What is a Drive In Diner? History & How to Start One

Food delivery and takeout services are two of the fastest growing segments of the restaurant industry. In the US, it's reported that 60% of consumers order takeout or delivery at least once a week. A growing reliance on convenience and quick service has created a boom in food delivery and offshoot services like curbside pickup and no-contact delivery. For restaurants affected by the pandemic, delivery service has provided a supplemental revenue stream. If you're interested in employing a restaurant delivery service, one of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether you should build your own team or use a third party company. Keep reading to learn more about how to choose the right service for you! Shop All Delivery Supplies Tips for Food Delivery and Take-Out If you're ready to add delivery services to your restaurant, follow these steps to get started: 1. Designate a Space for Delivery By designating a space for your delivery drivers to pick up their orders, you help them to bypass a line of waiting customers and increase their efficiency. This space can also be used as a carry-out area for customers picking up their orders. If you would like to be even more efficient, create a space for employees to package delivery and take-out orders only. Designate a take-out checkout station for customers who did not pay over the phone or online. 2. Make Updates to Technology Online ordering platforms make it easy for your guests to view your menu, place their orders, and pay for your services digitally. This eliminates the need to take orders by phone, which can be time-consuming and lead to mistakes in the food order. Mobile ordering apps make it convenient for customers to place orders no matter where they are, whether it's at home, on the go, or at the office. By updating your ordering technology, you can streamline your delivery service and attract new customers. 3. Train Food Delivery Service Staff If you choose to create your own delivery fleet, take the time to make a training program for your delivery staff. Teach your delivery drivers how to use insulated delivery bags, how to load food and drink orders in their vehicle, and how to pass orders to customers safely. Hiring a third-party delivery service eliminates the need to train your own drivers, because these companies employ their own experienced delivery drivers. However, your in-house team is still responsible for packaging all orders and getting them ready for pickup. It helps to designate one or two team members just for boxing up take-out orders, especially on a busy night. Train your take-out team to check orders for accuracy, package them for transport, and include any necessary condiments or cutlery. They should know where to place orders when they are ready and make sure the delivery courier is being given the right order. 4. Create a Delivery Menu Making a separate delivery menu helps simplify preparation and packaging for your staff. Start by choosing from some of your most adored menu items. Avoid foods that might get too soggy or melt after they are placed in sealed carry-out containers. Also ask your staff which meals and sides they think would be good additions for your delivery menu. 5. Stock Delivery Supplies Be sure to stock up on take-out containers, utensils, napkins, lids, cups, pizza boxes, condiments, and insulated food delivery bags so that your staff never runs out of the items needed to complete an order. <figure class="article-img article-img--sm article-img--left"> <figcaption style="font-weight: bold;">Insulated Food Delivery Bags from $7.99</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="article-img article-img--sm article-img--left"> <figcaption style="font-weight: bold;">Pizza Delivery Bags from $9.07</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="article-img article-img--sm article-img--left"> <figcaption style="font-weight: bold;">Deli Containers from $3.39</figcaption> </figure> 6. Build a Relationship With Food Couriers If you choose to hire a third-party delivery service, get to know the delivery couriers that serve your location. Working together to get delivery orders out to your customers as quickly as possible is the common goal. This is much easier when your in-house team and third-party couriers are able to connect and successfully transfer orders or information. Designate a team member on every shift as the point-person for interacting with delivery drivers. Why Should Your Restaurant Offer Delivery Services? If you're looking to boost your sales, adding delivery service to your restaurant will help you distinguish yourself from the competition - or at least keep up with them. Keep in mind that delivery will only grow your brand if you already have market presence and a loyal customer base. Potential customers can't order from you if they've never heard your name. Once you're on the delivery circuit, you'll be available to customers who may not have tried your food before, which can lead to increased