“Hi, I’m your order taker today. What would you like to order please?”

“UUUUUhhhhh….”

“How would you like to proceed with the payment? Cash or card?”

“Um, do you take checks?”

Honestly, I feel like drive-thru is one greatest gift God could bestow upon us mere mortals. However, no matter how easy and convenient it seems, there are some unwritten (more like unofficial) rules you’ve got to follow.

(The order taker does not want to know how your sister’s boyfriend’s best friend’s cat has a hernia. or, you don’t have to get pissed if you didn’t get a discount because you spent $ 10.)

1. Don’t Be Distracted With Your Phone

Before you approach the drive-thru lane, phone home to ask if anyone wants something. It is critical to end all cell phone conversations before entering the line, or to at least ask the person you are speaking with to wait on while you complete your transaction. Trying to gather everyone’s order over the phone while you’re actively ordering causes a delay for both you, the consumer, and everyone in line behind you.

2. Remove Any Background Noise

Switch down the volume or turn off any radios or CDs that are making a lot of noise. Excessive noise may make it difficult to hear the command. Employees must hear the real order, not what you are hearing in your automobile. People ordering inside may hear everything that transpires around the service speaker if the business has a drive-thru speaker behind the counter for the food line. This includes other people’s talks in the automobile. (Yes! They can even hear you shout at or punish your kids… it’s uncomfortable!) It is also recommended that you switch off any noisy engines.

3. If It’s A Rainy Day Scenario

Please turn off your windshield wipers before approaching the service window if it is raining. If you don’t, your wipers will spray unclean water, anti-freeze remnants, and grime on the repair worker.

4. At Night, Turn Off Your Headlights

Blazing headlights at a drive-thru are the last thing someone in a drive-thru needs. Parking lights are sufficient. The sole exception to this rule is if the place is not adequately illuminated. If there is no one in front of you or if you are quitting the line, you may switch the headlights back on.

5. Before You Get To The Speaker Box, You Should Know Exactly What You Want

It’s courteous to know what you’re going to have before approaching the speaker. Pondering and wondering about the speaker wastes the time of the staff as well as the individuals at the back of you. It should be noted that certain establishments may include breakfast and lunch items on the same menu, but will discontinue breakfast at a specific hour (for example, the time frame includes around 10:30 to 11 am). Some boards may offer “express” or limited-edition items, although a complete menu can be seen inside the restaurant.

6. Speak Clearly And Loudly

Speak loudly, slowly, and clearly, but not so slowly that the staff feels like a kid, and not so loudly that you’re yelling at the individual taking your order. You’ll always want the food line to know precisely what you want, so if there’s a misunderstanding or anything is incorrect with your order, you may need to walk into the restaurant to alter it. Instead of everyone yelling commands from the car, have one person speak into the speaker. Finally, before leaving the speaker, double-check each item or meal.

7. The Order-taker Should Understand What You Want

Cashiers at fast food restaurants have several responsibilities and may not be paying complete attention to you; they may be interacting with a customer at the service window, putting equipment away, and so on. If you read out your whole order in a single breath, it will almost certainly be misconstrued. After each item (number one combo…with no pickles and extra mayo), take a little pause and wait for the cashier to answer (“ok”, “okay”, etc) before proceeding.

8. You Can Request Condiments From The Speaker Box

Don’t be hesitant to request that the order taker add ketchup, mayonnaise, additional sauces, salt or pepper, and so on to your lunch bag, or jelly, butter, creamer, and sugar to your breakfast bag. It is, for the most part, free!

9. Don’t Forget The Most Important Phase

Before pulling into the queue, you should plan your payment strategy.

Trying to find and distribute change from the darkest recesses of your car seat at the last minute may cause the queue and people’s orders to be delayed. Worse, you could not have the money to pay!