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Freight Forwarding for the Film Industry – Equipment Transports and Tour Logistics for Productions

Speed Logistics drives camera, lighting and sound technology, props and set builds as a direct transport without transhipment, on time to the set – on request as tour logistics with one vehicle and driver across the whole shoot, with an ATA Carnet for shoots outside the EU too.

Private jet hangar – film industry

On set, every shooting hour counts: if the lighting equipment is missing or the set build is stuck in traffic, the entire team waits – and production costs keep running. Speed Logistics drives camera equipment, lighting and sound technology, props and set builds as a direct transport without transhipment – from the rental house or studio on time to the location, across Germany, across Europe and, with an ATA Carnet, outside the EU too. Our drivers know how a set works: quiet, punctual, flexible about waiting times – and discreet when the production requires it.

You receive your fixed-price quote within a few hours, including CMR insurance and live GPS tracking; for high-value equipment we add premium value insurance on request. Our dispatch team is available 24/7 – because shooting schedules rarely change during office hours, and logistics that only respond at nine in the morning cost shooting hours.

What we transport for productions

  • Camera, lighting and sound technology – shock-sensitive, high-value, driven with minimal vibration in cases
  • Set builds and props from the piece of furniture to the complete scenery
  • Costume and make-up – transported hanging on request
  • Generators, rigging and stage technology with suitable load securing
  • Urgent top-up deliveries to the set by van when something is missing on the shooting day

We secure cases and technology so that they remain stackable and rollable and are unloaded on set in the order in which the departments need them – lighting first, when lighting sets up first.

Tour logistics: one vehicle, one driver, many stations

For productions with changing locations we provide the vehicle and driver for the entire tour: the equipment stays continuously in the same sealed vehicle, the driver knows the contacts and procedures, standing times on set are planned in. That reduces loading damage, mix-ups and coordination effort – and gives the production management a fixed logistics contact across the whole shoot.

We run the same principle for commercial productions, photo shoots and events: equipment there, standing time on site, return transport after strike – as one order with one fixed price instead of three separately dispatched journeys.

ATA Carnet: exporting equipment temporarily

For shoots outside the EU – such as in Türkiye, Morocco or the Gulf – the ATA Carnet is the fastest way to export and re-import equipment temporarily and duty-free. We work routinely with carnets: packing list cross-check, presentation at customs, clean stamping at every border. If a carnet is missing or unsuitable, we handle the temporary admission via regular customs procedures – including complete customs clearance by our team, deadline monitoring included, so that no duties get stuck on re-import.

Process and costs for production transports

  • Enquiry with equipment list, number of cases, weight, stations and shooting-schedule dates
  • Fixed-price quote usually within a few hours – night, weekend and standing times transparently itemised
  • Loading with a handover protocol, live GPS tracking during every leg
  • Delivery to the set within the agreed window, return transport after the shoot ends

Costs depend on volume, stations, standing times and time window. Send us your shooting schedule – we calculate the logistics as a binding fixed price, one your production budget can rely on from preparation to the last shooting day.

Frequently asked questions: Film Industry

Who prepares the ATA Carnet for a shoot abroad?

The ATA Carnet is applied for by the equipment owner – in Germany at the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). We support with the carnet-ready packing list, cross-check it against the load and take over the presentation and stamping at all borders. Alternatively we handle the temporary admission via regular customs procedures.

How do you react to short-notice shooting-schedule changes?

Our dispatch team is personally reachable 24/7. If a shooting day shifts or the location changes, we adjust departure, route and standing times at short notice and inform the production management proactively. Via live GPS tracking your team can see at any time when the equipment will arrive. We also implement complete re-planning overnight if capacity is available.

Does the driver stay with the equipment during the production?

Yes, for tour logistics we provide the vehicle and driver for the entire shoot: the equipment stays in the same sealed vehicle, standing times on set are planned in, and the production has a fixed contact. That significantly reduces mix-ups, loading damage and coordination effort. We calculate the driver's overnight stays and standby times transparently in advance.

How is high-value film equipment insured during transport?

Every transport is CMR-insured as standard. Since camera and lighting technology often exceeds the CMR liability framework, we add premium value insurance to the actual equipment value on request. We document loading and handover with a protocol, the vehicle drives sealed and GPS-monitored. You set the insured value, we document it in the order.

Do you also drive to the set at night or at weekends?

Yes. Shooting schedules don't follow office hours – and neither do our dispatch team and drivers. Night and weekend deliveries to the set we dispatch as standard and itemise them transparently in the fixed-price quote so the production budget adds up. Collections right after strike at midnight are not a special case either, but everyday business.

What does an equipment transport for a film production cost?

Costs depend on volume, number of stations, standing times and time window – a van top-up delivery to the set is calculated differently to a multi-week tour with a dedicated vehicle. After your enquiry with equipment list and shooting schedule you usually receive a binding fixed price within a few hours.

What should productions pay attention to with set logistics?

Key points are a 24/7-reachable dispatch team, because shooting schedules rarely change during office hours, the right unloading order of the departments on set, and an ATA Carnet prepared in good time for shoots abroad. Speed Logistics loads according to the build-up, keeps standing times flexible and cross-checks the packing list for carnet suitability in advance.

Why does Speed Logistics provide a dedicated vehicle and driver for tours?

For productions with changing locations, the equipment stays continuously in the same sealed vehicle, the driver knows the contacts and procedures, and standing times on set are planned in. That reduces loading damage, mix-ups and coordination effort and gives the production management a fixed logistics contact across the whole shoot.

Request film industry

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.