Food Truck Spotlight

Fire food truck brings US classics to UK

A fire food truck fleet delivers American tastes to UK customers.

Photo: ENG9INE

January 13, 2025 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

For a food truck to succeed it needs to stand out. This is a lesson ENG9INE learned well, as owner Jason A.R. Moody created it out of a converted fire truck. Based in the U.K., it delivers U.S. style food like hot dogs and burgers. Learn more about this fire food truck below.

Food Truck Name

ENG9INE by Crazy & Co.

Owners

Jason A.R. Moody

Date Founded

2010

Location

Wakefield, United Kingdom.

How many trucks do you operate under this brand?

Seven.

Do you operate brick-and-mortar locations under this brand as well? How many?

No, we do not.

How did you come up with the name?

When we bought the fire truck it was numbered 905. We shortened it to 9 and used the style that many fire departments use when naming their engines, pumpers etc.

What prompted you to start a food truck?

We had been providing catering carts and indoor catering services for corporate clients for many years and food trucks were being asked for by our clients.

What's on your food truck menu? Why did you choose this cuisine?

Gourmet burgers.
Dirty fries.
Foot long hot dogs.
Southern fried chicken.

Being the only American fire truck in the U.K., a U.S. style menu just felt right.

Do you make all the food on the truck or do you use home-based kitchen or commissary space?

It is all prepared freshly on the truck.

What's the best part of being a food truck operator?

Not being fixed in one place, and receiving fabulous feedback from clients more used to seeing food served from a simple trailer.

What's the worst part of operating a food truck?

Crazy hours and the miles we travel.

What lessons have you learned since launching the truck?

Don't be afraid to take chances. Because no one else has done it before, doesn't mean it can't be done.

Is there anything you would have done differently at the start?

Probably made the move into food trucks earlier and been more ahead of the curve.

Any tips/advice to others thinking of launching a food truck?

Good food is a must, make sure you have something quirky, and don't be afraid to take chances.

Do you have any anecdotes about running a food truck — any unique interactions or special events you've been booked at?

The fire truck we purchased had a name on the side John W Sanders II. I tracked the fire department down to ask about it and they told me in the US you name fire appliances after firefighters that had sadly died. The day before we used the truck for the first time we received an emotional email from a lady who had found us online. She went on to say that the truck was named after her dad and thanked us for keeping the name. She said her dad would have loved the thought of a fire truck food truck running around the UK with his name on it.

About Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper is the editor of ATM Marketplace and Food Truck Operator. He was previously the editor of Digital Signage Today. His background is in information technology, advertising, and writing.

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