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Guadagno et al. reveal that the small GTPase Rab18, by interacting directly with the ER-resident protein kinectin, regulates the ER transport toward the cell surface to support focal adhesion growth and sustain protrusion orientation during chemotaxis., The members of the Rab family of small GTPases are molecular switches that regulate distinct steps in different membrane traffic pathways. In addition to this canonical function, Rabs can play a role in other processes, such as cell adhesion and motility. Here, we reveal the role of the small GTPase Rab18 as a positive regulator of directional migration in chemotaxis, and the underlying mechanism. We show that knockdown of Rab18 reduces the size of focal adhesions (FAs) and influences their dynamics. Furthermore, we found that Rab18, by directly interacting with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein kinectin-1, controls the anterograde kinesin-1–dependent transport of the ER required for the maturation of nascent FAs and protrusion orientation toward a chemoattractant. Altogether, our data support a model in which Rab18 regulates kinectin-1 transport toward the cell surface to form ER–FA contacts, thus promoting FA growth and cell migration during chemotaxis.