Grubhub delivery partner — On-the-job English
Study in your language — but on the job you'll speak English. These are the real phrases you actually say for this work, with a note in your language. Not a script; common situations workers report.
Quick drill — pick the best answer, see why. Saved on this device.
✍️ Practice thesePickup at the restaurant
Every Grubhub delivery starts at a restaurant counter, and this is where your English is simplest and most repeated. You say who you are — 'picking up for Grubhub, order for [name]?' — and then it's mostly listening: is it ready, is it all here, is anything still coming. The two things that go wrong most are taking the wrong bag and leaving part of the order behind, so you confirm the name and the count before you leave. Restaurants see Grubhub drivers all day; a calm, polite pickup keeps you welcome and your food hot.
- 🗣️ You say
Hi, I'm picking up for Grubhub — order for Maria?
The standard opening: platform, then the customer's name. It tells the staff exactly which bag you need.
- 👂 You'll hear
Not ready yet — give it about five minutes.
The food isn't done. 'About five minutes' is a rough guess. Answer 'No problem, I'll wait right here' and step to the side.
- 🗣️ You say
No problem — is this the whole order once it's up?
Confirms you'll take everything. Catching a missing drink or side now saves a low rating at the door.
- 👂 You'll hear
Yep, drinks are in the bag too. Have a good one.
Everything's together. A quick 'Thanks, you too' and check the name on the receipt before you head out.
🧠 Skills this builds
- Two checks at every pickup save most delivery problems: confirm the NAME on the order matches, and confirm the COUNT (drinks, sides, extra bags) is all there. Ten seconds at the counter beats a missing-item complaint at the door.
🇺🇸 US workplace note
- Restaurant staff are busy and see delivery drivers constantly — a short, friendly line ('picking up for Grubhub, order for [name]?') and patient waiting make you welcome back. A 'ready' timer in the app doesn't always mean the food is actually bagged; ask politely rather than assuming the staff made a mistake.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Walking off with the wrong bag because you didn't confirm the customer's name. — Delivering the wrong order can become a violation on your account. Always say and check the name before you leave the counter.
- Leaving without the drinks, sides, or a second bag. — A missing item lands as YOUR low rating, not the restaurant's. Ask 'Is this the whole order?' every time before you walk out.
🔖 Quick reference
Hi, I'm picking up for Grubhub — order for [name]?
Your opening line at almost every pickup. Say 'Grubhub' and the customer's name so the staff can find the right bag fast. Naming the order avoids you walking off with someone else's food, which is a violation.
Not ready yet — five more minutes.
The staff telling you the food isn't done. 'Five more minutes' is an estimate, not a promise. A calm 'No problem, I'll wait' keeps the relationship good — you'll be back at this restaurant many times.
The app says this order is ready — is it almost done?
Use this when Grubhub marked the order ready but nothing's on the shelf. Ask politely, don't accuse. Sometimes the restaurant taps 'ready' early to stop the timer; a friendly check gets you a real answer.
Is this the whole order, or is something still coming?
Confirm you're taking everything — drinks, sides, and extra bags are easy to leave behind. A missing item at the door becomes your low rating, so it's worth ten seconds to check before you leave.
Could I get a drink carrier, please?
A small, normal request so cups don't tip over in your car. Spilled drinks mean a remake, a wait, or a bad rating — a carrier is worth asking for every time you have drinks.
Here you go — have a good one.
The staff handing you the bag. A quick 'Thanks, you too' keeps things warm. Then check the name on the receipt matches your order before you walk out the door.
I'll wait over here — just let me know.
Say this for a not-ready order so you're out of the staff's way but still visible. Standing quietly to the side beats hovering at the counter, and staff will wave you over the moment it's up.
Finding the address & contacting the customer
Once you have the food, the next challenge is getting it to the right door — and addresses aren't always clean. Gate codes, apartment buildings with no visible unit numbers, side entrances, and the occasional app glitch that adds 40 miles all show up. Your first move is always the same: read the delivery notes, because customers usually leave the gate code, building, or drop spot there. When something's off, a short, polite text — 'this is your Grubhub driver, which building are you in?' — clears it up fast. And when the route itself looks wrong, double-check the address before you drive, not after.
