The film was originally titled "US 17" after the highway in Georgia where it takes place. Distributors renamed it "Breakdown" for its worldwide premiere at a film festival in Switzerland.
"Full house on whiskey for the rail" is diner slang for grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and tomatoes ("full house") on rye ("whiskey"), pronto ("for the rail").
This was Robert Gordon's third and final acting gig. Gordon was better known at the time as an integral performer in the Rockabilly scene and did much of the score for this film.