Driving trucks on ice - madness! (Ice Road Truckers)

Member Name: Beanie8844

Product:	Ice Road Truckers
Date:	06/12/08 (268 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very entertaining, interesting to watch due to the risks involved

Disadvantages: some of the drivers fall-out and resign

For those of you who have never seen 'Ice Road Truckers' before it is basically a documentary series set in Canada's Northwest Territories and the infamous ice roads. It is very similar in style to the 'Deadliest Catch' and the British 'Trawlermen', so if you're a fan of these you're sure to love this. To date there have been 2 complete seasons and 29 episodes made, it's a very popular show.

The format is simple, the drivers are regular truck drivers for ten months of the year, but when the sharp winter sets in they turn their hand to driving trucks on the ice roads and because of the huge risks involved the money they can make is astronomical. Each series follows the fortunes of about six drivers as they 'race for the cash'. Every time they report back to the depot they are told the loads available to them, some are more difficult and challenging than others in terms of size and weight and therefore drivers are paid differing amounts depending upon each load shifted. There is a real camaraderie between the drivers who often set off in convoy with one another and keep in touch via radio link which can be funny as they constantly take the Mickey out of one another and language used is quite colourful.

It sounds great, but there is a real danger of death on the roads. Trucks have been known to fall through the ice before and therefore police implement a strict speed limit on the ice road. If trucks breakdown they can be stranded and because they're miles from anywhere it can take hours for them to get help, drivers sometimes attempt to fix their vehicles, but the temperature is so low their hands can stick to the tools if they forget to put their gloves on etc. The most obvious danger is probably coming off of the road itself due to the fact that they're driving on ice and it is incredibly slippery, especially with the tonnage their pulling. The roads aren't always flat and sometimes drivers have to navigate steep hills, there is a danger that they can slip back down and so they attach metal chains to the tyres; again there is the chance that their hands can stick to the metal.

It is a really good show and can be seen on the History Channel on Thursdays at 9pm. Thanks for reading, feel free to comment.

Summary: a great show, fans of 'deadliest catch' will love this