- 👂 You'll hear
I'm in the back building — gate code is 1-2-3-4.
The customer giving you what you need. Repeat the key part back: 'Back building, 1-2-3-4, got it.' Then head in.
- 🗣️ You say
Thanks — back building, code 1-2-3-4. Which unit?
Confirms what you heard and asks the last missing piece. Repeating the code back catches a mishear before it costs you time.
- 🗣️ You say
The app is routing me really far — can you confirm your address?
Flags a possible zip-code glitch before you waste gas. Ask, don't just drive the bad route.
- 👂 You'll hear
Wait, that's the wrong zip — my address is on Oak Street.
The glitch confirmed. Good that you checked first. Get the corrected address and only then start driving.
🧠 Skills this builds
- Read the delivery notes before you text or call — the gate code, building, or drop spot is usually already there, and reading first saves the customer (and you) a phone call.
- When the route looks far too long, confirm the address BEFORE driving. Grubhub's app can send you 40+ miles on a bad zip code, and a mis-routed trip you drive isn't paid — one question protects your gas and time.
🇺🇸 US workplace note
- US customers may not pick up an unknown number, so texting is often better than calling, and starting with 'this is your Grubhub driver' tells them it's not spam. Keep contact short and about the delivery — you don't need small talk, just the gate code, building, or door.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Driving a route that looks obviously wrong instead of confirming the address first. — An app zip-code glitch can add 40 miles, and you're not paid for a trip you can't complete. Text the customer to confirm before you start driving.
- Calling or texting for a gate code that was already in the delivery notes. — It wastes time and annoys the customer. Read the notes first; contact them only for what's genuinely missing.
🔖 Quick reference
Hi, this is your Grubhub driver — I'm having trouble finding your place.
Your opener when the address is confusing. Identify yourself as the Grubhub driver first so the customer knows it's not spam, then explain the problem simply.
What's the gate code? I can't get in.
For a gated complex with no code in the notes. Read the delivery notes FIRST — customers often leave a gate code, a building number, or a drop spot there before you even arrive.
Which building or unit are you in?
Big apartment complexes rarely show unit numbers from the street. Asking directly — 'which building, which unit?' — gets you to the right door instead of wandering the lot.
I want to double-check the address — the app is showing a very long drive.
🔴 Say this when the route looks far too long. Grubhub's app can glitch on a zip code and send you 40+ miles the wrong way. Confirm the real address with the customer BEFORE you drive — it can save you a wasted trip you won't be paid for.
That's not right — let me check the app.
The customer realizing the address is wrong. This is exactly why you asked first. Wait for their correct address before you start driving.
Are you at the front door or a side entrance?
Houses and duplexes often have a back or side door the customer actually uses. One question saves you knocking at a door nobody hears.
I'm about two minutes away.
A quick heads-up text so the customer is ready, especially for a hand-it-to-me order or hot food. Short and friendly; you don't need to call unless something's wrong.
Contactless drop-off & the delivery code
The drop-off is where the delivery is won or lost. Grubhub gives the customer a choice — leave it at the door, where you set it down and photograph it, or hand it to me, where you give it over in person. Read their instructions first. Some orders add a 2-digit confirmation code the customer reads from their app screen; it's a little extra friction, so ask for it calmly and know where it lives ('the two digits at the top of your order'). A neat drop, a clear proof photo, and a warm 'enjoy!' finish the job and protect your rating.
- 👂 You'll hear
Can you just leave it at the door?
A common request. Fine for normal food — set it down, photograph it, and text that it's there. (Alcohol is different; see ch4.)
- 🗣️ You say
Sure — I'll set it down and send you a photo.
Confirms the contactless drop and the proof photo in one line. Warm and clear.
- 🗣️ You say
I've got your order — could you read me the code on your screen?
Asks for the 2-digit confirmation code politely. It's on the customer's Grubhub order screen.
- 👂 You'll hear
Oh, sorry — it says four-seven.
The customer reading their code. Enter it to confirm the handoff, then a quick 'You're all set, enjoy!'
