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
Big wheels rollin gotta keep en going
Big wheels rollin movin on
All night country music keeps em goin
Kix and Ronnie keep on movin on
Hey big hot cup of coffee is waitin up ahead
An the rhythm of the highway hums along
Jammin gears has got to be a fever
Cos 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 wheel’s rollin Big wheel’s rollin movin on
Big wheel’s rollin gotta keep em goin
Big wheel’s rollin movin on
Original Opening Credits
The Country Maestro: Merle Haggard
The theme for Movin’ On was written and performed by country music legend Merle Haggard. The song became a hit in its own right, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1975. Its gritty, authentic lyrics about the “fever” of jamming gears resonated deeply with the professional trucking community and fans of the outlaw country genre.
The show itself was a pioneer in location filming, traveling to different cities across the U.S. for every episode. This gave viewers a genuine look at the American landscape through the windshield of Sonny Pruitt’s green Kenworth W925. The combination of Haggard’s music and the duo of Akins and Converse cemented the show as a cultural touchstone for the mid-70s trucking craze.
What kind of truck was used in the show?
Sonny Pruitt famously drove a 1974 Kenworth W925 with a VIT sleeper, painted a distinctive dark green with white stripes.
Did Merle Haggard appear in the show?
Yes, Merle Haggard made a guest appearance in the first-season episode titled “White Line Fever.”
Who composed the incidental music?
While Haggard provided the theme, the show’s score featured work by Earle Hagen (famous for The Andy Griffith Show) and John Scott.
