Never work for an owner driver !!!
After reading some comments on here about it being very ‘staged’ I surprised myself by enjoying it and getting caught up in the tension.
I realise that the various scenarios were highly selective but on the whole was impressed by the documentary feel of it. Maybe it will change.
Some points. I had no problems with the boss, Hugh, but 2 of his drivers seemed total pratts to me. The knowall newbie who eventually put his motor into the ditch wouldn’t get a second chance from me, and the other one who’s only purpose in life was to do more loads than the boss also seemed to be a waste of space.
I was surprised though, given the amount of money spent on constructing the road and the millions ■■■■■■■ in getting so much freight through in so tight an annual window, that the bloke who kept losing his air wasn’t immediately on the radio rather than struggling on alone. Having worked in the wild open spaces myself I understand the make do and mend attitude required, but it would seem sensible to call for backup at the same time. Quite apart from his safety the costs to the whole project of him going through the ice would have made some sort of quick response mechanical help worth the expense I would of thought.
Still, perhaps that’s the selective editing I was talking about. 
■■■■, the next episode is tonight the same time as Jam & Jerusalem. 
Anybody hear of a repeat before the 3rd one?
Before anybody asks, I can’t record one thing while watching another with a single tuner digibox - a double tuner will have to wait 'till this one breaks. 
I must just say that Drew is a total A hole, he gave it the big’un then dropped it straight into the 1st ditch 
next trip the batteries came off & he had no idea how, could it possibly have been due to him driving into a ditch next trip & the engine computer packed up, anything to do with him running with no batteries by any chance
Hugh on the other hand brings new meaning to the word A hole, ok so Drew had his problems but they were all related to the 1st incident, he should’ve got the motor checked out before sending it back on the ice, yeah it costs $ but not as much as it did in the end, the bloke ended up spending a tenner trying to save a fiver. Deffo not a businessman, so what if you can drive for longer than your drivers, don’t impress me
Good show, but as its meant to appeal to Joe Public it doesn’t go in depth enough for my liking, but then I’m frequently told that i need to get a life, whatever one of those is 
", but then I’m frequently told that i need to get a life, whatever one of those is " Right on ,Dude !!!
To be fair, it is all too easy to get it in a ditch. I nearly managed a few times this week, and one of ours went off into the rocks at the beginning of the week. He is ok, but the truck is out for a little while, but should be fixable.
The battery thing is a bit worrying though. Surely there must have been a clue that something was wrong?
BTD, you’ve been there, I’ve seen it on the TV so I’ll take your word for the ditch thing, although ice is ice, it’s just as slippery this side of the Atlantic I stand by my comments re: batteries, ECU etc resulting from the ditch incident. There must have been a warning light even if the electrics were running from the alternator as the engine was running, I’m sorry mate but it just another example of a brain dead trucker. 
Good casting though by the production company, he had the beard, the checked shirt, the baseball cap & he moaned like a ■■■■■, the stereotypical ‘trucker’
newmercman:
Good casting though by the production company, he had the beard, the checked shirt, the baseball cap & he moaned like a ■■■■■, the stereotypical ‘trucker’
Oh yes? But he didn’t have the thick bit in the middle.
Mind you he did compensate with a thicker bit at the top.
As long as it is cold, say -20, the ice isn’t that bad here. If it is dry then you just can’t do anything radical- like brake!
I haven’t seen all of the series as they haven’t shown it here, but I have heard horro stories about it and have seen some of it. I wasn’t questioning your statement about Drew. I agree with you. My alternator surged twice on Friday heading into Pikangikum so it was repaired when I got back because I told them.
I am sat here in a quilted check shirt and a toque, I have a small beard and am drinking coffee. Does this mean I am like him then?? After all, I am in uniform!!!
Here you go, Shingle Hill in Manitoba. It’s a nasty, steep in places, potholed, windy and icy hill on the Eastern access road. I gotr thrown out of the seat towards the end. This stretch of winter road is 350 kms each way.
I think Hugh should be banned from the ice roads as he knows his trucks are not fit for purpose before taking on the work. He should have his trucks fully prepared beforehand. If they break down on route then the driver should be capable of fixing it. I have been brought up with trucks. if you can’t fix it you don’t eat. Thats what my grandad told me and it’s true today. I don’t like hanging around in a desert for a recovery truck it could take a few days. then you could be dead. just the same as the ice roads. I applied for a job up there for next season but i was told they only employ canadians.
Couldn’t see your vid,Bob . I got a laptop now & it gets all funny when I want to download a movie. Is this normal with these things & what causes it…?
Don’t now, Harry, but if it is the media player saying that you don’t have a codec then google GOMPlayer and download it. That seems to run everything that the Vista player doesn’t.
Harry, go to http://www.adobe.com/ and click the “Get flash player” button there. You need that installed to use Youtube.
Still wondering on the “Big pay” deal?
Seen the final episode and for the days worked X hours worked X conditions endured,and everyone thinks that is top dollar?
Ever wonder why they have "Newbies"every year?
If the job was so great,why put on new people?
Been in a similiar position,yes I know the show was tarted up a lot,promised the big bling etc and after season was over-no way never again.
I have done 2 seasons now and would like to go again. Even if the money isn’t huge, the job is something else.
Been asking my new employer and he will look into it.
bobthedog:
I have done 2 seasons now and would like to go again. Even if the money isn’t huge, the job is something else.Been asking my new employer and he will look into it.
Who’s truck are you driving now,Bob? Still flatbed work ,or is it a secret…?
No secret anymore. I am driving for a smaller firm called Flying Eagle. Nice shiny VN Volvo. My flat has arrived and they are fitting my headache rack in the morning, so I will be off the vans from tomorrow. When it is all set up, I will get a pic or 2 for you.
It took me years of flats & tilts to discover that two doors in the back is the best way to go . But I suppose the ice roads are something else.
is apparently not so good.
Comments taken from another board:
The continuity of the camera shots is TERRIBLE. This is right up with the old 80’s police TV shows where the officers would be seen getting into a Chevy Impala, the chase scenes would chance to a Dodge Diplomat and then the car turns into a Ford Crown Victoria, then back to a Chevy only to crash as a Plymouth Gran Fury!
Scenes of the truck from the outside as a Kenworth T800 daycab with the interior shots as a T800 with sleeper.
A T800 daycab vac truck with the interior of a Peterbilt.
A Western Star with sleeper with interior shots of a Peterbilt 357 daycab.
Come on! This is editing/composition/continuity 101.
Simple gaffs like this kill the credibility.
I don’t believe the show was ever broadcast in Canada. I was given the DVD set for Christmas and wasn’t impressed.
I know that the Producers were not invited back to the Diamond Mine haul roads. The operators did not like the way it was portrayed.
To me; it was a typical American TV show; heavy on the (forced) dramatic moments and light on the facts.
Good description Bluejaysfan…it’s terrible 