RequiredPhone or tablet
Any recent iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet with a current browser. A 10 to 11 inch tablet for the main window.
Works with: iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Lenovo Tab and similar
Food truck POS hardware, laid out on the counter.
You probably own half of it already. We don't sell hardware; this is what works and what to skip.
The kit, piece by piece
Required
RequiredHotspot or SIM data
The POS needs a data connection. A pocket 4G/5G router plus your phone on a second carrier covers most dead zones.
Works with: Any carrier-unlocked pocket router; dual-SIM phones
For cardsCard reader
Comes from your processor. Tap-to-pay phones, Bluetooth pocket readers or countertop terminals all work as your processor allows.
Works with: Whatever your processor supplies
OptionalReceipt printer
Bluetooth, USB or network thermal printers, 58 mm or 80 mm. Many trucks text or email receipts instead.
Works with: Common ESC/POS printers such as Epson, Star, Xprinter
OptionalCash drawer
A printer-driven drawer opens on cash sales. A locking cash box works too; the count happens in the POS either way.
Works with: Printer-kick (RJ11/RJ12) drawers
RarelyBarcode scanner
Handy for packaged drinks and snacks. Bluetooth scanners act like a keyboard.
Works with: Bluetooth HID scanners
Brand names are examples, not endorsements or partnerships. Check device compatibility with your processor and in a free trial before you buy.
Power, heat and sun
- Power: a 20,000 mAh power bank keeps a tablet and reader going through a double shift. Charge everything at the commissary.
- Generator noise: USB chargers on a generator can be unstable; a small inverter or surge-protected strip helps.
- Heat: phones and tablets throttle or shut down in a hot truck. Keep the device out of the fryer's path and in shade; it matters in Dubai summers and Lahore Junes.
- Sun: turn brightness up and use a matte screen protector; a hood helps at outdoor windows.
- Rain: a sealed case or a mount under the awning line saves a tablet at Portland pods.
Signal kit
Two carriers, one hotspot mounted high near the window, test at each new spot. Full plan: food truck POS without signal.
Hardware questions
A phone, tablet or laptop with a current browser and a data connection is enough to start. Most trucks add a card reader from their processor and a thermal receipt printer. Optional extras include a cash drawer, a second screen for customers and a barcode scanner for packaged items. You can start with the phone you have.
GetFoodTruckPOS works with your processor's reader rather than a reader we sell. You take the card on the processor's device and record the sale as a card payment in the POS. Common choices are compact Bluetooth readers and standalone handheld terminals with their own SIM. Ask your processor which suits a truck. See /features/mobile-card-readers/.
Most 58mm or 80mm thermal receipt printers that connect by Bluetooth, USB or network work. Truck owners often like compact battery-powered Bluetooth models from brands such as Epson, Star Micronics and similar makers. Check that the printer supports the language you print, especially Arabic or Urdu, and test it before service.
A phone is enough for a cart or a quiet window. A tablet, around 8 to 11 inches, makes the quick menu buttons bigger and faster to tap in a rush, and can face the customer. Many trucks use a tablet at the window and the owner's phone for reports and today's spot posts. Both run the same account.
Use a dedicated pocket hotspot or a phone with a strong data plan, and carry a second SIM on a different carrier. Test signal at each new spot before you open. Keep the hotspot away from the fryer and mounted high near a window for better reception. If signal drops mid-rush, take cash and enter those sales when you are back online.
Charge everything overnight, carry a large power bank for the phone and hotspot, and use a 12V car charger or an outlet on your generator or inverter. Tablets drain faster with full brightness, so turn it down in shade. A battery-powered printer saves cables. Check battery levels during your pre-service checklist.
Heat, grease and drops are hard on devices. A rugged case, a screen protector and a mount out of direct sun go a long way. Rugged tablets exist and are worth it for busy windows. Keep devices away from the grill, and wipe screens with a soft cloth rather than kitchen spray.
Yes. Many owners use a small cash drawer that opens from the receipt printer when a cash sale prints. Others keep a lockbox. Either way, open the cash register in GetFoodTruckPOS with a float, record cash in and out, and count denominations at close-out to see expected versus counted. See /features/cash-and-card/.
No. We do not sell hardware, so we have no reason to push a particular device. Buy from any retailer or reseller you trust, or get the card reader from your processor. If you want advice on a model before buying, send us the make and model through /contact/ and we will tell you what we know.
Got a phone? You've got a till.
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30 days free, no cardMonth to month0% of your card sales