profits. Before jumping onto the delivery bandwagon, you should ask yourself whether it will work for your business model. Delivery doesn't usually suit fine dining restaurants, for example, and you should also avoid it if your cuisine won't hold up well during delivery. The last thing you want to do is turn your customers off by providing them with sub-par delivery food. Use Delivery Services to Attract Millennial Consumers Using in-house or third-party delivery services at your restaurant is also an excellent way to attract more Millennial (or Generation Y) customers. According to the US census, the Baby Boomer population has officially been surpassed by the size of the Millennial generation (people now aged between 25 and 39), making them an extremely important demographic. Members of Generation Y value convenience and instant accessibility over cost, so they're a goldmine for restaurants with delivery services. One important thing to remember about your Generation Y customers is that they're probably not loyal to any one third-party delivery service. So, you may want to look into using more than one delivery service. Accordingly, you shouldn't sign any contracts that have exclusivity clauses. If possible, try to partner with delivery platforms that provide customers with the ability to earn rewards and points, as this is also something Millennials are actively seeking as they make their ordering decisions. Utilize Delivery and Take-Out During Pandemic Restrictions The coronavirus pandemic has forced many individuals to shelter in place, making food delivery service extremely important for those who can't leave home to buy groceries. It's possible to diversify your restaurant's revenue stream by adding a delivery option to your services. Notify customers through social media and your website that you will still be operating and providing delivery, drive through, and take-out instead of servicing dine-in customers to adhere to government standards. What Are the Benefits of Building an In-House Delivery Team? Wondering how to start a restaurant delivery service at your establishment? If you have the time and money to train and build an in-house delivery team, you should consider this option before going straight to a third-party service. Two examples of well-known companies that use this delivery model are Starbucks and Panera Bread. One of the main benefits of creating a delivery service for your restaurant is that it eliminates the chance that consumers may think of the delivery service before your business. You'll also increase brand loyalty and visibility and ensure you won't be overshadowed by the big third-party services that your competitors may be employing. According to recent studies, 76% of consumers revealed that they prefer to order directly from the restaurant of their choice, rather than through third-party services. On average, maintaining your own delivery team is also 46%-50% cheaper than employing the services of third parties. This will also boost your revenue, since you're collecting 100% of the profits from each meal served. Finally, making the choice to build your own delivery team provides your business with complete control over the consumer's dining experience, from ordering and meal preparation to delivery and payment. Your trusted employees will also be the ones interfacing with customers, rather than the unknown staff of third-party companies. What Are the Potential Disadvantages of Building an In-House Delivery Team? While there are a number of benefits to creating and maintaining your own delivery team, doing so isn't practical or feasible for every restaurant. If you run a small business, chances are you don't want to spend the extra money on in-house delivery staff. Similarly, if you shop around for services, you're likely to find a third-party company with a low commission that will help your small company's bottom line and raise your profit margins. What Is Third-Party Food Delivery? Simply put, third-party food delivery companies partner with restaurants to provide food to hungry customers. This contrasts with in-house delivery services where businesses hire their own delivery drivers or train existing employees to deliver food. Third-Party Delivery Companies Part of what makes these options so appealing is their food delivery apps. While there a wide selection of third-party services available, a handful of the most popular options are below: Caviar, which allows users to browse photos of restaurant menus and track their order in transit via real-time GPS. DoorDash, which offers delivery tracking, easy reordering, the ability to schedule deliveries in advance, convenient online payment, and no order minimums. Grubhub, which allows users to read menus, order, and pay via online platforms like Apple Pay and PayPal. Postmates, a delivery service where the customer's order is called in to restaurants by Postmates employees and then picked up and delivered. Postmates calls itself "The Uber for Stuff" and provides real-time tracking and deliveries from