🧠 Skills this builds
- Know where the 2-digit code lives before you're standing at the door: it's on the customer's Grubhub order screen. Being able to say 'it's the two digits at the top of your order' turns a confused wait into a five-second handoff.
🇺🇸 US workplace note
- The confirmation code can feel like friction for both of you, but it protects the customer against wrong deliveries — stay light and patient about it rather than showing frustration. For a leave-at-the-door drop, a clear proof photo with the door or unit number in frame is your protection if anyone later says the food never came.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Handing the food over on a 'leave at the door' order (or vice versa) because you didn't read the instructions. — It reads as careless and costs a star. Check 'leave at door' vs 'hand it to me' before you approach.
- Taking a proof photo of just the bag with no door or unit number in it. — It doesn't prove WHERE you left the food, so it won't protect you against a 'never delivered' claim. Frame the door or the number in the shot.
- Getting visibly annoyed about the 2-digit code and rushing the customer. — It sours an otherwise good delivery. Point them calmly to 'the two digits at the top of your order' and wait.
🔖 Quick reference
Leave at the door / Hand it to me
The delivery notes tell you which the customer wants. 'Leave at the door' = set it down and take a photo; 'Hand it to me' = give it to them in person. Follow the one they chose — guessing wrong is an easy way to lose a star.
I have your Grubhub order — could you give me the code on your screen?
🔴 Some orders need a 2-digit confirmation code the customer reads from their app. You enter it (or they read it) to confirm the handoff. Ask calmly; the code is on their order screen, and without it the app won't let you complete the drop.
It's the two digits at the top of your order in the app.
Say this when the customer can't find their code. Point them to their Grubhub order screen — the two digits are right there. A quick pointer beats a long wait at the door.
I'll leave it at the door and send a photo.
For a leave-at-the-door order, set the bag down neatly and take a photo as proof of delivery. Frame the door or the unit number in the shot, not just the bag.
Should I ring the bell or knock?
A small courtesy that matches the customer's home — some have a sleeping baby or a dog. If the notes say 'don't ring,' follow that; otherwise a light knock and a text works.
Your Grubhub order is at the door — enjoy!
A friendly closing text after a contactless drop. Warm, short, and it tells the customer the food is there so it doesn't sit and get cold.
Sorry for the wait on the code — you're all set now.
The 2-digit code can add friction, and customers sometimes fumble for it. A light, patient line keeps the handoff pleasant even when the app slows you both down.
Offers, scheduled blocks & alcohol
How you handle offers decides whether the money works. Every Grubhub offer shows the pay and the distance up front, so you read before you accept — a long drive for a few dollars costs more in gas than it earns. You can decline, but there's a catch worth understanding: Grubhub's contribution pay, a minimum-earnings floor for your market, only kicks in when you're on a scheduled block AND you accept most of the offers you're sent. Decline too many and you lose that guarantee. And in select markets, drivers 21+ carry alcohol, which adds one firm rule at the door: check the ID, the customer must be 21, and it's never left unattended.
- 👂 You'll hear
You've got a new offer: long distance, low pay.
An offer worth reading closely. The app shows pay and miles before you accept — a long drive for little money is one you can pass on.
- 🗣️ You say
That's too far for the pay — I'll pass on this one.
A clear decline. Fine to do, but remember that on a scheduled block, declining too many can cost your contribution-pay guarantee.
- 🗣️ You say
This order has alcohol, so I'll need to see your ID — you have to be 21.
Sets the expectation before the handoff on an alcohol order. Most people expect the check.
- 👂 You'll hear
I left my ID inside — can you just leave it?
A request to skip the alcohol ID check. The answer is no — no valid ID means you can't hand over the alcohol, and it's never left at the door.
🧠 Skills this builds
- Read every offer's pay AND distance before you accept — the gas on a long, low-paying trip can wipe out the pay. The two-second read is the core money skill of this job.
- Understand the contribution-pay trade-off: the minimum-earnings floor only pays out on a scheduled block if you accept most offers (the Offer Commitment Rate). Cherry-picking hard can cost you both the guarantee and future block access.
