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Sonny Pruitt and Will Chandler - A pair of gypsy
truckers featured on the highway adventure MOVIN' ON/NBC/1974-76.
Will Chandler and Sonny Pruitt
The series followed the exploits of two long haul truckers, namely
Sonny Pruitt (Claude Akins) and his partner, Will Chandler (Frank
Converse).
Sonny Pruit was a veteran trucker. He was old-school rough and
tumble with a hot head. Will, on the other hand, was an idealistic, easy-going
law school graduate with a level head.
Together they traveled the country in Sonny's 1974 Kenleworth big
rig. rig. Along the
way, they picked up and dropped off various freight, looked for
adventure and helped people in trouble.
Sonny referred to a truck driver as "the last of the buccaneers, the
pony express, the knights of the road." He considered people in
other jobs as "men in chains. Men who don't dream. Who don't go any
place. Don't do anything."
Sonny and Will in trouble with the law
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Truck Driving 101: The Pacer |
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|
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Will: |
How'd
they catch up with us so fast? |
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Sonny: |
That
bought a pacer. |
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Will: |
They
bought a what? |
|
Sonny |
You pay
a guy to drive ahead of you a couple miles doing a steady 75. |
| Will |
What if
Smokey jumps out? |
|
Sonny: |
Then the
pacer gets the ticket. You can see the flashing lights and you
slow down. |
Later in the series, two less than ethical truckers/con men named
Benjy (Rosey Grier) and Moose (Art Metrano) shared long haul
adventures with Sonny and Will.
Benjy and Moose on the road
Theme Song Lyrics
Big wheels rollin’
Big wheels rollin’ - movin’ on
Big wheels rollin’, gotta keep ‘em goin'
Big wheels rollin’- movin’ on
The white line is the life line to a nation
And men like Will and Sonny make it move
Livin’ like a gypsy, always on the go
Doin’ what they best know how to do
Jammin’ gears has got to be a fever
'Cause men become addicted to the grind
It takes a special breed to be a truck drivin’ man
And a steady hand to pull that load behind
Big wheels rollin’ - big wheels rollin’ - movin’ on
Written and performed by Merle Haggard
External Links
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