The Ice Road

As far as using the engine brake on ice, a lot of that may be post production sound effects added in. As far as getting a job on the ice road, i'm sure every knucklehead and his brother is looking for a job up there just because of the show.

 

I think I would be Lisa's co driver for the show.

 

I'm not sure about all the particulars of it...but it can't be too hard to get on, my cousin (life long screw up...good guy though) has been running on them in Alaska for 9 years now.

Knowing him the way I do...they CAN'T be too selective in the hiring. Can't remember the name of the outfit he drives for right now though...

 

And they do use the jakes on ice...it can be done, VERY carefully.

 

Yup. It cracks me up sometimes that some drivers don't even realize you can, or that you can control how strong the jakes are on the fly while driving. I mean, I'm not exactly experienced in trucking, but c'mon.

I wouldn't mind heading up there and running the ice road myself, but I gotta imagine they are chock full of more qualified applicants then me by now. At least, Carlile has to be since they're the ones shown on the show.

Not sure if we'll be seeing Hugh back though after this year.

 

I been trying to talk my wife into letting me apply for about 5 years now....

 

Speaking of Hugh, I thought the first season they said he was a rookie to the ice road but a vet trucker. Then later I swear I heard them say he's had 25 years on the ice just like Alex. It's a cool show for the most part. Getting a job up there must not be too hard (while spots last) b/c they let rooks out there all the time. Heck, I figured maybe they'd hire me lol

 

This is not from personal experience...its from what Wayne (my cousin thats up there) has told me...he has some background in dirt track racing, as do I.

He says driving on the ice is alot like "drifting" across the dirt in a car...the vehicle is under control, just barely.

 

I'm curious how you can get experience on such roads, if they hire only people that have had 2 years driving on such roads, do they only hire people from the oil fields up north? Where else can you get this type of experience?

 

Wayne didn't have any experience except 2 years OTR in the lower 48...he didn't go right to the ice roads though, he had to work up to that.

I think it took him a bit over a year before he got on the ice. I'd ask him but he only comes home once a year (Christmas) and I don't have his phone number on me...I do have it at home though.