TACO BELL SHIFT LEAD
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Inventory Section - ....ANSWER ...-Section
What is the Shift Lead's role in managing inventory? - ....ANSWER ...-Control food
costs by managing inventory during the shift: receive deliveries, handle transfers,
monitor usage, coach on portioning/waste, and perform accurate counts.
How should a Shift Lead perform closing inventory? - ....ANSWER ...-Keep
storage clean/labeled, locate and use the count sheet or tablet, perform physical counts,
pay attention to UOM, and review variance reports.
What is the Cost of Sales Job Aid used for? - ....ANSWER ...-To identify inventory
variances and guide actions to correct them.
Why is it important to process transfers accurately? - ....ANSWER ...-It ensures
inventory accuracy and cost tracking between stores.
What are best practices for delivery and FIFO? - ....ANSWER ...-Check temps of
critical items, properly process delivery receipts, label/store items using FIFO, and
handle credits/returns accurately.
...©️ 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What does thawing and prepping based on projections prevent? - ....ANSWER ...-
It prevents over-prepping and maintains food safety and quality.
What is COS? - ....ANSWER ...-Cost of Sales - the actual cost of all food and paper
used.
What is ICOS? - ....ANSWER ...-Ideal Cost of Sales - the theoretical cost if every
item was prepped with perfect portioning and no waste.
What is actual usage? - ....ANSWER ...-The actual amount of ingredients used
based on sales.
What is ideal usage? - ....ANSWER ...-The amount of ingredients that should have
been used with perfect accuracy and no waste/theft.
What should a trainee be able to locate related to inventory? - ....ANSWER ...-Daily
count sheet or tablet, Cost of Sales Job Aid, and the inventory/variance report.
What tasks should a trainee be able to perform related to transfers? -
....ANSWER ...-Perform a transfer to another restaurant and receive a transfer
correctly.
How should ingredient usage be monitored? - ....ANSWER ...-Track waste,
compare to projections, and review usage reports.
Deployment & TRED Section - ....ANSWER ...-Section
What does TRED stand for? - ....ANSWER ...-Target Setting, Rush Ready,
Equipment, Deployment
...©️ 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Why is Target Setting important? - ....ANSWER ...-It sets measurable goals for the
shift and aligns the team to achieve them.
What does Rush Ready mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Team and stations are prepared in
advance for peak times.
Why is Equipment important in TRED? - ....ANSWER ...-Equipment must be
working properly to ensure fast, efficient service.
What is Deployment in TRED? - ....ANSWER ...-Assigning the right team
members to the right jobs at the right times to support operations and speed.
What are the 3 Rights in Deployment? - ....ANSWER ...-Right People, Right Place,
Right Number
What does "Right People" mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Assigning roles based on each
team member's skillset.
What does "Right Place" mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Deploying team members to key
positions that support customer demand.
What does "Right Number" mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Making sure there are
enough team members to cover sales without overspending on labor.
How should a Shift Lead use the TRED Board? - ....ANSWER ...-Review staffing,
assign stations, set goals using SMART model, and communicate with the team.
What should be included in a Shift Huddle? - ....ANSWER ...-Recognition,
Communication, Focus, Wrap-Up
...©️ 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Inventory Section - ....ANSWER ...-Section
What is the Shift Lead's role in managing inventory? - ....ANSWER ...-Control food
costs by managing inventory during the shift: receive deliveries, handle transfers,
monitor usage, coach on portioning/waste, and perform accurate counts.
How should a Shift Lead perform closing inventory? - ....ANSWER ...-Keep
storage clean/labeled, locate and use the count sheet or tablet, perform physical counts,
pay attention to UOM, and review variance reports.
What is the Cost of Sales Job Aid used for? - ....ANSWER ...-To identify inventory
variances and guide actions to correct them.
Why is it important to process transfers accurately? - ....ANSWER ...-It ensures
inventory accuracy and cost tracking between stores.
What are best practices for delivery and FIFO? - ....ANSWER ...-Check temps of
critical items, properly process delivery receipts, label/store items using FIFO, and
handle credits/returns accurately.
...©️ 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What does thawing and prepping based on projections prevent? - ....ANSWER ...-
It prevents over-prepping and maintains food safety and quality.
What is COS? - ....ANSWER ...-Cost of Sales - the actual cost of all food and paper
used.
What is ICOS? - ....ANSWER ...-Ideal Cost of Sales - the theoretical cost if every
item was prepped with perfect portioning and no waste.
What is actual usage? - ....ANSWER ...-The actual amount of ingredients used
based on sales.
What is ideal usage? - ....ANSWER ...-The amount of ingredients that should have
been used with perfect accuracy and no waste/theft.
What should a trainee be able to locate related to inventory? - ....ANSWER ...-Daily
count sheet or tablet, Cost of Sales Job Aid, and the inventory/variance report.
What tasks should a trainee be able to perform related to transfers? -
....ANSWER ...-Perform a transfer to another restaurant and receive a transfer
correctly.
How should ingredient usage be monitored? - ....ANSWER ...-Track waste,
compare to projections, and review usage reports.
Deployment & TRED Section - ....ANSWER ...-Section
What does TRED stand for? - ....ANSWER ...-Target Setting, Rush Ready,
Equipment, Deployment
...©️ 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Why is Target Setting important? - ....ANSWER ...-It sets measurable goals for the
shift and aligns the team to achieve them.
What does Rush Ready mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Team and stations are prepared in
advance for peak times.
Why is Equipment important in TRED? - ....ANSWER ...-Equipment must be
working properly to ensure fast, efficient service.
What is Deployment in TRED? - ....ANSWER ...-Assigning the right team
members to the right jobs at the right times to support operations and speed.
What are the 3 Rights in Deployment? - ....ANSWER ...-Right People, Right Place,
Right Number
What does "Right People" mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Assigning roles based on each
team member's skillset.
What does "Right Place" mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Deploying team members to key
positions that support customer demand.
What does "Right Number" mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Making sure there are
enough team members to cover sales without overspending on labor.
How should a Shift Lead use the TRED Board? - ....ANSWER ...-Review staffing,
assign stations, set goals using SMART model, and communicate with the team.
What should be included in a Shift Huddle? - ....ANSWER ...-Recognition,
Communication, Focus, Wrap-Up
...©️ 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