🇺🇸 US workplace note
- Grubhub's biggest honest advantage is high tips and a scheduled-block pay floor that competitors don't offer — but that floor rewards drivers who take most of their offers, so heavy cherry-picking works against you. Alcohol delivery is a legal responsibility: checking ID and refusing an underage or intoxicated customer is expected and protects you, not just the customer.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Accepting offers without reading the distance. — A long, low-pay trip can cost more in gas than it earns. Read pay and miles together, every time, before you tap accept.
- Leaving alcohol at the door, or handing it over without checking ID. — Both break the law. An underage or intoxicated customer, or no valid ID, means you don't complete the alcohol handoff — it's never left unattended.
🔖 Quick reference
Let me read the offer before I accept.
Every Grubhub offer shows the pay and the distance before you accept. Take the two seconds to read both — a low-pay, long-distance offer costs you more in gas than it pays. Reading first is how you protect your earnings.
This one's too far for the pay — I'll pass.
You can decline an offer that doesn't make sense, like a long drive for very little money. Declining is allowed; just know that on a scheduled block, declining too many can affect your contribution-pay guarantee (below).
I'm working a scheduled block right now.
A scheduled block is a time slot you reserve in the Driver app. Grubhub's contribution pay — a minimum-earnings floor for your market — only applies during a block AND if you accept most of the offers you're sent.
I keep my acceptance up so I don't lose the guarantee.
🔴 The contribution-pay floor is gated: you must be on a scheduled block AND meet the Offer Commitment Rate (accept a high enough share of offers). Cherry-pick too hard and you lose the guarantee and future block priority. It's a real trade-off.
This order has alcohol, so I'll need to check your ID.
🔴 In select markets, delivery partners 21+ may get orders with alcohol. At the door you must check the customer's ID — they have to be 21 or older. Set the expectation before handing anything over.
I'm sorry, I can't hand over the alcohol without a valid ID.
If the person is under 21, has no valid ID, or seems intoxicated, you refuse the alcohol. Never leave alcohol at the door and never hand it to a minor — this is the law, not just a Grubhub rule.
Could I see a photo ID, please? You have to be 21.
The polite, direct way to ask at an alcohol drop. Most customers expect it. A driver's license or state ID works; the name and the age are what you're checking.
Ratings, violations, deactivation & support
Grubhub tracks your standing through account violations, and understanding the mechanics keeps you calm when one appears. A violation is a behavior tied to fraud or a broken promise — not delivering an accepted order, falsifying progress, and the like. The official rules are clear: three violations blocks your account, and violations expire after 90 days. Some markets also enforce an insulated-bag rule, so make the bag a habit. Dispute options can be limited, so when you contact support, keep it factual and save what you're told. The winning move is always the same: state what happened plainly, keep your records, and don't argue.
- 👂 You'll hear
You've received an account violation.
A notification you take seriously but don't panic over. Read exactly what it's for; three of these within 90 days blocks the account.
- 🗣️ You say
I'd like to understand this — I delivered that order and have the photo.
Calm and factual, pointing to your proof. State your side clearly even where the dispute path is limited.
- 👂 You'll hear
Please contact driver support with any details.
The channel for follow-up. Reach support through the Driver app or driver-support.grubhub.com, keep it factual, and save the reply.
- 🗣️ You say
Could you confirm that in writing so I have a record?
Locks in what support told you. Your own written record is worth keeping if the issue returns.
🧠 Skills this builds
- Writing a short, factual account is the key skill here: what happened, your proof (delivery photo, order details), and your request — in three plain sentences. Facts and records win; long, emotional messages don't.
- Know your standing by the numbers: three violations block the account, and each one drops off after 90 days. Understanding the count keeps a single violation from feeling like the end.
🇺🇸 US workplace note
- Grubhub's dispute options can be more limited than some other apps, so protecting yourself proactively matters — use the insulated bag, keep delivery photos, and save support messages. Reach support through the Driver app or the official driver-support site, not a phone number you find online, which is often a scam.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Ignoring a violation notice instead of reading exactly what it's for. — You can't avoid a repeat if you don't know what triggered it, and three within 90 days blocks your account. Read each notice carefully.
- Skipping the insulated bag in a market that enforces it. — It's led to real deactivations. Make the bag automatic; keeping food hot protects both your standing and your rating.
