Grip Truck Driver

One of the positions within the G&E departments is a hyphante position as a grip, electric, or combo G&E Truck Driver. There are many things to consider when taking a job as a driver.

Pre Production

• Communicate with Production about being the driver

Make sure production understands that you will be the driver and that your work day as driver will be a portal to portal work day. See below for details.

• Load the Truck

Usually on larger jobs, the Driver will be on a prep day and will load the truck. Having the driver make sure all the gear is there and the pack is organized and driver knows where everything is put is crucial to a smooth running show!

Portal to Portal Work Day

As driver of the grip truck, which is technically considered a production vehicle, the work day starts when you get to the grip truck. As driver your day ends when you have returned to the portal where you started that day. If production wants to leave the grip truck some where else that is not where you picked it up the truck that morning, you are on the clock and it's production responsibility to get you back to your portal, where usually your personal mode of transporation is.

Plan Your Route

• Review the Call Sheet

Location or distance from the shop, weather, time of day, size of truck, weigh stations, and route all will affect how long it will take to get to set. Route for example, the 3ton has a hard time going up California street hill in SF, plan a route that does not require taking that road to get to set.

• Arrive to set 30mins early

This will give you time to land the grip truck and have "a reasonable amount of time" to eat the provided hot meal to reset your meal clock.

On Set Responsabilities

• Make sure the grip truck is in the right parking spot

Communicate between locations, production, and the keys.

• Open up the Truck

Once you know your in the right spot, turn on the lift gate, open back doors and side door for easy access to all the gear, and unlock jocky boxes.

• Set up Safety

Place cones on the street side of the truck. End of the lift gate, where the back door swings out, and front of the truck.

• Lift Gate Operation

Usually on a larger show, the Grip/driver of the grip truck will run the gate for their crew when downloading carts at the beginning of the day.

• Calling out the pack

At the end of the day having the driver, who ideally has packed the truck initially, will be at the truck calling out the pack. Coordinating with the crew about what should go onto the truck next. Completing the attic, loading carts that go against the wall and gear that goes on the shelves and then the order of the carts that go down the isle.

• Strap down gear and ladders

Driver ideally should do this, or if someone else ends up doing it, the driver needs to go up top and make sure they are secure. In the end damanges inside or outside the truck caused by loose gear are the drivers responsibility.

Tips

• Review article Liftgate Operation.
• Use 4x4 ply wood as a bridge to traverse the gap between the left gate and sidewalk to get carts onto curb from lift gate.
• Use cones in the cab to mark a parking spot you want to save for yourself.
• Keep walkie talkies in the cab so that you can communicate with locations, production, or department crew member while landing the grip truck.
• for more information about driving, review Truck Driving article.
• Review the hand signals portion of Truck Driving article.