virtually every restaurant to almost any setting. Uber Eats, an online ordering and delivery platform where users can view menus, have their location detected by GPS, order food, and pay online. Yelp Eat24, a service that faxes each customer's order to the restaurant of your choice within seconds. The app verifies that the establishment has receives the order and then picks up and delivers the food to you. Chains Using Third-Party Delivery Services Third-party delivery services are particularly popular with single-location businesses, but the following chains are also starting to use these delivery programs in some regions of the country: 7-Eleven via DoorDash Auntie Anne's / Carvel / Cinnabon via Postmates Chipotle via Postmates Dunkin' Donuts via DoorDash McDonald's via Postmates Moe's Southwest Grill via Postmates Starbucks via Postmates Taco Bell via DoorDash What Are the Benefits of Partnering with Third-Party Delivery Companies? There are a number of benefits associated with partnering with a third-party delivery service. In addition to increasing your brand's visibility and boosting sales, these companies allow you to minimize losing customers due to busy signals on your phones or long wait times. Hiring a third-party service is also a smart choice for businesses with managers and owners who don't want the responsibility of hiring and training an in-house delivery team. Your customers will also appreciate that third-party services allow them to place repeat orders and may even have apps that save their credit card information for effortless ordering in the future. Many of these companies are also in competition with each other in order to attract more businesses, which can also drive down service charges and commissions. What Are the Potential Disadvantages of Partnering with Third-Party Delivery Companies? While hiring a third-party delivery service is intended to increase your business's profits, there are important liability issues to consider. In addition to third-party drivers becoming involved in automobile accidents, there's also a chance that customers could develop foodbourne illnesses from meals that have sat in a car for too long. Because your restaurant isn't directly responsible for these issues, you need to be prepared to protect your business. To minimize your risk, you'll want to draw up written partnership agreements with all of the delivery services you work with. Include the following provisions in these documents: Require that delivery companies comply with industry standards for safe food handling (including temperature maintenance). Similarly, choose services that use GPS tracking to fully establish responsibility in case of foodbourne illnesses. Require delivery drivers to provide proof of insurance and clear vehicle ownership. Include specific language that shifts full responsibility for any issues in transit onto the third-party service. Require the delivery company to have insurance coverage that names the specific businesses they're partnered with. Include specific disclaimer language in delivery menus, paper ads, and on your website to anticipate potential customer concerns and complaints. How Are Delivery Services Impacting the Foodservice Industry? Wondering why online restaurant delivery service has become so popular among consumers? To start, these services are incredibly convenient because they allow consumers to order from home or work without having to travel. These services encourage people to browse menus of restaurants they hadn't heard of previously and can also lead to them trying new businesses and cuisines. According to several studies, as third-party delivery continues to grow, it will have a positive impact on the sales and profits of businesses that adopt it. On the other hand, many experts believe refusing to incorporate delivery will negatively affect foodservice businesses. Dining is a $863 billion-plus industry in the United States, so delivery is sure to have a profound and lasting impact upon thousands of establishments. Lastly, you should make sure your business isn't inadvertently engaging with unauthorized third-party delivery services without your knowledge. Because companies like Postmates call in or place orders online for customers and then pick them up (cutting the consumer entirely out of the ordering process), you may not even know your restaurant is interfacing with a delivery service. This doesn't mean you shouldn't use Postmates, but rather reinforces that you must have contracts and partnership agreements drawn up before utilizing any third-party service. From family restaurants and coffee shops to convenience stores and markets, more and more establishments are turning to delivery. If you decide to incorporate a food delivery service into your business, the most important decision you'll have to make is whether to use a third-party service or build your own team in house. No matter what you choose, skillfully utilizing delivery can help build your brand visibility while simultaneously boosting your revenue.

