Movin' On starred Claude Akins as old-time independent "big-rig" trucker Sonny Pruitt, and Frank Converse as his college-educated co-driver Will Chandler. The theme song, "Movin' On", was written and performed by Merle Haggard, and was a No. 1 single on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in July 1975.
The series was likened to Route 66, following a similar format. Episodes usually centered around Sonny and Will, always traveling, becoming involved in the lives of people they met (or met again) in the various places they found themselves.
The pilot episode was a TV movie originally titled In Tandem (a reference to the tandem axles on the tractor and trailer), begins with Will sliding out of control in a truck that he was driving, due to poor maintenance of the brakes. After he manages to get the truck stopped, he drives to a truck stop and calls the company to quit his job. He then meets Sonny, a "gypsy" trucker, and they decide to try driving as a team. Of course, this works out well.
The semi-tractor featured on the pilot episode was a dark green 1973 Kenworth W-925, but was later changed to a 1974 model for the series run.[citation needed] Movin' On was filmed on location all over the United States including Astoria, Oregon; Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina; San Diego, California; Sedona, Arizona; The Dalles, Oregon.
Akins and Converse actually drove the trucks during filming, having been trained and obtaining their Chauffeur's Licenses (the forerunner to the Commercial Driver's License) prior to making the pilot episode. Executive producers for the series were Barry Weitz and Philip D'Antoni.
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