---
title: "Quick-Service Restaurants Look To Improve Drive-Thru Times With New Systems, Policies"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4dbabed1-25eb-4b10-b7a9-c64f6d0acd00
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/quick-service-restaurants-look-to-improve-drive-thru-times-with-new-systems-policies-2711172
category: "QSR"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "QSR"
topics: ["Operations"]
published: 2019-10-02T20:15:02.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:29:26.978Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/fcc1162de6e5cc1d5937e20906ebf78f7025.jpg
---

# Quick-Service Restaurants Look To Improve Drive-Thru Times With New Systems, Policies

**TL;DR:** Quick-service restaurants like Dunkin' and Wendy's are implementing new systems and policies to improve drive-thru times, with Dunkin' having the fastest average drive-thru time of 216.75 seconds in 2019. Brands are tailoring their operations to minimize customer presence in line, such as Dunkin's 'On-the-Go drive-thru lane' and Arby's focus on creating a more efficient production line.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-10-02. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/quick-service-restaurants-look-to-improve-drive-thru-times-with-new-systems-policies-2711172).*

## Story

**Not only do we love the food (whether we are willing to admit it or not), we also love** **the convenience factor** **of hitting the drive-thru at our favorite quick-service restaurants (QSRs). An expectation we have of these QSRs is that the process—from the initial order time to receiving the food—is completed all within a matter of minutes.**

**According to** **QSR Magazine****, customers spent an average of 255 seconds from speaker to order window in 2019; about 20 seconds longer than in 2018.**

**Dunkin’ clocked in the fastest drive-thru time at an average of 216.75 seconds; Wendy’s came in with an average of 230.38 seconds; Taco Bell with 240.38 and Carl’s Jr. with 240.51.**

**In an attempt to combat long drive-thru times, certain brands are tailoring their operations with new policies and systems to minimize customer presence in line. For example, Dunkin’s “On-the-Go drive-thru lane.”**

**“At several of our Dunkin’ NextGen locations, we feature an On-the-go drive-thru lane, which allows guests who order ahead through the** **Dunkin’ mobile app** **to bypass the regular drive-thru lane to pick up their orders and get on their way even faster than before,” said Scott Murphy, Chief Operating Officer for Dunkin’ U.S., in the QSR article.**

**Arby’s is taking on the challenge a little differently and decided to focus on creating a more efficient production line.**

**As fast-casual consumers continue to opt for the convenience factor, it’s safe to say that more brands will be adjusting their drive-thru operations to do just that.**

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- Taco Bell (company)
- Wendy's (company)
- Dunkin' Brands (company)
- Arby's (company)
- Carl's Jr. (company)
- operational efficiency (topic)
- quick service restaurants (topic)
- drive-thru times (topic)
- new systems (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/quick-service-restaurants-look-to-improve-drive-thru-times-with-new-systems-policies-2711172). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4dbabed1-25eb-4b10-b7a9-c64f6d0acd00).