 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Notty Pine, as you know, is in the heart of some pretty rugged country. Because of the difficult terrain, there are two transport companies who have battled back and forth for years. The railroad, during winter months, gets the freight because it can keep a better schedule than the Canyon City truck lines can. But the railroad can't give door-to-door service like the trucks. So in the good weather months, Leonard Grant keeps his trucks rolling day and night. Spence Nehoff and Leonard Grant don't know it yet, but they're soon going to have to get their heads together in teamwork, which neither man will do. Let's find out how Bill and the fellas handle two stubborn men in the story, Piggy Bag. Hey, Gordon, there's a signal from the caboose. It's Spence. Is it old ball of fire one now? Huh, he wants more speed. You know what you think I'm pulling, a load of kiddy wagons? I've got 50 freight cars on tow, and it does like a district superintendent. What should I signal back? Tell them to get out behind the caboose and push. You and your humor. Signal full high ball, and that's the best we can do until we get up this grade. Okay, I'll say, hey, there's a truck in the crossing ahead. The trucks and cows on the track, they're all the same. That's probably some broken down old crate, and the driver can't get it going. That's no crate. That's a Canyon City truck. Our old enemy, huh? Maybe I'll get a medal if I split it in two. Hey, you're joking. Yeah, yeah. The ball of fire is going to be real happy about this. Yeah, looks like the truck's front wheels are jammed in the crossing. And here comes Spence, look at he cut. Yeah, old ball of fire is having mad, eh? Look at him come. Just like one of them big jackrabbits. Yeah, we better get out in front before he gets here, which will be soon. What's the matter with your truck? The motor fall out? Don't get wise, superintendent. If your crummy railroad would fix the grade crossing, this would never happen. For your information, truck driver, my crummy railroad ain't interested in fixing crossing grades for blind men. How'd you get your chauffeur's license if you can't see a hole in the road? Listen, wise guy, one more crack like that and you'll have to see your dentist, pronto. Wait till my boss hears about this. I'm not afraid of Leonard Grant or any dozen of you truck drivers. Now get that thing out of the way or we'll make hamburger out of it. Ah, don't make me laugh. I'm not moving until the record gets here. I've radioed for help and the boys will be here in about an hour. You don't think you're gonna hold us up for an hour, do you? I'll sue your company if you do. I got perishables and fast freight on this load. Hey, we've got some heavy jacks in the caboose, super. I think we can get this truck out of the hole without any trouble. Well, okay. I'm going back to the caboose. I can't stand blind truck drivers. Why, you arrogant section hand. I ought to bash your face in for that remark. Yeah, take it easy, son. He's their boss. We have trouble now liking him. How do you think we'd feel if we had to look at him with his face all pushed in? Yeah, yeah, see what you mean. I'll get the crew to help me bring those jacks up. We'll have you out in no time. So, yeah, that'll be fine. I don't want to hold you fellas any longer than necessary. I'm sure glad that all railroad men aren't like that superintendent. Yes, son. You know how it is. A little ball of fire probably forgot to take his high blood pressure medicine this morning. You know, boys and girls, it never pays to jump the gun and unjustly accuse people of doing things intentionally. Let's follow Ned and Gordon as they roll along. Whoops, I should say they were rolling along. Right now, the freight is switching cars on the sidings of Naughty Pine. But in the process of cutting out half a dozen cars, the freight train has blocked the North Highway for almost half an hour. Three big transport trucks owned by Canyon City Truck Company are waiting for the freight to move so they can be on their way. Big Jim Mandel leans on his air horn as he grows impatient. When are you guys going to break that train and let us through? Ah, keep your shirt on. We'll be through in about 20 minutes. 