You’ve probably heard this story before. Someone finds a “great deal” on a trailer. They hand over a deposit. Then they spend six months chasing a builder who never delivers. Or the builder delivers something that would never pass a health inspector’s clipboard. This is exactly the hole Justin Prestidge saw back in 2012. So he started Custom Trailer Pros out of Kansas City.
Back then, trailer dealerships scrambled to sell food trailers. Most didn’t understand what they were building. Operators ended up with rigs that weren’t efficient to work in. Some weren’t even built to code. Justin built Custom Trailer Pros to be the opposite. A company that actually knows this industry, not one that treats a food trailer like any other trailer on the lot.
Fourteen years later, the mission hasn’t changed: help customers succeed as fast as possible.
What They Actually Do for Operators
Custom Trailer Pros builds custom food trailers for operators nationwide. But the trailer is only part of what you’re buying. Justin’s team also puts out free education. They connect customers to other people in the industry. That matters more than most new owners realize when they’re staring down their first build.
Their ideal customer is someone new to this industry who values quality and real service over the lowest number on a quote. Brand new to the business side of things? Justin points people toward a specific first step: read Food Truck 101: Beginner to Winner before you sign anything. That’s not a bad recommendation coming from a trailer builder. Most vendors won’t tell you to go educate yourself before you buy from them. That tells you something about how they operate.
A Customer Who Almost Gave Up
One story from Justin’s team sticks with me. A customer had already been through the wringer with a different builder. Months of back-and-forth. A lost deposit. No trailer to show for it. They came to Custom Trailer Pros on what Justin called their “last leg.” His team built the trailer and got it out the door. That operator now runs a successful food trailer business. Justin’s team stayed in touch after the sale. That’s the part a lot of builders skip once the check clears.
The Mistake Justin Sees Over and Over
I ask every sponsor this question. The answer is almost always the same, and Justin’s fits right in line with what we teach at NSFVA: operators try to get a great deal, and they end up with a trailer that won’t pass inspection. Or someone takes their entire deposit and leaves them with nothing.
We hammer on this same lesson with food cost, event pricing, and equipment. Cheap and fast is rarely cheap in the long run. A trailer that fails inspection or never gets built doesn’t just cost you money. It costs you your opening date, your momentum, and sometimes your entire launch.
Worth Knowing About
Custom Trailer Pros runs a full YouTube channel built for people in mobile food. It features interviews with industry experts, conversations with working operators, and practical tips for finding your footing in this business. Still researching before your build? Check that channel before you ever pick up the phone.
Where the Industry Is Headed
Justin’s read on the industry lines up with what I’m seeing across the country. Mobile food isn’t a trend anymore. It’s a permanent part of how people eat. The operators pulling ahead treat their business like more than just a window. Online ordering, third-party delivery, catering, and a real social media presence are becoming table stakes, not extras. Justin’s team keeps building relationships with other industry experts. They also show up at community events, including the Food Truck Owners Expo.
Get In Touch
Thinking about a custom build? Already been burned once and need someone who actually knows this industry? Reach Justin’s team at info@customtrailerpros.com or 800-859-5405. You can also find them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Custom Trailer Pros is an NSFVA sponsor, and stories like this show why that partnership matters. It’s another set of hands helping operators avoid the mistakes that sink a launch before it starts.