Food delivery has recently seen an increase in popularity, causing many restaurants to adapt their menus to be delivery friendly. Because of this, it's important to make sure every delivery experience is positive and fulfilling. Whether you’re an experienced delivery driver or about to start your first day on the job, we've compiled a list of tips to help improve your delivery driver skills and make every driver safe, smart, and profitable. 1. Invest in Delivery Driver Gear Investing in the right equipment can give you an edge as a delivery driver. Some employers might provide you with basic equipment, but others might not. See if it’s possible to acquire the following items before you make your next delivery. Insulated delivery bags: An insulated delivery bag is perfect for transporting food from the restaurant to your customer’s door, and it is essential for keeping hot foods like pizza, wings, and subs warm. Use a cooler: If a customer orders a drink with their food, consider storing it in a cooler to keep it cold and refreshing until the delivery is complete. Use a divider: Creating a divider for the back of your car allows you to physically separate each customer’s order from the next while you’re on the road. Keep a takeout supply stash: Keep a stash of takeout supplies like paper plates, straws, napkins, and condiments in your car in case customers need them. These supplies are small enough to keep in the car, and might even fit in your glovebox or delivery bag. 2. Choose a Delivery Job That Works for You There are two options available for businesses when it comes to deliveries. Restaurant owners can establish their own delivery service, or they can choose to partner with an independent delivery service. To be successful as a delivery driver, it's important to recognize the differences between the two and make a distinction as to which is more compatible with your lifestyle. Your work schedule: The most glaring difference between driving for a restaurant and driving for an independent delivery service is your schedule. Independent services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub allow drivers to work on their own time, while a restaurant will schedule shifts for you. Transportation: You may be lucky enough to land a job with a restaurant that provides a company vehicle, but more likely than not you'll need to provide your own form of transportation. The hiring process: In most cases, you’ll need to go through a formal hiring process to get a job making deliveries for a restaurant or pizza place. Signing up for an independent driving service doesn't require an interview. In its place, drivers simply need to create an account, submit personal information, and wait to be approved. 3. Create a Delivery Kit A delivery driver kit will help you stay organized, provide great service, and avoid a customer complaint. Whether you’re transporting a large amount of food in your car or just want to stay on top of every order, consider keeping these materials on hand to improve your performance. Keep a locked cash box: When customers order online or over the phone, they might not have cash on hand. Keeping a locked cash box can make it easy to give a customer change if they need to break a larger bill. Buy a clipboard: A clipboard is useful for holding onto receipts and other important documents to prevent them from getting lost or scattered. Carry a pen: Keeping an extra pen in your pocket or in the car can save customers from the hassle of looking for their own. Use sticky notes: As a delivery driver, it's essential that you make sure each order goes to the right person. Use sticky notes as labels so they don't get mixed up. 4. Practice Delivery Driver Safety As with any job, it’s important to prioritize safety over anything else. Understanding how to manage the risks that come with driving is essential not only for staying on time but for keeping yourself safe. Follow these driver safety tips to make sure every delivery you make is safe and successful. Check the weather and traffic: Inclement weather can create hazardous road conditions, so stay prepared in case you find yourself driving through a storm. Research any road closures or alternate routes that might be available, and check the local weather forecast ahead of every delivery to avoid delays. Additionally, it’s recommended that during bad weather you drive 5 to 10 miles under the posted speed limit and leave 2-3 times as much space between your car and the cars around you to increase your reaction time in case of an emergency. Keep your car in good condition: Make sure that your windshield wipers, tires, and defrosters are in working condition before you set out to make deliveries. Additionally, check your oil levels, gas tank, and tire pressure to avoid making emergency stops. Keep important documents up to date: Always be sure that your car registration, proof of insurance, and driver's license are up to date. If any of these seem out of date, be sure to visit your local DMV, insurance agency, or mechanic and get them updated as soon as possible. 5. Improve Your Navigation Skills One of the most important parts of making deliveries is knowing how to find your destination. Getting lost can increase the length of your trip, and if you’re late the customer’s food might be cold. Consider following these navigation tips to get from place to place efficiently! Avoid unfamiliar areas: If you’re unfamiliar with an area, you might not want to make deliveries there. Independent delivery allows you to choose your delivery locations, so stick with neighborhoods you know well. Use a reliable GPS: Make sure you're using a reliable GPS unit or smartphone app so that you always have a way of knowing where you are. Whether your destination is right down the street or miles away, having a strong reference of where you’re going can relieve some stress and make deliveries easier. Find shortcuts: Make a note of any shortcuts or time-saving routes you could take in case of traffic, accidents, inclement weather, or other unforeseen delays. An alternate route can be a helpful backup plan when needed. Remember repeat addresses: Be sure to keep track of repeat customers and their addresses to get more familiar with your route. It might be helpful to make a mental note of where to park, which house is which, or how to enter an apartment complex in order to find your customer faster. 