Image Credit: Big Al’s Bent Creek BBQ & Catering / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal]-
Public interest law firms across the nation are zeroing in on a small town in rural Tennessee. They are taking notice of the crushing regulations that the City of Morristown is imposing on food truck operators.
Some law firms have already contacted food truck operator Big Al Martin to examine the circumstances of his case.
Like so many city governments around the country, they often impose heavy-handed regulations on food trucks via city ordinances because of complaints by brick-and-mortar restaurant owners.
They are now messing with Big Al Martin, not a wise choice.
Big Al Martin is not one to stand by and be abused by city regulations. He runs a top-notch barbeque food truck and catering business and is having trouble navigating the mine field of regulations that the city government is throwing at him. He will not go away quietly.
Storm clouds are now brewing for legal action in Hamblen County, Tennessee.
Most recently, the city government of Morristown, Tennessee changed its ordinance to prohibit food truck operation between the hours of 11PM to 6AM, a time in which he conducts 40% of his business. He caters to the many blue collar factory workers that are seeking good food to eat during their third shift break time.
Food trucks have an 11PM to 6AM curfew, but brick and mortar establishments can operate 24 hours a day. Martin believes this is unfair.
There is also a city regulation that prohibits food truck operation within 200 feet of a brick-and mortar restaurant and a menu limit designed to suppress competition on certain food items.
Alex Martin is a farmer and rancher who lives a life of hard work with his food truck operation. He grew up knowing how to work and succeed. The food truck business is a way to supplement his farm operation, feed and employ his family, and provide a valuable service to the community of Morristown and Hamblen County.
The City of Morristown and the city of White Pine in neighboring Jefferson County are not making life easy when it comes to the food truck business. Many cities favor food services situated in brick-and-mortar edifices, ignoring the tremendous investment in time and capital of mobile food units and the specialized service they provide to the community.
White Pine, Tennessee issues food truck permits but only allows their operation one day per week.
Martin believes that regulations are a good thing for public safety, provided all operators are on a fair playing field and that such regulations are reasonable. He describes his experience with the City of Morristown as unfair because he believes that he is being singled out for speaking out.
His appearance at a recent city council meeting makes this apparent.
“The city of Morristown has put me through the ringer with inspections and permitting, including a new electrical inspection which we passed with flying colors. As I travel across the state with my trucks to events, we’ve had 88 inspections of various types in 2025 and passed them all.” – said Alex Martin, Food Truck Operator
The Tennessee Conservative News will follow this issue and report updates as the case unfolds in Hamblen and Jefferson Counties.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
