'Convoy:' The Song That Made Truckers The Working Class Heroes Of The '70s

By | July 10, 2018

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A convoy of trucks in a scene from 'Convoy', directed by Sam Peckinpah, 1978. (Photo by Silver Screen CollectionGetty Images)

The chart-topping 1976 hit "Convoy," by C.W. McCall, tapped into America's fascination with CB radios and truckers. The song told a story about a hard-working trucker whose business is going to take a hit due to new trucking regulations -- in a way, everybody could identify with "Convoy." There was a gas crisis and rampant inflation in the 1970s; many Americans felt the little guy was getting squeezed by factors beyond his control. The simple story of a trucker fighting back against The Man captured the public imagination, winning audiences well outside its country-and-western genre. Not only that, but the song also showed the power of technology to unite people to a common cause… all before Twitter!

'10-4, Good Buddy!'

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Source: Amazon.com

“Convoy” tells the story of a nationwide truck drivers protest to emphasize how new rules and government regulations negatively impact the trucking industry. The song is told like a conversation over CB radio between a few of the truckers who are participating in a coast to coast protest convoy and the song helped to introduce the general public to the code words and lingo used by truck drivers.