Eukaryotic viruses exploit microtubule-based transport systems to build progeny virions, but whether phage-encoded cargo traffic along microtubules in infected bacteria was unknown. A previous study found that several Pseudomonas phages assemble a bipolar nucleus-like spindle composed of a phage tubulin-like protein (PhuZ) that encloses phage DNA. Using time-lapse light microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, Chaikeeratisak et al. observed that during phage 201ϕ2-1 infection of Pseudomonas chlororaphis, after phage capsids assemble at the membrane, they move rapidly and directionally along treadmilling PhuZ filaments towards the phage nucleus for DNA packaging. Viral capsids become trapped along microtubles when a PhuZ mutant that is defective for GTP hydrolysis is expressed. The spindle rotates the phage nucleus, which the authors hypothesize distributes capsids for efficient DNA packaging. These findings suggest that cytoskeleton-dependent transport is an evolutionarily conserved feature of viruses.