第一次世界大战后不久，美国陆军开始了迄今为止最有抱负的探险。从美国的一端到另一端，只使用卡车。陆军非常渴望证明卡车和道路在未来战争中可以担任的角色。结果，他们从华盛顿特区到旧金山派出了大约一百辆车。与当今的标准相比，这次旅行非常难以置信。车队的车辆经常会崩溃并爆炸，士兵会生病，桥梁和其他道路工程受到损害。
第二次世界大战是汽车有所作为的第一个冲突。这辆车是在1900年代发明的，并迅速过渡到卡车和公共汽车上。然后，将卡车和公共汽车用于将供应物和男子长距离移动到前线。随着乌鸦的飞行，探险队的距离为2,432英里。
在接下来的61天中，车队跨越了美国的道路网络，该网络在某些地方不平衡甚至不存在。The convoy was comprised of as put by Washington Post, ‘heavy troop carriers, light trucks, sidecar motorcycles, reconnaissance cars, field kitchens, blacksmith shops and one Renault light tank.’ It was manned by 24 expeditionary offices, 258 enlisted men, and 15 observation officers. The convoy relied on the Lincoln Highway now known as Highway 30 for making its way through 350 towns that were on its way.
一位也是美国德怀特·戴维特·艾森豪威尔（David Eisenhower）未来总统的参谋长说，道路条件从“平均到不存在”不等。车队总共有230次事故，最终损害了88个桥梁。21名人员受伤，无法完成旅行。车队以每小时六英里的速度移动，这是一个人可以行走的最快速度。这篇文章中的视频由国家档案馆（National Archives）出现，并突出了从华盛顿到达金门的旅行。
The National Archives says, ‘although the convoy was intended to be self-sustaining to simulate wartime conditions, this goal was undermined by the barbecues, melon fests, and other offerings of the hospitable Americans who welcomed the convoy to their towns.’ The trip paid off during WWII when American forces were fully motorized and were able to move quickly enough.