20 minutes. Break that trainer. I'm going to call my boss. Go ahead and call your boss. Tin Horn. I'll give you Tin Horn, Breakman. Don't say I didn't warn you. Big Jim the dispatcher. Big Jim the dispatcher. Come in. Over. We're being held up by a switching freight on the North Highway. I've asked the crew to break the train so we can get through, but they refused. We've been here half an hour already and they say it'll be 20 minutes more. I should call the police and have them send a squad to make them break open the train. Okay, you're the doctor. Hey, they're breaking open the train now. They must have seen me talking into the mic. See you later, dispatch. The Canyon City Truck Company is owned by Leonard Grant. Len is a hard-working executive who's well-experienced in the trucking business. But there's one thorn in his side that keeps him more or less in a state of perpetual displeasure. This is the railroad. Len's made up his mind that Spence Nehoff isn't going to get the freight business this winter. Let's drop into Len's office as he and the dispatcher talk things over. Spence isn't going to get my business no matter what he pulls. So we really got off to a bad start today, Chief, huh? Yeah, but with the new equipment that we've got on the trucks, we'll give him and his tunerville chuchu a real run for its money. I don't know about that. Roads get real bad once it starts to ice and snow. Ah, what do you mean? We've got sanding equipment on all the trucks and having them travel in threes gives them enough manpower to change tires. The new tractors have the special low-low gear for inch and over bad ice. We can keep in constant touch with our drivers by radio. I don't think we'll have to give up this winter, Lee. Yeah, hope not. Were the boys able to fix Pete's truck after he hit the bad crossing grid? Yeah, fixed it on the spot. Fine. Who's rolling where today? Here's the dispatcher's schedule. Group 1, rolling east. Group 2, southwest. Good. Group 3 will take off at noon. Pete's on a short haul and will be back to join Group 4. Let's see, they take off at supper time, man. They should be well on their way by midnight. How's the weather? Not very good. Group 1 will run into ice at Breezy Ridge. Group 2 will hit snow at Middletown. That's all right. The boys are equipped for any kind of weather or roads they come up against. I don't know about this road, Will. Yeah, it's pretty bad. Want me to take the wheel for a spell? Driving this slow can hypnotize you. Oh, I'll be all right. Thanks for the offer. You better call dispatch and tell them we're slowing down. Right. I'm going to do it for a time check anyhow. This keeps up. We won't be going far. That's for sure. Group 1 to dispatcher. Group 1 to dispatcher. Over. Before reducing speed, roads get nicer by the mile. We're going down the east slope from Breezy Ridge. Time to keep on the schedule, he says. I think we're driving the cable car. Yeah, he's getting just like Len. He thinks that we can drive like crazy, man, just because they pay us a bonus. The boss can keep his bonus when the roads are like this. I don't hang her to Jack Ida Paul for this road. You may, too. It's a long way to the bottom and we haven't got parachutes. Not quite yet, Nick. I'll drive another 10 miles or so and then you can take the wheel. Okay. I'll be glad to take over any time. What's Big Damon's group doing? Hey, there's a big one ahead. Boy, you're not kidding. That is a big one. How many drifts have we hit so far? I stopped counting a while back. It's out of time. Slow to die. We won't get through if we hit any bigger than that. How are the boys behind making out? Oh, they're doing okay. Boss isn't going to like this. Let me talk to Big Jim. I'll show him who's boss in this outfit. Jim, can you hear me? Now you listen to me and listen hard. Either you drive those trucks or I'll know the reason why. I'm paying you guys a big fat bonus to drive. Not to sit around and bay at the moon. You tell that to the rest of the men with you. Understand? Listen, you hugged the mountain coming down to you here. Hug that mountain. I'll get Sam to you by helicopter as soon as it's daylight enough to fly. Joe, we're doing this, Len. You're asking the impossible from some mighty good man. Who's running this company? You or me? I'm not losing my contract to the railroad if I have to drive trucks myself. I agree with Leigh the dispatcher. Leonard Grant's overdoing it. And unknown to Leonard, there's somebody else who feels the same way. Bill Stumpy and Henry have taken in the whole conversation by means of the radio and the snowmobile. Rangers are cruising about five miles away from Big Snake Drive in the snowmobile. They're on a routine inspection trip and when they're out in the wilderness country they often ride with the radio on just to pick up any calls for help. Hey, Len Grant must be out of his mind. He can't make his men risk their lives like that. He can't, but he is. Bill, can't you do something to stop those trucks? Yes, I can, pal. I can keep them from moving on a technical charge. Huh? What technical charge? Well, they're out of sand and they're also a hazard to traffic on the road because they have no means to control the big transports but they get away from them. Besides, Big Snake Drive goes right through the center of a national park. Hey, yeah, that's right. We're going to stop those trucks soon. Right now. It'll take us a while to get on the highway from here. Oh, that's too long. Hold on to your hats, fellas. I'm opening up to full speed. You fellas work the spotlights. Well, fellas, this is as far as I'm