I have contacted a few companies in Canada regarding driving on the ice roads next season. One of them told me they had over 2000 applications each year. Another told me that no companies take anyone on from outside Canada. Anyone know if anyone takes on UK drivers for the season?
Would find it very strange if a company would take someone from the UK with probably no experience of driving in snow at all let alone -40 in deep snow over frozen lakes, especially since the tv show aired it’s like to attract people who just thought it looked cool.
Bobthedog drove the ice roads, but he’d already been out in canada for a year or two driving so had experience of the conditions.
Bobthedog drove the ice roads, but he’d already been out in canada for a year or two driving so had experience of the conditions.
Those who drive the winter roads have my respect, it’s got to be something you really want to do. 
Firstlt, you probably tried for the NWT Ice Roads, and they are the ones that get all the news. There are Ice Roads in most of the provinces, but they would expect you to have proved you are capable of coping with winter here before they let you loose.
I went up last year as part of a convoy and showed that I was able, and I was let loose on my own this year, but it was my third winter so they know me pretty well.
Chances are I could get on the NWT roads next winter, simply because I have 2 seasons behind me, but you should be prepared to go to the Ontario roads or Manitoba to get the time served.
Kiowan:
Would find it very strange if a company would take someone from the UK with probably no experience of driving in snow at all let alone -40
Thats the problem they probably think we just drive around the m25. But europe is a big place with huge climate differences. At least they have 24/7 backup on the ice roads. Inari Finland average winter temp -13c… Edmonten Alberta -14c. Not much in it really. At least the desert or the ice road is safer than friday afternoon in the UK.
Listen mate, juggling with chainsaws while standing blindfolded in a pool full of hungry piranha is safer than driving in the UK…
And if you’ve never handled a wagon in -40 then you shouldn’t even think about heading up there, even if they would hire you. By the way, I think the ice roads must have an exemption from hours regs, because the drivers on the telly drove a whole bunch more than they should have, Assuming they logged it right anyway 
Not sure about the NWT roads hours laws but I imagine they are similar to the Manitoba ones.
In Manitoba, Winter Road permits are provided free of charge to companies on the Provincial list. These permits more or less state that you must adhere to all the hours of service regs until you are actually on the winter road. Whilst on the winter road, you are exempted from all hours of service regs, and when you leave the winter road you have 4 hours driving time to get to somewhere with facilities. Basically, drive until you drop.
It’s a “get out of jail free” card. The only codicil on it is “Thou shalt not drive while fatigued”.
Ontario gave one such permit out this year. We had to be good boys in Ontario!! 
Uh huh!!
Amazing the speeds you can attain and maintain on winter roads!!!
allikat:
Listen mate, juggling with chainsaws while standing blindfolded in a pool full of hungry piranha is safer than driving in the UK…And if you’ve never handled a wagon in -40 then you shouldn’t even think about heading up there, even if they would hire you. By the way, I think the ice roads must have an exemption from hours regs, because the drivers on the telly drove a whole bunch more than they should have, Assuming they logged it right anyway
Funny how government chooses to bend the rules.My last job was on fuel tankers in New York.Most winters the state would scrap hours of service regulation for fuel truck drivers.They didn’t want anyone freezing to death in their apartments should the boiler run out of oil …that would be bad news come the next election.However if an exhausted driver crushed a few people in an accident,well that would be his fault wouldn’t it.
allikat:
…By the way, I think the ice roads must have an exemption from hours regs, because the drivers on the telly drove a whole bunch more than they should have, Assuming they logged it right anyway
Then in that case the job will be perfect for Phil - seeing that he does up to 75 hours a week here!
To be honest, there is no way on earth that anyone should even consider trying the ice roads without serious preparation. To do so would be madness. That damned TV series has made it a goal for thousands and it is really not to be taken lightly.
As Alli said, if you haven’t driven trucks at -40 then you shouldn’t think of it. Remember that the -40 will go on for weeks, not just one day here and another sometime next week, but it will sap you as it is 24/7.
Also, to compare Edmonton and somewhere in Finland is not really wise. Firstly, Edmonton is not Yellowknife. It is hundreds of miles south of yellowknife. Also, that average is quite high because the weather there varies much more than it does in Manitoba or Saskatchewan.
At -20, you feel your sinus’ freezing up, at -25 you get snow from your exhaust pipes and it starts to get really dry. At -30, you have no hope of starting a vehicle and can freeze to death in short order. -40 your skin freezes within less than 2 minutes and breathing becomes uncomfortable. -55 you can really feel the air freezing in your lungs, your nose will bleed if you sniff or blow it and the blood will freeze to your lip. At -55 trees will burst, batteries will freeze even with the engine charging them, you freeze to anything metal simply because the oils in your skin are moisture enough. I once had my foot freeze to the aluminium strip between the sleeper and the cab, and that was when the engine was running and the heater on. The jaws of the 5th wheel will neither open or close because the grease is so solid.
That TV series didn’t do the job justice. I get asked about it time and again and I always say that it is something that takes careful thought. Most do it once and never go back. I loved it and want to go back. My new boss has an old Mack and I am working on persuading him to set it up for the winter roads 2009.
I worked in -34C in Swiss . Pulled out of a heated factory on a Friday midday & started to pull the tilt back wearing just a T-shirt ;sweat started to freeze on my face ,put a coat on. By the time I got to Port Sunlight on the Monday I had pneumonia. That was years ago & has still left me a chest infection.I am still allergic to industrial AC in bars etc. & have caught flu several times getting in the back of fridges for just a few minutes. Cold weather rules must be respected or the penalty can be severe.
PS; Bob ,it would be a lot better if you got to work on your boss to strip the Volvo down for the lakes…
bobthedog:
To be honest, there is no way on earth that anyone should even consider trying the ice roads without serious preparation. To do so would be madness.That damned TV series has made it a goal for thousands and it is really not to be taken lightly.
It is not just in Canada either Bob. The amount of times I have heard someone say; I watched Ice Truckers and it looks cool.
Im going for my LGV. Im used to driving big rigs abroad because I went to Spain with my caravan back in the 80s.
Whatever you drive and where you drive dosn’t matter.
What does matter is listening to those who’ve done the job.
You can be as careful as possible, But if it’s your time to die then that’s it.
The money looks ok so i want to give it a go. The job dosn’t look difficult just dangerous.
However, I’m no longer going to keep looking for a job over there. It’s pointless.
And Andy. You’re right.
It’s more difficult than dangerous. Like it or not, I have been up there 2 years on the trot. If I can make it 3 then I will as I suspect the firm I am with now would make it financially worthwhile.
The only reason it would seem pointless is the age old reason. You can’t run before you walk.
DON’T KNOW WHAT BIG THING IS OF DRIVING ON ICE ON FROZEN LAKE - FLAT - NO HILLS.
THICKNESS OF ICE IS MONITORED DAILY.
ANY OF US THAT WENT OT ITALY IN WINTERTIME KNOW ALL ABOUT DRIVING ON ICE AND SNOW UP AND DOWN MOUNTAINS.
CHAINS OFF, CHAINS ON WITH HUGE DROPS IF YOU SLID OFF
No hills? Sure about that?
Big point here is that I, too, have done Italy in the Winter, along with Spain and Austria. I have also done the Rockies in the winter. And I have done the ice roads.
If you don’t think it is anything then you are deluding yourself.