Transcontinental Motor Convoy The Transcontinental Motor Convoys were early 20th century vehicle convoys , including three US Army truck trains , that crossed the United States ( one was coast - to - coast ) to the west coast . The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy from Washington , D . C . , to San Francisco used the incomplete Lincoln Highway . Background . The United States ' Good Roads Movement of the late 19th century began as increased use of bicycles required better surfaces over the existing wagon and carriage roads . The development of the automobile and their increased use resulted in the formation of the United States Good Roads Association and various individual cross - country trips by individual vehicles , followed by the first transcontinental trip by a convoy of vehicles . 1915 transcontinental film convoy . The 1915 transcontinental film convoy was a 4 - month motor convoy beginning August 25 and ending at the Panama – Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco . The film crew completed the " Three - Mile Picture Show " ( named for the length of film ) . The film was directed by Henry Ostermann , Consul at Large for the Lincoln Highway Association , who travelled in a Stutz touring car . 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy . The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a " Truck Train " ( convoy ) of the US Army Motor Transport Corps that drove over from Washington , D . C . ( departing July 7 ) , to Oakland , California , and ferried to San Francisco . In addition to 230 road incidents ( stops for adjustments , extrications , breakdowns , & accidents ) resulting in 9 vehicles retiring , the convoy of " " 24 expeditionary officers , 15 War Department staff observation officers , and 258 enlisted men " " ( e . g . , Bvt Lt Col Dwight D . Eisenhower of the Tank Corps ) had 21 injured en route who did not complete the trip . Although some " were really competent drivers " by the end , the majority of soldiers were " raw recruits with little or no military training " ; and except for the Motor Supply Company E commander ( 1st Lt Daniel H . Martin ) , troop officers had " meager knowledge " of " handling men in the field " . The convoy broke and repaired 88 wooden bridges ( 14 in Wyoming ) , and " practically " all roadways were unpaved from Illinois through Nevada . The convoy logged logged miles in 573 . 5 hours ( 5 . 67 mph avg . ) . and 6 rest days without convoy travel were used . Convoy delays required extra encampments and , at Oakland , California , the convoy was 7 days behind schedule ( ferrying the next morning on the last travel day ) . 1919 Air Service Transcontinental Recruiting Convoy . The 1919 Air Service Transcontinental Recruiting Convoy was a " mobile army post " . of over 1 / 2 mile long to support 13 aircraft from Hazelhurst Field to California beginning August 14 , 1919 . The mission of the All American Pathfinders was " " to secure accurate information to be used in connection with the carrying of mails by airplanes , and for military purposes , as well as commercial purposes . " " 1920 Motor Transport Corps convoy . The 1920 Motor Transport Corps convoy left Washington on 14 June 1920 and followed the Bankhead Highway to San Diego , California , where it arrived on 2 October . A smaller expedition than the first , the second convoy consisted of 50 vehicles , 32 officers , and 160 enlisted men under Col John F . Franklin . A rate of 45 – 60 miles per day was initially estimated , commensurate with that of the first convoy . The convoy ' s trip proceeded smoothly as far as Atlanta . However , as it moved west into Tennessee , its progress slowed . Detours became necessary due to flooding and the crossing of the " black gumbo " of the Mississippi River proved very problematic . Despite high hopes , the Southern United States proved to be the worst part of the trip . The convoy encountered almost impassable sands between Maricopa and Wellton , Arizona . Like the first convoy , at every stop the expedition was met by local celebrations and dances . After 111 days and an average rate of less than 30 miles per day , the convoy reached the West Coast where an officer ' s banquet was given in San Diego . After its arrival in San Diego , the convoy then went north to Los Angeles and was broken up , its equipment distributed to California ' s public services as part of a program to make use of war surplus . The officers of the expedition became convinced by their experience that the maintenance of a national highway system should be the province of the federal government , as supported by the Townsend Bill . However , despite the widespread friendly greetings received by the convoys across the nation , neither generated enough public support to ensure passage of the Townsend Bill , which failed and was replaced by the Federal Highway Act of 1921 . Both convoys are identified on the Zero Milestone on the Ellipse in Washington , D . C . 2009 commemoration of 1919 convoy . In the summer of 2009 , on the 90th anniversary of the original trek , the Military Vehicle Preservation Association sponsored a re - enactment of the 1919 convoy . Beginning June 10 , following the original route as much as possible and duplicating the original schedule , the convoy set out from Washington , D . C . Over the length of the convoy , more than 150 historic military vehicles , including 50 military jeeps , 19 ¾ ton trucks , seven 1½ ton trucks , six 2½ ton trucks , three cargo trucks , nine motorcycles , and four sedans took part . The oldest vehicle to take part was a 1917 four - wheel drive 3 ton ammunition truck . The reenactors had three purposes : along with retracing the route of 1919 convoy over the historic Lincoln Highway , they paid tribute to the U . S . military and commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln .