Deadhead Miles

Deadhead Miles

Year: 1972

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Vernon Zimmerman

Comedy

A long‑distance trucker, garbed like a sea captain, roams the American highways in his 18‑wheel rig, muttering manic, Southern‑accented non sequiturs. He drifts through carnival‑like roadside stops and random towns, baffling police and weigh stations with the help of his mysterious, over‑coated hitchhiker companion, offering a heavy, reflective view of life from the cab’s window.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Deadhead Miles (1972)

Trace every key event in Deadhead Miles (1972) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Truck stolen and repainted

Cooper and Durazno knock out a truck driver and steal his rig. They drive it back to an auto shop where it is repainted and its numbers are filed. Inside the truck they discover a load of carburetors.

early in the operation auto shop
2

Durazno abandoned; Cooper goes independent

Cooper abandons Durazno at a gas station and goes solo as an independent driver of the yellow Peterbilt. He sets out to run the highway on his own, leaving his partner behind.

gas station
3

Cooper picks up hitchhiker; refuses to share ride with companion

Cooper picks up a hitchhiker but refuses to give a ride to the man's accompanying woman and dog. At a diner they spot the Duke of Interstate 40 eating at another table, and Cooper's inquiry about the Duke's rig irritates him.

afternoon diner
4

Drive-in viewing; almanac discussion

At a drive-in they watch Samson and Delilah, and Cooper discusses possible money making schemes. He also talks about reading the almanac to learn and earn at the same time.

evening drive-in
5

Hustling carburetors; shop refuses; tiles and chickens packed

They visit a shopkeeper to sell stolen carburetors or hustle work as independent haulers, but the shopkeeper declines since he deals with wholesalers. The hitchhiker finds prospective customers and they pack the truck with tiles and live chickens, stealing food and supplies from other trucks.

afternoon shop
6

Search for wife; police stop; deception

They visit the place where Cooper says his wife lives, but she is not there. They are pulled over by a policeman, and Cooper lies that he recently returned from the war to avoid a search, which earns him a quick release.

next day police stop
7

Benzedrine to stay awake

During the night, Cooper takes Benzedrine to stay awake while driving. The stimulant helps him push through fatigue as he continues the haul.

night on the road
8

Weighing issues; four tons left for the police

The next day they are stopped again; the logbook is not up to date and the plates do not match, and the trailer is overweight. In exchange for not charging him, the police force him to leave four tons of goods on the shoulder. Cooper dumps some items, but the hitchhiker fails to secure the door and most of the tiles and live chickens spill onto the highway.

next day roadside weigh station
9

Johnny Mesquitero arrives; repairs truck; rumor of his death

Johnny Mesquitero appears and offers to fix the truck, promising to repair it if they do not push it too hard. He patches the piston seals and tells the hitchhiker to take 10 pounds of pressure out of the tires to prevent a jackknife. Cooper later claims that Johnny died six years earlier in a jackknife accident.

night along the road / repair stop
10

Cafe stop; cook warns police; stealing plates later

They stop at a cafe where Cooper's friend, the cook, warns that the police have been looking for him. That night Cooper steals the plates and papers from another truck to disguise his.

that night cafe
11

Weighbridge deception; knock out officer; continue driving

They pass a weighbridge by convincing police that a drunken hunter is shooting on the hill; two officers leave to investigate. Cooper knocks out the remaining officer with a glass bottle so that they can continue driving.

that day weighbridge
12

Road construction; one lane; racetrack stop; sharing denied

The road is closed for construction but Cooper insists that they can still use one of the lanes. They stop at a racetrack where the hitchhiker asks Cooper for money, and Cooper refuses to share.

night racetrack
13

Hitchhiker confrontation; fourth night without sleep

The hitchhiker points a flare gun at Cooper and demands the goods. Cooper climbs into the back and knocks him out, locking him in. On the fourth night without sleep, Cooper nods off behind the wheel and drifts into the oncoming lane, forcing a car off the road.

fourth night inside truck / road
14

Barn stop; trailer unhooked; abandonment

Cooper arrives at a barn, unhooks and unlocks the trailer. The hitchhiker chases him, but Cooper drives off and leaves him. He then tries to sell the tractor for $200, but the buyer refuses, so he continues his journey as a hitchhiker.

that night barn

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:41

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