Ice road truckers feel the economic freeze

What a CROCK of BS this time around , Lisa had to get over her fear of heights , where did she think she was going to be driving , Alex is more valueable back doing the truck show circuit so he was never PLANNED to stay and well Rick is just Rick.

 

I don't mean to sound sarcastic but your kidding right?

 

Well if he means NEW YORK state , we do get lots of snow ( lake affect ) in the Northern Part of the state. If he neant NYC well they get a SEVERE dusting every few decades

 

I have a few questions unanswered after watching 2 episodes on youtube:
- Don't they have to keep a log book? If they do how can they work so long? There were cops up there as well escorting big loads just like on the major highway... Aren't they giving out tickets or those guys just don't even bother?
- Can I rent a truck from Ryder or something like that and do this job? Why drive that piece of old junk down the ice under the most extreme conditions?
- Those "road maintance team", why don't they put those little reflective orange rods in the ice to at least give some direction for the road during whiteouts?
- Why don't the drivers wear the suit that the diver is wearing?

"end of the road" I can see exactly the same thing, going uphill or downhill is going to be extremely challanging, also the whiteout, thanks for you experienced comment, I might want to try it in the future. BTW, these guys are really good, in season 1 up until 8th or 9th day nobody has yet jackknifed (probably going a little too slow for that) But going downhill on the turn, not a good idea and very dangerous on ice... I was also thinking, why don't they try to put a double set of 53" on a b train for the lighter loads? Makes it more efficient?

 

Yes you have to keep a log book, but HOS are different North of 60. We can drive 15 hours/day up there & if you don't leave the north...as in STAY in either Alaska, Yukon or NWT there's no duty cycle...meaning you can work 105 hr/wk

When you have 50 mph winds during "white outs" you don't SEE anything but blowing snow...those little rods are covered up in seconds...

Seat belts....well... I never wanted to be tied to my load...hell my first season on the ice, I had my door only on the first latch... LOL, but once I got used to it..well you just deal with it..

Double 53'??? Are you NUTS??? That's a turnpike...WAY WAY WAY too long for those roads!

 

Not unless they develop new mines.

 

Tell your boss to give you a signed written contract and take that to the bank for security on the loan for the new trucks.

 

I too have heard that this year in particular is supposed to be another record year due to the mines turn around cycle. But thats just from the guys i've kept in touch with that still go, not anyone that would be in the know. It would sure be nice to know, I'd like to go again but have had a hard time seeing any money in it unless its a "record year".

 

All depends on the WEATHER and even the TV shows cannot control that.

Look at the # of trucks stranded last spring in some areas served by ICE ROADS when it turned WARM earlier than usual.

 

Yes indeed, but that's all part of the game. I've been up there some fairly sketchy years when we (myself and other drivers) were more then a little concerned about getting back across the Mackenzie crossing with our own trucks. Of course it wouldn't of been permanent, just have to wait till the ferry could run. Not like northern MB were its all frozen swamp they're running on. As for the TV show from what I've heard it did more damage then good. Made a lot of folks in YKE not to happy, and changed more then a few of the rules for drivers. Like I say I'd just like to go again and see the people still have a good many friends from all over Canada that go every year and it's about the only way I'll ever see any of the boys from the east coast. Ha Ha And It is quite fun..........for a week.