going for the night. Is that all right for the rest of you? Yeah, that's all right. I'm not risking my life on this glass for the boss or anybody else. Look down the road. The headlights show up nothing but a sheen as far as you can see. Hey, wait a minute. What kind of a motor is that? Sounds like a small plane flying low. Well, it is a small plane. The pilot must be crazy. Why, he's flying down the highway. I know what it is. That's a Ranger snow car. Oh, boy am I a dummy. I wonder what they want. I'm just doing it out here this time. Here we go. Howdy, fellas. Oh, what's up, Ranger? How come you're on the highway with your snow car? I'm here to take away your road rights. You can't travel this highway. We can't drive. What are you talking about? No, just keep your temperatures really belong. Nothing you've done is what your boss is trying to make you do. You've heard about it already? Thing while it was going on, sonny. You know, I look like an old grizzly, but we use newfangled contraptions. We got one of them things you call radio. Yeah, we cruise around with our radio on when we're out in the wilderness. We picked up the whole conversation. Bill, here's the boss Ranger of these parts. He's not going to let you fellas risk your lives. Oh, we're already parked for the night, Ranger. No use going any farther until daylight. You're not going any farther, period. Until the ice gets off this road. You think it's bad here? A way to get 10 miles from here. Oh, sounds like you fellas have been over there. Oh, not yet. We know the pattern. I'll lock your trucks, set your brakes. We'll take you back to Canyon City in our snowmobile. Leonard Grant, there, dispatcher. This is Ranger Bill Jefferson. Put your earplugs in, sonny. I don't think he's going to be very happy when you tell him what you've done. Bill Jefferson, this is Leonard Grant. What's happened to my trucks on Big Snake Drive? Nothing. I've got all your drivers here in the snowmobile with me, and I'm bringing them back to Canyon City right now. What? I'll explain that to you when I get back. I just want you to know what's going on so you won't fear the worst, and then you don't answer your radio call. Tell me now, Ranger, take my drivers back to the trucks. I'm running this outfit, not you. Take them back right now. Do you hear? All I hear is you yelling your lungs out. You're not careful. I'll stop and secure a warrant for your arrest. Canyon City truck company, Leonard Grant speaking. Why are you talking on a phone, Nick? How come you're not using your truck radio? You're not stole, too. Where are the trucks? Yes, I can hear you, Nick. Wait for the plows, then straighten out the shifted load before you go on. Goodbye. Lee, Nick and his outfit are having troubles just the same as Big Jim. Send out for coffee and sandwiches. I'm staying here until that Ranger gets in with the boys. Bill Jefferson, I want to know on what grounds you did this. You're buttoning into private business. Are you thankful that I did? The state trooper's got you doing this. You'd be in real hot water, my friend. Doing what? I'm not breaking the law. What? You're an old hand at trucking in these mountains. You know the law. If my men want to take chances, that's their business, not yours. Perhaps. Do you fail to realize that I overheard you with threatening your men in a radio conversation? Is that breaking the law? They could have quit their jobs. When you amaze me. Come on off it, man. You know very well that you'd be charged with manslaughter if anything happened to your men or to the occupants of another vehicle. You created a hazard to public safety on a highway. The hazard has the potential of killing one or more people. What's the matter with you? Have you lost your mind? Excuse me. Yes. Yes, this is Leonard Grant. Yes, Mr. Todd. How are you, sir? Yes, I know. The trucks haven't arrived. No, sir, I can't make any promises. We're doing the best we can to get your shipment to you. It may be a few days, but... The railroad? Oh, I don't think you should change, sir. I'll get your shipment to you if I have to bring it out by helicopter. That's right, sir. No, sir, there shouldn't be any more delay. Thank you, Mr. Todd. Goodbye. Boy, you sure fixed me fine. I can sue you for this. Hello? Oh, yes, Mr. Peabody. No, sir, the shipment won't arrive today. But, sir... Mr. Peabody, let me explain. No, sir, you can't get better service from the railroad. Good day, Mr. Peabody. My fault again? No, it isn't. I'm sorry I'm acting the way I am, but I can't seem to control myself when I see good contracts going out the window. If my trucks are five minutes late, my accounts start talking about the railroad. I'd like to help you. I can see now that you and Spence Niehoff are at it again. Glad to listen, if you'd like to talk. Here, have some coffee and a sandwich. The man thinks better when he's not famished. Bill, you're nobody's fool. I know that. Yes, I've got a lot