For David Haddad, running the family business was always part of his plan. However, transforming their small Amico gas station into one of the foremost providers of custom-made production vehicles for the film and television industry was an unexpected plot twist.
“I worked at the gas station as a young boy and again after college to help my father run the company,” explains David, “but it wasn’t until 1982, when “Flashdance” was shooting in Pittsburgh, that we got our start in film. A producer was interested in renting our pickup truck to tow production trailers around, and the rest is history.”
That one job was the beginning of their massive transformation. Haddad’s now offers premium trucks that provide spaces for on-site makeup, wardrobe, dressing rooms, offices, and power, with a trailer fleet that includes HMU/wardrobe combos, Honey wagons, camera trucks, 1-4 room cast trailers, craft service vehicles, generators, and line of green solutions. Today Haddad’s services most of the East Coast, with most of their work taking place in the New York and New Jersey areas.
David Haddad (r) examining one of his many fleet vehicles with his NJ crew.
When asked what sets his company apart, David points to a commitment to excellence: “When you rent from Haddad’s, you’re getting top-of-the-line equipment that meets our extremely high standards. Everything is meticulously checked and cared for by our employees. We have nine dedicated mechanics on staff and our experienced dispatch team is available around the clock. We also deploy mechanics and trailer techs with our equipment at the start of every job for no extra charge. I may be biased, but we have the best employees, and every staff member genuinely cares that our clients are being taken care of.”
That level of customer service has enabled Haddad’s to work on over 5,000 projects, including a slew of recent New Jersey films, such as: “Leave the World Behind,” “Mean Girls the Musical,” “It Ends with Us,” “The Best Man,” “Bros,” “Dumb Money,” and “Winston.”
This Spring, Haddad’s trucks were rented for the upcoming Searchlight Pictures/Disney feature film “A Complete Unknown,” a Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by James Mangold that filmed extensively in New Jersey and is due for a Christmas Day release. Currently their trucks are being spotted all over the state on the new Adam Sandler feature film, “Happy Gilmore 2.”
Recently Haddad’s expanded again, opening its Garden State location. David explains the reasoning behind the move, “We sensed that New Jersey was going to be a powerhouse in filming movies and television. It’s great to work in both New Jersey and New York, but New Jersey always had something special about it. We prep our trailers in our Kearny location with our full team of 20+ employees, who are available for any service issues. It’s about investing in New Jersey's expanding film scene and setting the standard for excellence while creating local jobs.” Haddads has shown a deep commitment to delivering those jobs and opportunities in New Jersey by signing an extension on their lease agreement in Kearny through 2032.
Haddad’s Kearny, NJ location.
In addition to keeping an eye on his business, David keeps a close eye on the industry, be it innovations or incentives. He and his team recently attended the Green Truck Summit in Indianapolis to learn more about green technology, an initiative they take very seriously. Currently Haddad’s offers 31 electric trailers and have plans to onboard 15 new electric trailers in the next year.
Similarly, understanding film tax incentives is key to David and his team. “Quite simply, financial incentives dictate where and how many jobs will be shooting,” explains David. “New Jersey’s financial incentives are robust and competitive, which helps dramatically. We’re recovering from the effects of the strike, but I feel optimistic that 2025 will bring months of higher volume.”At 68 years of age David often reflects on the company’s success and thinks about the future of Haddad’s. His dream is that one day his children direct the company’s next act. “Two of my three children currently work at Haddad’s. My son DJ is the Sales Manager, and my daughter Kelly is the Chief of Staff. It means the world to me that they developed a passion for Haddad’s, and they make me proud each day,” shares David with a smile.
David Haddad stands in front of one of his trailers, with the iconic "Lucy" and "Desi" signage on the restroom doors.
To find out more about Haddad’s and their product offerings, call today (412)-655-8822 and/or visit their website: https://haddadsinc.com/
To find more New Jersey based companies that service our growing film and television industry, visit our recently updated Production Services Directory, now called the NJ411.
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