- Arguing emotionally with support or the customer instead of stating facts. — It rarely helps and can be quoted back at you. Keep it to what happened, your proof, and your request.
🔖 Quick reference
I got a violation notice — what exactly did I do wrong?
Grubhub account violations are behaviors tied to fraud or broken promises — like not delivering an accepted order, or falsifying progress. You get a notification for each one. Read it carefully so you know what to fix and don't repeat it.
Three violations and my account gets blocked.
🔴 The official mechanics: if 3 violations occur, your account is blocked. Violations expire and drop off your account after 90 days. Knowing the count and the 90-day window helps you understand exactly where you stand.
I always use my insulated bag now.
Some markets enforce an insulated-bag rule, and drivers have been flagged for not using one. Keeping the food hot is both a rule and a rating-saver — make the bag a habit, not an afterthought.
I didn't break the rules — here's what actually happened.
If you believe a violation is wrong, state your side plainly and factually. Dispute paths can be limited on Grubhub, but a clear, calm account of what happened is always your best case.
I need to reach Grubhub driver support.
Contact support through the Driver app or driver-support.grubhub.com. Keep your messages factual and save what you're told — a written record helps if the same issue comes up again.
Can you confirm that in writing, please?
When support tells you something important, ask them to put it in the chat or in writing. Your own record of what was said is worth keeping in case you need it later.
My tip dropped after I delivered — is that normal?
A tip shown up front can sometimes be lowered after delivery. You can't control it, and a clean, fast, friendly delivery is your best long-term answer. Don't let one lowered tip change how you treat the next customer.
Staying safe: on the road & at the door
You drive short legs to restaurants and to strangers' doors all day, so the road — and sometimes the doorstep — carries the same risks as any driving job. This is the chapter to know cold. The order never changes: safety first, then 911 if anyone's hurt, then information. Grubhub builds its own tools into the Driver app under Safety Services (tap the SOS icon at the top of the screen): a '911 slider' that connects you to a 911 operator and shares your location through RapidSOS, plus a Safety Agent Call and a Safety Agent Text with a live 24/7 safety agent. There's also a 'Take a pause' feature and market pauses for bad weather. Find Safety Services in the app — through Help, Tutorials, or the LearningHub — before you ever need it. Drill the few key lines, and for any life-threatening emergency, 911 comes first.
- 👂 You'll hear
911, what's your emergency?
The dispatcher's opening line. Answer in a few plain words — 'There's been a car accident' — then follow their questions. Don't wait to build a perfect sentence.
- 🗣️ You say
There's been a car accident. Someone's hurt — we need an ambulance.
Situation, then injury status. If anyone is hurt, this comes before the app and before photos, every time.
- 👂 You'll hear
What's your location?
The one thing they can't help without. Give a street address, a restaurant or store name, or two cross streets.
- 🗣️ You say
Sorry, could you say that again?
Use it the instant you don't catch something. Guessing in an emergency sends help to the wrong place; asking again is normal and expected.
🧠 Skills this builds
- "Sorry, could you say that again?" — or "Slower, please" — is your lifeline under pressure. Drill it until it's automatic, because an emergency is exactly when your English will feel hardest and a guessed answer costs the most.
- Find Grubhub's Safety Services (the SOS icon → 911 slider / Safety Agent Call / Safety Agent Text, learned via Help, Tutorials, or the LearningHub) before you ever need it, so in a crisis you're not searching menus. For any life-threatening emergency, a direct 911 call always works.
🇺🇸 US workplace note
- In the US, calling 911 is free and expected for any real emergency — you won't get in trouble for calling when someone's hurt or you're in danger. At a police stop, stay calm, keep your hands visible, and comply first. You can 'Take a pause' or stop for dangerous weather at any time.
- Grubhub's safety features are its own, gathered in the app's Safety Services and powered by its partner RapidSOS: a '911 slider' that connects you to a 911 operator and shares your name, phone, and location, plus a live 24/7 Safety Agent Call and Safety Agent Text, free to use. They supplement — but never replace — a direct 911 call in a life-threatening emergency. Trusting your gut and leaving an unsafe address is allowed and smart.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Reaching for your phone to take photos or open the app before checking whether anyone is hurt. — If someone's injured, calling 911 for an ambulance comes first, always. The order is safety, then 911, then information.
