The Transportation Department

This chapter outlines the one department that is rarely seen on a low-budget film. In addition to the transportation personnel, it discusses the many production trucks that exist, what their purposes are, and how many might be needed based on script and budget level. The transportation coordinator is the head of the transportation department. He oversees and is responsible for the transportation budget. In some cases, the captain may concentrate only on coordinating and managing the drivers. The captain usually begins work shortly after the transportation coordinator. A dispatcher is usually found on larger-budget films. This person works solely to schedule drivers for transporting cast and crew to and from the airport or to and from the set. The transportation department, also called transpo, handles all production and picture vehicles. The transportation coordinator works with his captain and drivers to make sure all vehicles are on set and to transport cast and crew as needed.