Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices for Catering Deliveries

Catering deliveries are crucial and high-priority assignments that demand careful attention and professionalism. Here are some helpful tips and best practices to help you manage these deliveries effectively.

Need Help?

If you experience issues during your catering delivery, please chat with Driver Support in the Skipcart app.

At the Restaurant

1. Arrive On Time:

• Arrive at the restaurant 5 to 10 minutes before the indicated pickup time

2. Bring Necessary Equipment:

• Bring the appropriate insulated bags and a small pushcart to help manage the order. Insulated bags are essential for maintaining food quality, but they do not need to be Skipcart branded.

3. Introduce Yourself:

• Introduce yourself to the staff and let them know you’re there to pick up an ezCater order.

4. Identify and Verify:

• Identify your order by the customer’s name and pickup time.

• Verify all items of the order with the restaurant staff as they hand them to you, paying special attention to commonly missed items such as:

  • Side dressings

  • Sodas / Beverages

  • Condiments

  • Plates, napkins, & utensils (when requested)

5. Transport:

• For food quality, separate hot and cold items when packing them for transport.

• Carefully arrange the items in your vehicle in a single layer. Avoid stacking large orders to prevent damage.

Recommended Equipment:

• Push Cart Dolly

• Insulated Food Delivery Bags

• Permanent Markers

These items can also be found in local stores and other online websites.

Delivering to the Customer

1. Avoid Delivering Too Early:

• Deliver 5-10 minutes before the delivery time in the app. Many orders are scheduled to align with meetings or events, so arriving too early or too late could negatively impact the customer’s experience.

• Delivering orders to customers more than 15 minutes early can lead to your removal from receiving catering order opportunities in the future.

2. Ensure Accuracy:

• Double-check the delivery address in the app and make sure you're at the right location, including the correct suite number or company where applicable.

3. Know What to Expect During Drop Off:

• Review the delivery notes in your driver app for any special instructions from the customer.

• You will be expected to deliver catering orders inside and directly to the customer unless otherwise requested.

• When delivering to a business, you may need to check in with the building’s security, office manager, or receptionist when you first enter the office.

4. Setup The Order:

• Always help the customer set up their order unless they request otherwise. Unpack and arrange the following items:

• Utensils

• Plates

• Napkins

• Condiments

• Hot items

• Drinks

• Ice

• Desserts

• Only leave the food unassembled, unattended, or at common-area locations (such as a lobby or front desk) at the direction of the customer or Skipcart Support.

5. Provide Proof of Delivery:

• Once delivery and setup are complete, take a clear and detailed Proof of Delivery (POD) picture. This notifies Driver Support that the delivery was successfully completed.

• Make sure the picture shows both the food and utensils, as well as where the order was left.

• Avoid photos that do not show the food or are taken in the car or areas other than where the food was left.

By following these best practices, you can ensure a successful catering delivery, meeting both customer and company expectations. Your professionalism and attention to detail are key to maintaining a positive delivery experience and securing future opportunities.