Anatomy of a Drive-Thru
Anatomy of a Drive-Thru
At The Howard Company, we know a well-designed drive-thru boosts customer satisfaction and efficiency. Our guide, "Anatomy of a Drive-Thru," details the essentials for success. When planning, consider future growth and select adaptable equipment.

1. Directional Sign
The first point of contact with a drive-thru customer is drive-thru lane directional signs. Make sure your first time customers can easily find the drive-thru lane.
2. Clearance Bar
A clearance bar is often necessary as taller vehicles can cause damage to canopies and awnings over the ordering station or pick up station.
3a. Presell Board
A presell board serves to inform and guide customers on food options, enhancing service speed and encouraging specialty item purchases. It can vary in size and be either static or digital.
4. Canopy
Canopies are used at the ordering station where the driver is exposed to the rain and wind. Canopies also illuminate the ordering area, offering security to the customer.
5. Order Confirmation System
The OCS, integrated with the restaurant's POS, ensures customers see their order is correctly received, using a speaker on the canopy or speaker post.
6. Mic & Speaker
A clearance bar is often necessary as taller vehicles can cause damage to canopies and awnings over the ordering station or pick up station.
7. Magnetic Loop
These loops, embedded in the road, alert the crew when a vehicle arrives at the menu board and provide timing data by pairing with loops at the pick-up window.
8. Main Menu Board
This is the primary piece of equipment for any drive-thru lane. Its placement and size are important to the success of your entire drive-thru success. It can be digital, static, or a combination of both.
9. Brand Boosters
A brand booster topper and/or wing are economical and efficient ways to add space to the menu board and is ideal for branding identification; it’s also a great place to display and change out Limited Time Offers and Specials.
10. Shroud Decal
A high quality vinyl graphic mounts to the base shroud of the menu board. This often-ignored area can further emphasize product branding.
11. Waiting Stacking Space
12. Window Graphics
Use graphics in the post-sale area to highlight upcoming offers, feature dessert items, or provide visual temptations of special food products.
13. Outdoor Poster Frame & Graphic
A brand booster topper and/or wing are economical and efficient ways to add space to the menu board and is ideal for branding identification; it’s also a great place to display and change out Limited Time Offers and Specials.
14. Pick-Up Window Magnetic Loop
Embedded in the pavement at the pick-up window and wired to the timing system, this magnetic loop completes the vehicle timing started at the presell menu board.
15. Tip Jars
16. Window Awning
Window awning keeps the customer and employee covered during inclement weather.
17. Headset Communication System
A timer system is an important management tool to review statistics and performance of the restaurant’s drive-thru lane. The communication system is a multiple wireless headset system.
18. Drive-Thru Wait Area Signage
Embedded in the pavement at the pick-up window and wired to the timing system, this magnetic loop completes the vehicle timing started at the presell menu board.
19. Additional Directional Signs
With thousands of drive-thrus installed across the U.S. and in many other countries, we have seen and heard just about everything. Our expert team is here to consult. This is a big investment in your business and we want to help you turn it into a major profit center.


We have been at this for years. Put our team to work for you. We would be happy to discuss your project with you.