Fast-food seems to be slowing down at the drive-thrus as more complicated, new products clog up the food assembly line.
According to USA Today, the amount of time customers spend waiting in line at fast food drive-thrus windows are getting longer; reportedly due to the wider selection on menus.
A study from the 2013 Drive-Thru Performance, published in the QSR Magazine, a fast-food industry trade publication, found McDonald's posted as the slowest-ever drive-thry time in the 15-year history of the drive-thru study.
The study found that McDonald's drive-thru transactions took an average of 189.5 seconds from order to pick-up, USA Today reported. It was considered the slowest time; nine seconds longer than the industry average.
The study stated that the drive-thru business holds great value to the $299 billion fast-food industry. Major chains do 60 to 70 percent of their business at the drive-thru.
"The operational pressure to assemble those items are slowing down the drive thru," said Sam Oches, editor of OSR.
Taco Bell told QSR that its Cantina Bell bowls sometimes have up to 12 ingredients, which are much more complex to assemble than, say, a Doritos Locos Taco.
"The one thing that angers a customer most is to not get the right food," Oches said. "It's possible to be too fast."
The study said consumers often get so upset when they find the wrong kind of burger or wrong toppings in their order. Giving the wrong order can slow down the process or adds additional time to check orders or correct orders.
Some chains are "doubling down" on order accuracy Oches said, "Customers will be patient if you give them hot, accurate orders."
Order accuracy for drive-thru meals for the industry was at 87.2 percent this year vs. 88.8 percent last year. The chain ranking highest in accuracy is Chick-fil-A at 91.6 percent and the lowest was Burger King at 82.3 percent.
According to Oches, Chick-fil-A customers waited in the drive-thru line longer than anyone this year with 203.9 seconds, on average. By comparison, Wendy's was the fastest drive-thru, at an average 133.6 seconds.