- Pushing into an address or area that feels unsafe because you don't want to lose the order. — No order is worth your safety; leave, use 'Take a pause' or Safety Services if you need to, and know that Grubhub can pause a market for bad weather too.
- Pretending you understood a 911 dispatcher or officer when you didn't. — A guessed answer sends help to the wrong place or the wrong address. Say 'Sorry, could you say that again?' or 'Slower, please' — every single time you need to.
🔖 Quick reference
911, what's your emergency?
The first thing the 911 dispatcher says when you call. Don't wait for a perfect sentence — answer in a few plain words: 'There's been a car accident.' If you freeze or hang up, help isn't sent. Speaking slowly and clearly matters more than grammar.
There's been an accident. No one's hurt.
Use this when you've crashed but everyone is okay. Say the situation first, then the injury status — the dispatcher needs both. If you skip 'No one's hurt,' they may send an ambulance you don't need. Keep it short and factual; don't apologize or explain who caused it.
Someone's hurt — we need an ambulance.
Use this the moment anyone is injured — you, another driver, or a pedestrian. You drive short legs all day, so a crash is a real risk. This is the most important line: if someone is hurt, calling 911 comes before photos, before the app, before everything. Don't move an injured person.
What's your location?
The dispatcher asks so responders can find you. Read a street address, a restaurant or store name, or two cross streets. If you don't know, say what you see — a business sign, a highway exit number. Don't just name the neighborhood.
I need emergency help — I'm using Safety Services in the app.
🔴 Grubhub's Driver app has Safety Services (tap the SOS icon at the top of the screen when you're toggled on). It connects you to help through RapidSOS, Grubhub's safety partner. For any life-threatening emergency, calling 911 directly from your phone always works too.
I'm swiping for 911 in the app.
🔴 On the Safety Services page, the '911 slider' ('Swipe for 911') connects you to a 911 operator, and through RapidSOS your name, phone number, and location are shared with responders. Use it when you can't easily dial — but a direct 911 call is always fine.
I don't feel safe — I'm calling a safety agent.
🔴 Safety Services also offers a Safety Agent Call — a live RapidSOS safety agent, available 24/7 and free to use, who can stay with you through an unsafe or anxious moment and relay information to first responders if needed. Use the Safety Agent Text option when you can't speak.
This address doesn't feel safe — I'm leaving.
Trust your gut. If a delivery or an area feels unsafe, you can leave. Grubhub also has a 'Take a pause' feature for when you feel unsafe or tired. No order is worth your safety.
Can I get your insurance and license, please?
Say this to the other driver after a crash to swap details — you both need each other's insurance to file a claim. It's a normal step, not an accusation. If they refuse or try to leave, note the license plate and let the police handle it.
Are you okay?
The other driver or a bystander asking if you're hurt — not an admission of fault, not a trick. Answer honestly: 'I'm okay' or 'I think I'm hurt.' If you're shaken, 'Give me a second' is fine. Don't answer 'It was your fault.'
I'm going to take some photos for the record.
Say this before photographing so others know you're documenting, not being aggressive. Photograph the vehicles, the damage, the plates, and the whole scene. Do this only after everyone is safe and 911 has been called if anyone's hurt.
License and registration, please.
A police officer says this at a stop. Safest response: keep your hands where the officer can see them, say where the documents are before reaching ('It's in the glove box'), then hand them over. Stay calm, don't argue, don't reach suddenly. You can mention you deliver for Grubhub — but comply first, explain second.
It's not safe to drive in this — I'm pausing until it clears.
In ice, snow, flooding, or extreme heat, stop and pause for your own safety — no delivery is worth a crash. Grubhub may also pause your market for inclement weather. State it plainly and don't push through hoping it improves.
Sorry, could you say that again?
Your single most important line under stress. When a 911 dispatcher, a police officer, or a safety agent speaks fast and your mind goes blank, this buys a repeat without panic — native speakers use it too. You can also say 'Slower, please.' Never pretend you understood and guess; in an emergency a wrong answer sends help to the wrong place. Ask again, every time you need to.