Lewis Thomas (PAUL WALKER) is a college student who's going to
drive across the country, picking up his hometown friend, Venna (LEELEE
SOBIESKI), along the way. He makes a small detour beforehand,
however, to bail his estranged brother, Fuller (STEVE ZAHN), out of
jail.
As the two become reacquainted, Fuller persuades Lewis to pull a
prank on an anonymous trucker they overhear on the CB radio. Acting
like a woman named Candy Cane, Lewis tells the trucker - known only
by his handle, "Rusty Nail" -- to meet "her" at a motel that night,
giving the truck driver the number of the room next to theirs.
Believing they're in for some fun, the brothers eavesdrop on the
trucker's arrival next-door that night, but are horrified when they
discover the next morning that he severely beat up the occupant of
that room.
Back on the road, the two hear Rusty Nail on the CB again and
learn to their horror that he knows who they are and is apparently
following them. After a close call with the vindictive trucker where
they apologize, the two pick up Venna and believe their troubles are
behind them. Little do they know, however, that the trucker has more
in store for them. From that point on, they and Venna do what they
must to avoid the deranged truck driver.