The History Channel embarks upon an unparalleled adventure revealing
the virtuallyunknown occupation of ice road trucking, considered to
be one of the world's most dangerous jobs. ICE ROAD TRUCKERS charts
two months in the lives of six extraordinary men who haul vital
supplies to diamond mines over frozen lakes that double as roads.
The livelihood of many depends on these tenuous roads, which through
the years have been responsible for the deaths of dozens of men.
Always prepared for the ice to give way under the weight of their
trucks,these drivers put their lives and financial security of
their families on the line in an exhilarating dash for cash.
Beginning Sunday, June 17 at 10pm ET/PT, this adrenaline packed
series reveals the raw, gripping quest of ice road truckers.
The desolate white landscape stretches as far as the eye can see in
a world where the land meets the sky at an invisible horizon, just
miles from the Arctic Circle. The fascinating, yet little-known ice
road trucking industry, stationed just outside of Yellowknife in
Canada's Northwest Territory, is responsible for supporting the
diamond mines there. Canada now stands as the third largest diamond
producer in the world, housing an industry that rakes in
$1.9 billion a year.
Each year, the many lakes of this region completely freeze over
and engineers build an ice road over them that can withstand the
weight of tractor trailers, hopefully.Jackknifing, breakdowns and
accidents are commonplace. Last year, because of the effects of
global warming,the ice road was closed early, leaving hundreds
of tons of supplies stuck at the dispatch station. Since the
terrain in this region is virtually impenetrable, and there are
so few paved roads, the only way for supplies to reach the
mines is by traveling over the ice road. The entire industry
depends on the weather and the courage of the ice road truckers,
who are willing to push themselves to the limit
and who constantly hear the cracking of the ice
right beneath their wheels.
Executive Producers for The History Channel are David McKillop
and Dolores Gavin. ICE ROAD TRUCKERS is produced by
Original Productions. Executive Producers for
Original Productions are Thom Beers and Philip Segal.
The truckers on the ice road must travel over two hundred miles to
reach some of the diamond mines. Carrying tons of machinery over
frozen lakes and a twisting landscape at up to sixty degrees
below zero is never easy.This map should give you a good example
of the length, terrain, and isolation that the truckers deal
with for work.
Parents need to know that the truck drivers featured in this reality
show are always at risk of accidents and even death -- which the
narrator emphasizes regularly. Some scenes include mild to moderate
accidents, though injuries aren't shown. The narrator also describes
deadly accidents from the past while graphics and stock footage
(like shots from below the ice as the trucks drive over it)
hint at impending danger. The truckers sometimes engage in coarse humor
(one moons the camera, though his butt is blurred onscreen),
and occasional jokes about "peckers" and "kinky underwear" pepper
the dialogue, but it doesn't go further than that.
Meet the Truckers
Alex is larger than life, enormously capable and able to take on
the hardest and most demanding jobs. He's a street intellectual who
is also a Roman Catholic lay prison minister.
Alex is the first-generation son of a Polish military officer,
known all around town, not least for having run for mayor
(his campaign posters were pieces of old automobile bodies),
and he is a beloved wit whose VHF diatribes have kept many a trucker
awake and laughing through long winter nights. Juvenile delinquent,
adult delinquent, he is the proud father of 11 children and 7
grandchildren.
Drew has been driving trucks for years, but never on an ice road.
He joined Hugh Rowland‘s team of truckers after answering an
advertisement in the local newspaper and is confident that he‘
ll have no problems adjusting from the highway to the ice.
Hugh is an animal on the ice road.
He definitely gives Alex Debogorski a run for his money and may
actually get more loads than him. “It‘s about adventure and cash.”
He owns 4 trucks. He drives one himself and he hires three drivers
for the others. Hugh is a big kid and known for being sarcastic.
Some people call him “the polar bear”. He says,“the winter road
just gets in your blood”. “It‘s adventurous, challenging, and you
can go as hard as you want.” Hugh is a born and bred Canadian,
lived in Yellowknife most of life, and then moved to B.C.
He‘s married, with three kids and his wife worries about
him every year when he leaves.
Jay is, by all accounts, the most talented driver and
operator of his generation.He is held in universal respect and
is a natural leader. Recognized for his ready intelligence,
ability,and wit, he started driving at 16, owned his first truck
at 18 and has now traded up to his third vehicle.
He is a devoted father. He operates a 2-story mining shovel at
Diavik when he‘s not trucking on the ice road.
Rick is a tattooed, loud mouth, lively character. “Works hard,
plays hard.”Last year was his first season on the road. The
first thing he said about the experience was that he should
have “walked out, but he was too stupid and too stubborn”.
He was sick with fear. He said the two biggest surprises
were the sound of the ice cracking and the steepness of the
hills. Nothing he could do could silence the sound. He drove
one of the first loads over the new ice (which cracks the loudest)
and it was terrifying. Also, no one warned him about the hills.
He couldn‘t believe what he had to climb with the loads he was
carrying. “It‘s not for the faint of heart.
” But he feels now that he has the hang of it, so this year he‘s
on a mission not only to make as many loads as he can, but to
beat his boss Hugh. He said “you can‘t imagine the bragging
power I‘ll have all year if I beat him.” Hugh is apparently
a machine. He once went 49 hours and will be hard to beat,
so the race is on!
TJ is an “Ice Road virgin” with a lot of attitude.
He comes from a dairy farming/rodeo family that also happens to have deep
roots in the trucking world. His grandfather, uncles, father and mother
were all truck drivers at one point in time. TJ believes that trucking
is one of the best jobs in the world especially if you‘re like him: young,
single and free. TJ however also hates the cold, hates the ice and is not
here for the money, he‘s here for the “experience”. While he has wide eyes
for the adventure, we‘re not too sure he has the stamina to survive the
elements. His attitude could get him into serious trouble. He could either
not cut it with his boss because he‘s not willing to push the limits like
the other drivers, or he may find that breaking down in 40 below is just
not the “experience” he had in mind.
[Image credit: © History Channel]
Ice Road Truckers airs at 10 p.m. EST on Sunday nights on The History Channel.
Families can talk about the appeal of shows like this and Deadliest Catch.
What's so fascinating about getting a glimpse of these dangerous jobs?
Do you think these shows are more or less realistic than other reality series?
Families can also discuss trucking in general. What would be appealing
about being a trucker? What would be the hardest part of the job? Why
are most truckers men? Would you take the risks the "ice road truckers" take?
If so, would you do it for the money or the thrill?
Tags: Truckstvshowsdangerous
