What is meant by "I road the rods"?

I rode the rod's not road. Under old box cars were rods. You could sling and secure a tarp on them and ride under the car in a hammock. Many tried a blanket that if gave way you ended up under the wheels dead in many pieces. So I came into town on the bum, quit and not on a bus. Out of site transportation. By boxcar or under one or such. It is a term from the Great Depression. I had to ride the rods as no boxcar was open. The sheriff wanted me for stealing a pie from a window. The pie was sweet but the law is bitter. The fine was a dollar but I ain't got a dime. And I did not want to stay for no time. Or something like that.

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