A Look at How the Trucking Industry Is Influencing Culture
As History Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers” celebrates its fifth season, the media continues to take a more focused look at the culture that personifies the trucking world.
While this newfound popularity appears somewhat surprising, trucking has been portrayed in film, on television and, most notably, in music since the day that trucks first took to the highway.
Over the decades, memorable trucking tunes have streamed across airwaves and turntables nationwide. For some, this first began as kids, singing “Wheels on the Truck.”
As we grew, our musical tastes became a bit more “sophisticated,” thanks to the CB craze of the 70s, which gave us “Convoy” by one-hit wonder C.B. McCall. The astounding success of that hit ultimately led to the similarly named 1978 film starring Kris Kristofferson and Ali McGraw.
The 70s offered a full tank of trucker-themed music, including the Grateful Dead’s “Truckin’” and the soulful and inspiring “Keep on Truckin’” by former Temptations lead singer Eddie Kendricks. “Keep on Truckin’” had a huge cultural impact, reaching #1 on the Billboard Charts in 1973 and becoming a popular American phrase.
Trucking also made its way to the top of the TV ratings in the 70s when Greg Evigan and his pet chimpanzee took to the interstate in a Kenworth K-100 cab-over semi in NBC’s “B.J. and the Bear.”
The comedic realm was not untouched by the trucking industry as the comedic song “18 Wheels on a Big Rig” by Heywood Banks became one of his most popular sketches.
Trucking has recently found its way into the political arena—through song. In 2008, trucking anthem “When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll” gained national attention during the famous trucking fuel protest convoy to Washington, D.C. Performed by country singer John Johnson, the song has since been played at many other trucking rallies nationwide.
Today, trucker tunes continue to grow in popularity and now have a dedicated channel on satellite radio, “Road Dog Trucking.” On the small screen, Spike’s “PowerBlock TV” has earned a dedicated following of passionate trucking enthusiasts.
From film to television to music, the trucking world continues to captivate. What are your favorites? Please share your top trucking tune or flick with our community in the comment section below!
Tim Ronan is the National Heavy Truck & Equipment Manager for Manheim Specialty. He has 14 years of auction industry experience, including 10 years with Manheim. He also serves on the board of directors for the Used Truck Association.
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