Film debut of Loretta Swit.
George Raft's and Ida Lupino's appearances are a nod to their roles in They Drive by Night (1940).
The film's star Alan Arkin and sound recordist Charles T. Knight would both die on the same day, on June 29, 2023, at the respective ages of 89 and 91.
Because a significant amount of the filming took place in Tennessee, the movie received a sneak preview in Nashville on January 28, 1972. Due to the underwhelming reception, and the lack of interest by studio executive Frank Yablans, Paramount opened the movie only in Nashville more than a year later, on May 25, 1973, stressing the local filming in their advertising, leading to a longstanding belief that the film was never theatrically released.
In the summer of 1976, during a period where CB radios and truck driver culture was in fashion, Paramount attempted a re-release with a new ad campaign. It was tested in Omaha, Nebraska, opening on August 18, 1976. It received poor reviews, and no further play dates occurred afterwards.
In the summer of 1976, during a period where CB radios and truck driver culture was in fashion, Paramount attempted a re-release with a new ad campaign. It was tested in Omaha, Nebraska, opening on August 18, 1976. It received poor reviews, and no further play dates occurred afterwards.
This movie gets its title from the trucker term "deadhead miles," which are the number of miles driven with an empty load, either returning to home base or driving to a new destination to pick up a new load.