Truckin’ Man (1975)

          Enjoyable garbage that plays like a cheapo version of the same year’s White Line Fever, this cheerfully mindless actioner is about a young man who takes over his father’s sole-proprietor trucking operation while exploring the mysterious circumstances of his father’s death. Shot with the ugly lighting of spot-news coverage from local television of the same era, Truckin’ Man suffers the usual blights of under-budgeted drive-in schlock. The acting is dodgy, the narrative is trite, and the stunts are laughably amateurish. Good thing the pacing is so zippy. Running just 81 minutes, Truckin’ Man (sometimes known as Trucker’s Woman) never has time to wear out its welcome. More importantly, the film never aspires to be anything more than disposable junk. The hero beats up bad guys, gets laid, and spews cocksure dialogue. Add in the requisite amount of kitschy ’70s clothing and décor, and you’ve got the ingredients for a craptastic viewing experience.

          After his father’s funeral, Mike Kelly (Michael Hawkins) starts driving the family rig while poking around the trucking scene to see what’s what. Jake Fontaine (Jack Canon) runs the local terminal like a Mafia boss, pressuring drivers into bad deals and using violence to punish those who rebel. Mike quickly identifies Jake as the bad guy. He also romances Karen (Mary Cannon), only to discover that she is Jake’s daughter. Events proceed in a predictable manner, and the closest the picture gets to idiosyncrasy is the supporting character who performs novelty songs filled with malapropisms. (Trivia Alert No. 1: That character is played by Sigourney Weaver’s uncle, Doodles Weaver. Trivia Alert No. 2: Future TV/film notable Larry Drake portrays a morally conflicted galoot named “Diesel Joe.”) Oddball elements aside,  Truckin’ Man mostly comprises a steady stream of country tunes, macho posturing, and unimpressive stage combat, served with a side of leisure suits and plaid blazers. That’s a ten-four, good buddy.

Truckin’ Man; FUNKY