6. Learn What Influences Your Income One of the keys to being successful as a delivery driver is understanding what influences your income. Learning about these factors can help you grow an understanding of the delivery business, as well as take advantage of any opportunities that might increase your earnings. Hourly wages: Many delivery drivers are paid an hourly wage. These wages depend on several factors including what state you live in, where you work, and how long you’ve worked there. For a full-time delivery driver, the average reported income across the United States is listed between $30,000 and $40,000 per year. Where you drive: The location you'll be making deliveries in can have a strong impact on the amount of money you earn. Not only will restaurants located in larger areas get more orders, but independent drivers will have more options to choose from. In contrast, drivers in less populated areas may find it harder to make deliveries. How often you work: Freedom to make your own hours and work on your own time can feel liberating. However, it could also cause you to make less deliveries. To maintain a consistent stream of income, be sure to make deliveries regularly. Bonuses: Many independent services offer bonuses for completing a variety of tasks. For example, DoorDash offers a bonus for referring new delivery drivers. Additionally, delivering during peak times when drivers are in demand might help you earn a higher base salary per order. 7. Provide Excellent Customer Service Even though you're not operating a cash register or working on the sales floor, there's still a great deal of customer service involved with making deliveries. Not only does great customer service produce repeat customers, but it can increase your chances of getting a good tip. Additionally, customers with memorable experiences are more likely to leave a review. Try to implement the suggestions below next time you make a delivery to provide unbeatable customer service. Be friendly and express your gratitude: A simple smile and positive attitude can leave a lasting impression on your customer. Furthermore, expressing your appreciation can make them feel valued, so be sure to thank them for their order before you head back to the car. Carry dog treats: Many drive-thrus offer dog-friendly treats, like Starbucks' Puppuccino or Dairy Queen's Pup Cup. You can do the same while you make deliveries by keeping dog treats on hand in the car or your delivery bag. Check orders for accuracy: There's nothing worse than waiting on food only to realize you've been given the wrong order, so be sure to check each one for accuracy before you leave the restaurant. Appear presentable: Practice good personal hygiene to improve your presentation and overall professionalism. Keeping your outfit clean, eliminating any odors, and appearing organized are just a few easy ways to stay on top of this. 8. Understand How to Correctly File Tax Returns Filing tax returns can be confusing for everyone, especially as a delivery driver. Many moving parts influence how you file, what forms you'll fill out, and how often you pay taxes. To make sure you file your tax returns correctly, follow the guidelines below. Determine your employment classification: Understand the differences between an employee and independent contractor. If you’re working as a delivery driver for a specific restaurant, you’re likely an employee. Conversely, those who drive for an independent delivery service are considered an independent contractor. Keep track of annual earnings: One of the most important documents to have on hand when filing tax returns is a report of your annual earnings. Employers are required to provide you with a W-2 form stating how much you made in the last calendar year. In place of a W-2, independent contractors usually receive a Form 1099-NEC. Determine what information to fill out: No matter what annual earnings form you get, you’ll have to file a Form 1040 when filling out your tax returns. Depending on your employment classification, you might have to fill out additional information such as calculated self-employment taxes. Keep track of write-offs: Some employers might reimburse you for certain expenses, so it’s important to keep track of what you spend out of your own pocket for your job. You're allowed to write off expenses such as how much you spent on mileage, parking, road tolls, mobile phone fees, and any delivery supplies you might have purchased. Determine how much you owe: If you’re classified as an independent contractor, the IRS still expects you to deduct taxes from each paycheck just as an employer would. If you owe $1,000 or more in taxes, you may be required to make a quarterly estimated tax payment. 9. Practice No Contact Delivery Methods Though many businesses offered it before, no contact delivery has seen an increase in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This type of delivery involves leaving a customer’s order at their door or an otherwise specified location to avoid contact and practice safe social distancing. If you plan on making many deliveries in a day, this option helps limit person-to-person contact. Try to follow these tips to make sure your next no contact delivery goes as smoothly as possible. Wear disposable gloves: Wearing disposable gloves while handling a customer’s food reduces the direct contact you'll have with them. This is essential for limiting the spread of harmful germs and bacteria. Find the designated location: Make sure that you’ve found the designated location requested by the customer to avoid food getting lost or making the wrong delivery. If you put their order in the wrong place, someone else might come along and claim it. Take a photo: Take a photo of the delivery order to indicate you've placed it in the correct location. Notify the customer: Customers are usually alerted that their order has arrived when they get a knock on the door or hear the doorbell ring. In the case of no contact delivery, this might not be possible. Make sure you let the customer know that their food has been delivered and that they can now go to retrieve it. Investing in ways to improve your delivery driving experience can be a benefit for both you and your customers. Next time you hit the road to make a delivery or find yourself looking for advice on how to improve your job performance, keep these tips in mind to make yourself a safe, smart, and profitable delivery driver.

