules, and running an ice cream truck is no exception. Former driver Chris Mauney shared what his boss told him before he sent him out to sell. “Drive three miles an hour when selling and always play music,” the chief told Mauney. - Never put your truck in reverse - shift into neutral and get out to push the truck back if necessary. This was due to the fact that ice cream trucks backing up have a high chance of hitting a child.”

Sales can drop when you don't expect it

When it's 100 degrees (+37,7 Celsius) outside, an ice popsicle or an ice cream cone sounds refreshing, right? But drivers say that when it's too hot, there are fewer people who want to go outside, which means there are not so many customers.

Ice cream vendors see and hear everything

Drivers over time often focus on the route, learning the rhythms of the area or city and the best places to make money. Reshelia Cook, an Atlanta ice cream truck driver, said: “If the kids who shop get good grades, I give them free ice cream. I like to watch them wave their report cards to make me stop. Children know that if I notice that they are behaving inappropriately, I can tell their mom or dad about it.

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Successful drivers know their audience

As with any business, to be successful, you must know your customer and know them well. And this industry is no different. In the article Inc. Writer Jim Howdan shared what he learned from The Ice Cream Truck Lessons by the man known as Pineapple XVI. One of the most important lessons is that a good ice cream salesman knows that his (or her) business is all about “joy, excitement, and caring relationships.”

There were not very pleasant moments

During a major arrest in New York, ice cream trucks were confiscated as the owners were accused of trying to evade a $4,5 million fine. According to CBS 2 New York, between 2009 and 2017, there were 22 violations. The fines concerned vehicles seen running red lights, parking at fire hydrants, and blocking pedestrian crossings.

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