How to Handle a Catering Delivery

Catering orders are larger than a standard delivery, and the person receiving them is usually running an event on a schedule. This guide covers what to check before you accept, how to handle pickup and transport, and what a good dropoff looks like.

Catering runs are offered as Special Handling deliveries. You choose whether to accept them.

Before you head to pickup

Read the full order details. Check the order size, the pickup address, and the dropoff instructions. Catering orders often include notes about timing, building access, or where the food should go once you arrive.

Size the order against your vehicle. Catering is where load size varies most. A small office lunch fits in a car; a large order — the kind that runs into the thousands of dollars — can fill a van, and some are big enough that dispatch assigns more than one driver. Check the order size against what you can actually carry before you accept, not at the pickup counter.

Plan your gear. Catering orders are bigger and heavier than a typical run. Most drivers who do catering regularly carry:

• Two or more extra-large insulated catering bags
• A dolly or hand cart
• Flat trays for stacking
• Non-slip matting for the cargo area

Build in a time buffer. For catering, arriving 10–15 minutes ahead of the dropoff window is the norm. The food usually needs to be in place before guests arrive, so early is safe and late is costly.

Consider how you'll be dressed. Many catering orders go to offices, venues, and event spaces. Drivers generally find that clean, neutral clothing and closed-toe shoes fit those environments best and make the handoff smoother.

At pickup

Introduce yourself. Give your name and the order you're collecting. Kitchen staff are often mid-rush during a catering handoff, so a short, clear greeting helps.

Check the order against the sheet. Lay the items out or walk through them mentally and compare against the receipt or catering sheet. It is completely reasonable to ask staff to confirm the order is complete before you load — catching a missing tray here saves a return trip later.

Secure the load before you drive. Confirm trays are sealed, lids are on, and drinks are upright. Use non-slip matting so nothing slides in transit.

Label by course if it isn't already. Marking bags or boxes "Appetizers," "Entrees," "Desserts" makes the handoff faster, especially if someone else is setting the food out.

In transit

Catering loads are top-heavy and easy to spill.

• Take turns and stops gradually. One tipped tray can end the delivery.
• Keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Use insulated bags, and use climate control if the drive is long.
• Keep the load flat. Stacking trays at an angle is the most common cause of spills.

At dropoff

Let the recipient know you've arrived and ask where they'd like the food placed. Larger venues often have a specific room or table.

Place the items where they're wanted. Setting trays down on a table or counter is part of the delivery. Full catering setup — chafing dishes, warming equipment, arranging a buffet — is not part of a UniHop catering delivery, so it's fine to say so politely if you're asked.

Ask for a final check before you leave. A quick "does this all look right?" catches missing items while you're still on site.

For a no-contact dropoff, photograph the items where you left them, upload the photos in the app, and send a short message confirming the location.

Before you close out

• Take any empty packaging with you if you're asked to.
• Report problems right away through the app or to dispatch — missing items, access delays, a spill. Reporting early is what lets the situation get resolved with the business.

Common questions

What if the order is bigger than what fits in my vehicle?
Flag it through the app before you load. Large catering orders sometimes need a van, or a second driver working the same order — dispatch arranges that. Don't split a catering order across two trips unless dispatch confirms it.

What if nobody is there to receive it?
Follow the dropoff instructions on the order first. If they don't cover it, contact dispatch through the app rather than leaving food unattended.

Am I expected to set up the buffet?
No. Placing trays and boxes where the customer wants them is the expectation. Chafing dishes, warming trays, and buffet arrangement are outside what a catering delivery covers.

Do I have to accept catering orders?
No. Catering runs are offered like any other delivery, and declining one doesn't affect what you're offered afterward. Catering does require completing a short specialty approval first.

Updated on: 07/28/2026