Drive-thrus are one of the most convenient forms of takeout pickup and offer delivery fee wary customers access to off-premise dining. According to a QSR (quick-service restaurant) Magazine report, 57% of consumers would order from QSRs more often if they had drive-thrus. Whether you’ve operated a drive-thru for many years or you’re adding a drive-thru to boost profits, use our drive-thru service tips to increase your operational efficiency. Drive-Thru Line Busting Tips A well-run drive-thru offers the expediency consumers demand. According to a Technomic consumer survey, the number of quick-service restaurant orders placed in drive-thrus increased by 10% from January 2020 to August 2021. As drive-thrus become more popular, lines become longer. Learn how to line bust your drive-thru service to exceed expectations and outperform your competition. 1. Reduce and Update Your Drive-Thru Menu Board Speed is imperative for drive-thrus, so limit your drive-thru menu to your most popular takeout friendly menu items with fast cook times. Offering fewer menu items will decrease decision-making time, and items that are quick to prepare will increase the flow of service. If you’re experiencing food shortages, remove affected menu items from your drive-thru menu board immediately. Keeping your menu up to date will prevent disappointment and frustration. It might take seconds to say, “I’m sorry, we’re out of that item,” but it could take minutes for the customer to decide on a new order. Consider investing in a digital menu board so you can change meals and pricing immediately. Fluctuating food costs also affect menu pricing. Digital boards allow you to update pricing in a few seconds, so you're always earning a profit on your orders. 2. Institute Online Ordering Online ordering for your drive-thru allows customers to place their order directly from your website and pick it up at the time of their choosing. This cuts down on your wait time and gives customers the ability to order on any of their devices, no matter where they are. According to a QSR magazine report, 49% of QSR customers would prefer to order online and use a pickup-only drive-through lane, and 42% would like to have more mobile ordering options. 3. Offer Online Menu Customization One of the most appealing features of online ordering is it allows guests to customize their orders at their own pace. Instead of relying on the order taker to enter every request accurately, the order goes straight from the customer to the kitchen. Giving the guest total control over their order eliminates mistakes and increases customer satisfaction. In your mobile app, make order customization a part of your tool, but keep your menu simple. If your customers have to click through too many options, they will probably abandon their order. 4. Use Touchless Payment Touchless payment methods speed up your drive-thru time and help you avoid direct hand contact with customers. You can set up a mobile payment option on your online ordering platform or use a tap-to-pay terminal that reads cards and mobile phones. The customer simply waves or taps their card over a contactless terminal to submit payment. This type of transaction takes seconds to perform and allows you to serve each customer as quickly as possible. 5. Invest in AI to Predict Drive-Thru Orders Drive-thrus that predict your order are the future of fast service. Fast food giants like McDonald's and Burger King are already modernizing their drive-thrus with AI systems that predict orders. Drive-thru AI technology can create personalized digital promotions to boost sales, suggest foods based on daily popularity, and show customers their previous orders. Predictive ordering speeds up drive-thru window time, creating a seamless experience for guests and staff. 6. Use Face-to-Face Ordering A great way to line bust your drive-thru is to implement face-to-face ordering. You'll need to designate two staff members to walk through the line of cars together. One will act as an order-taker, and the other will take the customer's payment. They will process the purchase at an outdoor cash register counter while the order is being prepared. Face-to-face drive-thru ordering can reduce drive-thru wait times by half that experienced at traditional speak box drive-thrus. Chick-Fil-A popularized face-to-face drive-thru ordering, and consumers ranked them as the country's favorite drive-thru in QSR Magazine's "Top 10 Drive-Thrus in the U.S." survey. 7. Stock Plenty of Drive-Thru Supplies Your drive-thru window should always be stocked with essential drive-thru equipment. If a staff member has to leave the window during a shift to find napkins, cup lids, or ketchup packets, it slows down your service and leaves your window unattended. Keep all condiments and disposables close at hand and organize them for efficiency. The drive-thru window has limited countertop space, so use stackable condiment bins and in-counter cup dispensers designed for compact areas. With all necessary supplies in plain sight, it's less likely staff will forget items. 8. Implement Drive-Thru Safety Protocols Visible signs of sanitation and advanced cleaning measures are the post-pandemic new normal. You can implement these safety protocols at your drive-thru window to show your customers you're serious about taking steps to protect the health of everyone in your establishment. Cashier shields - Installing cashier shields at your drive-through windows serves two purposes. The barrier between your employees and guests protects both parties, and it also acts as a visual reminder that you are serious about health and sanitation. The drive-thru window itself serves as a protective shield while it's closed, but when it’s opened, a cashier shield adds another layer of safety. Contactless handoff - Get your staff familiar with using methods of contactless handoff when they serve customers. An easy way to avoid direct hand contact with guests is to use a serving tray to pass items from the drive-thru window to the customer’s car. Air Curtains - Adding an air curtain above your drive-thru window blocks airborne contaminants, pests, and intemperate air from entering your kitchen when your staff passes orders to your customers. 