The three biggest US incentive markets compared — from a freight perspective.

When a production is choosing between Georgia, Louisiana, and New Mexico, the conversation usually starts with tax credit rates and qualified spend definitions. Those matter enormously. But the freight implications of each market are almost never part of the conversation — and they should be.

Georgia — the no-brainer for large features

Georgia's 30% uncapped credit has made it the dominant US production market by volume. The infrastructure has followed: Pinewood Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios, and a deep base of experienced crew. For freight, that means established lanes, bonded warehouses close to every major studio, and air freight connections through Hartsfield-Jackson (the world's busiest airport).

The freight advantage of Georgia is consistency. The lanes are mature, customs brokers are experienced with production cargo, and BTS has been working the Atlanta market since the program launched. Predictable timelines, known costs.

Louisiana — the best rate, with caveats

Louisiana's tiered credit goes up to 40% — the highest headline rate in the US. New Orleans is the primary hub, with a production ecosystem built around its distinctive locations. The Port of New Orleans also means ocean freight is practical for productions moving large volumes from international markets.

The freight consideration in Louisiana is geography. New Orleans is farther from LA than Atlanta, and the secondary markets (Baton Rouge, Shreveport) require more ground transit time. For productions that can plan around this, the rate advantage is real. For productions on tight turnarounds, it's worth modelling the freight cost difference.

New Mexico — the growth market

Albuquerque is the fastest-growing production market in North America right now. Netflix's billion-dollar studio investment changed the calculus for producers. The refundable credit (up to 35%) and unique desert and mountain locations are drawing productions that previously defaulted to Georgia or BC.

The freight challenge in New Mexico is that the market is still maturing. Fewer established vendors, fewer experienced customs brokers, more reliance on shipments from LA by ground. BTS coordinates freight to ABQ and to remote New Mexico locations — including the desert shoots that require special handling for delicate equipment in extreme temperature swings.

The freight bottom line

All three markets are well-served by BTS. The practical difference: Georgia is the most established and predictable for large-volume moves. Louisiana is cost-effective for ocean-heavy moves or productions with longer lead times. New Mexico is best suited for productions that value unique locations and don't need last-minute freight solutions.

Contact BTS before you lock your location — we can model the freight cost for each market against your production schedule and help you choose the option that works within your below-the-line budget.