What happens if no driver is available?

If a driver isn't assigned right away, that's almost always temporary. UniHop works with a network of delivery providers across the country rather than a single courier pool, so requests that aren't picked up immediately are matched shortly after. It is very rare for a delivery to go unassigned entirely, and the dispatch team keeps working the request rather than letting it sit.

If your delivery is time-sensitive, contact Support and we'll work the problem with you.

Details

The most reliable fix is to schedule ahead

Same-day and on-demand requests depend on who's available in your area at that moment. A scheduled delivery removes that constraint almost entirely — it gives the dispatch team time to assign a driver in advance, and to pick someone who's the right fit for the order rather than whoever happens to be free.

This matters most for Special Handling deliveries. Catering, fragile items, high-value orders, and anything needing professional presentation all benefit from a driver assigned ahead of time who knows what the delivery involves. If your order fits that description, scheduling it is the single best thing you can do for reliability.

Why matching sometimes takes longer

Driver availability moves throughout the day. A request may take longer to match when:

• It's busy in your area — peak hours, weekends, holidays, weather, or high order volume
• The delivery covers a longer distance or involves heavier traffic
• A specific vehicle is required, such as an SUV, pickup truck, cargo van, or box truck
• The pickup window is tight, for example when a store is closing soon or has a limited release window

Adjustments that can help right now

If a delivery is already submitted and waiting, these often improve matching without changing what you need delivered:

• Shift the delivery window. Moving to an off-peak time increases the chances of a faster assignment.
• Confirm the pickup is ready. Drivers decline orders that aren't ready to avoid a wasted trip and a long wait. Marking an order ready for pickup makes a real difference.
• Clarify the item details. Accurate size, weight, piece count, and whether help is needed means the request reaches drivers with the right vehicle and capacity.
• Add driver compensation. Optional, but increasing the additional compensation or tip can make the request more appealing during busy periods, on longer routes, or for complex pickups.

Not sure which would help most? Support can review the request and recommend the most effective next step for your location and timing.

Helpful resources

• How do delivery windows work?
• Do you have drivers available in my area?
• Which UniHop delivery style is best for my in-store pickup order?

What's next?

If your order is urgent, contact Support and share:

• your order details (pickup and drop-off)
• your latest must-deliver-by time
• whether the order is ready for release right now

We'll help you decide the best path — continuing to search, adjusting details to improve matching, or finding the most realistic option to get the delivery completed.

And if unassigned deliveries are affecting you more than occasionally, that's worth a conversation. Moving recurring or high-stakes orders to scheduled delivery usually solves it.

Updated on: 08/02/2026