9. Maintain Your Drive-Thru Window Sometimes neglected, your drive-thru window itself is the center of activity and a crucial piece of equipment. Continuous operation and exposure to the elements take their toll on the window frame, the glass, and the slide track. By instituting a cleaning and maintenance schedule, you can extend the life of your window and keep it looking its best. Inspect the frame of the window daily and remove debris, dead leaves, or any organic matter that may have become lodged in the guide track. Keep drive-thru window parts and accessories on hand so you can switch up worn and damaged parts without losing business. 10. Visit Your Drive-Thru Window As a Customer Once you've applied our drive-thru service tips, the best way to ensure your drive-thru service works well is to visit your drive-thru for a test run. Think of this as your "undercover bosses" moment. Go through every step of the process and note how easy it is to place an order and how long it takes to receive it. Assess how your menu board looks, decide whether a hearing or visually impaired customer could order at your drive-thru, and evaluate how well your staff is upholding cleanliness standards. Bring your findings back to your team and put actionable steps in place to improve areas that are lacking. Drive-Thru Service FAQs Now that you know how to line bust your drive-thru, you may have other questions about how to run an effective drive-through service. From monitoring your queue to installing a drive-thru window, we answer the most common drive-thru service questions below. Height of Drive Thru Window The height of drive-thru window ranges between 32" to 36" on the outside of a building. How Much Does It Cost to Build a Drive Thru? Depending on the size of the drive-thru, it costs between $35,000 and $80,000 to build a drive-thru. Drive-Thru Window Dimensions While they vary by operational need, the most common drive-thru dimensions are 14" wide by 29" high. Your drive-thru window dimensions should allow you to pass your largest items to customers with ease. When in doubt, create a larger space that allows for more of a connection between your customers and staff. Can You Walk through a Drive-Thru? You can't walk through a drive-thru. While serving customers who walk through your drive-thru after your dining room has closed may tempt you, doing so comes at a huge safety and insurance risk. If you're a customer wondering why you can't walk through a drive-thru lane, most municipalities specifically forbid drive-thrus from servicing foot traffic. Since drive-thrus are designed for vehicles and not pedestrians, there are always safety and insurance risks of serving foot traffic, even if the law doesn't forbid it. Consider installing a takeout window so guests can pick up their orders on foot without having to enter your establishment. How Do Drive-Thrus Know When a Car Is There? Most drive-thrus have sensors that alert workers when a car is in front of the menu board. Workers can see vehicles through a camera, which aids in delivering the right meal to customers. If there are two order-taking lines but only one drive-thru window, the automated drive-thru system attaches a photo of the car to the corresponding order. This allows the drive-thru staff member to distinguish between the two separate order lines and give each customer the correct order. Though uncommon and not as reliable in busy establishments, some drive-thrus don't have sensors. They count on their staff to glance out the window and check for new drive-thru customers throughout their workday. If you want to update your drive-thru and add a sensor, you can choose from a variety of popular types of drive-thru sensors, including ultrasonic, magnetic inductance, pneumatic tubes across the pavement, and infrared beams How Do You Greet Customers at Drive-Thru? According to data collected by the 2019 QSR Drive-Thru study, incorporating these four elements into how your staff greets and interacts with customers is essential for satisfaction: Pleasant Demeanor - Even though the customer is taking their meal to-go, they still want to experience hospitality when they interact with your drive-thru staff. Eye Contact and a Smile - Customers are most satisfied with their drive-thru experience when they feel seen by your staff members and drive away happy when the person they interacted with radiated warmth. Please and Thank You - Classic good manners never go out of style. Remind your drive-thru staff to be just as courteous with drive-thru customers as they would those placing orders inside your establishment. Order Accuracy - Personable, polite staff can make customers forgive a lot, but order accuracy plays the biggest role in customer satisfaction. Drive-thrus help restaurants streamline their takeout services while mitigating the use of fee-heavy third-party delivery channels. Use our drive-thru tips and drive-thru service FAQs to improve your drive-thru or tap into this profitable channel.

What Is a Drive In Diner?

What Is a Drive In?

How to Offer Drive In Services

1. Create a Designated Drive In Dining Area

2. Invest in Drive In Supplies

3. Create a Drive In Menu

4. Establish a Drive In Ordering System

5. Hire and Train Staff

Benefits of a Drive In Service

History of Drive In Diners

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