Food Trucks Now Allowed At Rest Areas Under Governor's Latest Executive Order
DENVER (CBS4) - A new executive order from Gov. Jared Polis allows food trucks to set up at rest areas in Colorado. It's a move to help truckers have access to meals on the road.
"In addition to expressing thanks to truckers, we are taking action and remove barriers and regulations that get in the way of our truckers having access to freshly made meals," said Polis.
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He went on to say the order is also aimed at helping those food trucks and small businesses support themselves.
"This action will help Colorado's truckers have access to fresh and affordable meals on the road and help our small food truck businesses continue to support themselves in a way that also supports our critical supply chain needs and our community."
A hot meal will be much appreciated by many truckers, who have found it harder to find open restaurants, parking, and restroom facilities along the state highways, after new travel restrictions were placed on businesses and people during the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike with other travelers, Federal regulations have even been lifted to allow truckers to stay on the road longer to help fulfill supply chain needs.
"They haven't cut down on the number of trucks out on the interstate, but they have cut down on the number of places we can go," said Lorraine Lucas, a Colorado-based driver. "You can't take an 18-wheeler into most grocery stores so you can't even stock up your truck
What's left are often drive throughs, which semis can't access because of their size.
"If you don't plan way ahead of find some mom and pop place that will sell you food, then you have to go hungry," said Danny Hartman, a driver from Tennessee.
The new executive order came as good news for many truck drivers at the Sapp Brothers Travel Center in Commerce City on Saturday.
"It'll be a hot meal," said Lucas. "That is something I haven't gotten in quite some time."
"As long as the truck stops allow it, I think it's a great idea," said Hartman. "At least we'll have something."
Lucas said she hopes rest areas and truck stops will find ways to make ordering that food quick and easy, without having other cars and visitors get in the way. For her and many other drivers, time is money, and long waits would be costly.
"If the cars are getting in there blocking us, just regular people traveling when they shouldn't be anyway, then it's going to create an issue for sure," She said.
Other drivers told CBS4 they hope food truck operators will consider operating during the late-night and early-morning hours, when many of the few still-operating businesses are closed.
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