on my mind to unload, and I've got some serious problems. But why should I bother you with them? Why should you be interested in helping me? I have a job to help people. My duty is a ranger and as a Christian. You really mean that, don't you? Yes, I do. All right, here goes. I've got to talk to somebody. I can't think of anybody better qualified to help me than you. So, now you've heard the whole gruesome story. Have you tried to come to some agreement with Spence? Yes, several times, but you know him. He hates truckers. He won't lift a finger to help. Probably feels the same way about truckers helping the railroad. Yes, I will honestly admit that I haven't much use for the railroad. What's the answer? This cutthroat business is gradually putting me out of business. Last year I lost three good accounts to Spence. But he isn't making a red cent on them, actually. He can't give Shipper to receiver door service. Yet in the winter months he can get the stuff into a nearby sighting. That's more than I can say. Well, you heard what happened on the phone. I think you know the answer to your problem as well as I do, man. You mean work out a deal with Spence? Right. I know he wouldn't do it, but what do you have in mind? Have you ever heard of trailer on a flat car service? You mean piggyback? Yeah. It's been tried in the east. It's worked out very well. But the railroad's got its own trucks on that deal. If they bring piggyback service out here, I'm a dead duck. Sure you are. You wait for it to happen. Bill, I get what you're driving at. I've got the trucks, so why not start the ball rolling before anybody else does? Well, now you're talking like a progressive businessman. You spare a few minutes? Well, as I live and breathe. Close the door and sit down. What brings a trucker into my office? I hope it's not the usual fall and spring battle we have because I'm not listening. I have an idea how we can end the battle permanently and to our mutual advantage. Oh, you don't say. What stroke of genius is this? Piggyback service. You supply the flat cars to haul my trailers and my tractors will give the door-to-door service. Oh, Leonard Grant, you make me laugh. The moon will be made of green cheese when the time comes for me to work a deal like that with any trucker. You must really have your back to the wall to propose such a crazy idea as that. I knew I was wasting my time to come here. You haven't got a brain cell working or you'd see the advantages to both of us. I've got enough cells working to know better than to help a trucker. Makes me feel awfully bad, though, that you're being forced out of business. But that's life, I guess. It's too bad you can't compete with me, but business success is survival of the fittest. You won't even hear me out? I'm a busy man. I've got lots of freight contracts to work on. You'll be out of business soon, so why should I bother with you? The spenders don't fight for your new idea. But Bill, trailer on a flat car service involves the railroad. If I can't get spensed even listen to me, then I'm licked for good. I might as well go out of business right now. You'd go to the big cogs. Bill, you're right again. I'll write a letter to the president of the railroad right away. I'll approach him on the advantages he'd have by using my idea, since I have special equipment already for this part of the country. I don't follow you. Sure there is, Bill. I get it. I'll work through my customers. They can bring pressure on him to make him see the light of day. Well now this is pretty new to me. I'll have to think it over. But I'm not really sure that I want to take some time. Well thank you, but I... Brings you here. Have a seat. What's bringing me here? What do you mean? All those phone calls from your customers. And then I have a letter here from the president of the railroad. Well now I know what you're talking about. I wrote to him, but he hasn't answered me. I'm bringing his answer. Oh, what is his answer? Well, I'm to work out the details of piggyback service with you at once, if not sooner. And where to use your truck and equipment and get the operation running within one week. That is five business days. Wonderful, Spence, for both of us. Yes, that isn't all he has to say. Yes? I got the worst ballin' out of my railroadin' career for being so bullheaded. He says I should have worked this out sooner. I should have waited until you came to him. I didn't tell him I had approached you on the subject. I know you didn't. That man can read between the lines. He wouldn't be president if he couldn't. Len, what do you say we bury the hatchet? Why, I'd be glad to. Fact is, I was hoping you'd suggest it. Piggyback's done more for me than solve freight hauling problems. It's shown me that a bullhead like myself ain't gonna last long until I've learned how to cooperate and get along with people, sometimes even with my competitors. We'll see you next week for more adventure with...