A group of men, including Mitch Barton (Brian Keith) and George Lawrence (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.), take on a suicidal mission to transport hazardous chemicals over a treacherous mountain road in just three days for $5,000 each. The team faces numerous breakdowns, fatigue, and other dangers, but also has the opportunity to reexamine their lives. A tragedy strikes when one driver, Frank Miller (Dick Foran), dies from chemical burns after heroically preventing an explosion.