Trucking and Reality TV?
Posted on Jun 17, 2010 - 8:41am by Diane Sontag in Trucking
Trucking and Reality TV? Just imagine the possibilities!
The Bachelor Truck Driver – each contestant gets to take his date out on the next run – how does she fare? Or else kiss her goodbye, go on the next run and keep in touch by phone, texting, email. How does she fare?
Lost in Port – pit two dozen truckers against each other at a port facility that is locked, has signs that refer to procedures no longer in place, and a load that is so late you wish you had never attempted. Last trucker to endure is the winner.
Trucker Destinations – leave clues to obscure places all over the USA. First one to Bisbee, AZ is the winner! (no offense intended)
Those might seem laughable, of course, but reality TV and trucking have indeed crossed paths. Perhaps you’ve heard about or seen “Ice Road Truckers” on the History Channel? The action takes place on the Dalton Highway, a 414-mile stretch from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. The Dalton Highway has been called the most dangerous road in the USA, due to its many hills, curves and, oh yeah- ten feet of ice.
This sixteen week series shows two truckers in “real life conditions” on the Dalton Highway. Now this road is so dangerous that to be allowed to haul on it a new driver must shadow an experienced driver for eight trips. Every curve, every hill must be put to memory, and drivers have to communicate with each other to make sure all trucks have clear passage. Break downs are common and truckers are on their own for repairs. The severe cold creates challenges all of its own, and the ice pack is sometimes indistinguishable from the road. Speed limit is 50 mph.
You would think that just an ordinary day in the life of a Dalton Road trucker would be plenty dramatic. But not according to an interview with one of the two trucking “stars” of the show. “They want the drama,” said Ray Veilleux. He also said that they will go to great lengths to produce an action-packed show, including some swearing on the CB. Veilleux does not hide his displeasure with the film crew’s focus on creating tension. And other Haul Road truckers criticize the show for making the drivers into glorified heroes due to their skillful driving on the dangerous road. Some say the show does not give respect to the drivers and recognition for the fact that these drivers risk their lives every day on that road.
Haul Road trucker wives fear for the lives of their husbands every day, especially during the busy season from January to March, when the ice is ten foot thick. Veilleux has installed a GPS system on his truck so his wife can see where he is at all times. Movement on the GPS is a sign that everything is okay. Ray and his wife speak often while he is on the road, and that is helpful.
So catch an episode of Ice Road Truckers and let us know what you think. Does the show downplay the real life dangers of the job? Does the drama look contrived? Are Haul Road truckers shown disrespect by this show? Should Reality TV and Trucking be combined? Leave more ideas for the Trucking Reality Shows in the comments.
Truckers Fav…But Could Someone
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They do try and make it more dramatic. They show every curve and every pass with animation and an animated truck crash, which is pretty cool and the only reason I watch. And has anyone ever seen Lisa chaining her load or throw on tire chains? I’m sure she must have, I’ve never seen it. It might get her too dirty for TV.
I have seen lisa chain-up,actually she’s quite good/fast at it..especially considering those chains weigh nearly as much as her..
have you seen hughie or alex,they really struggle at chaining..
lisa is just out there trying everyday like many of us to make a living and earn respect of her peers..my hats off to her,plus i think she’s very cute and easier to look at than a lot of the grungy typacil road hogs out there..
you go lisa…
Lisa is a little cutie and seems to do pretty well.
Reality show: First one through Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn no map, no gps and directions from foreigners without hitting a bridge, wins and never has to go back.
i learned to drive twin sticks at the age of 23 on the Dalton – in 1975. i was one of 28,000 direct hires as a truck driver out of teamster local 959 on what was the largest private sector project in U.S. history (to-date) known as TAPS (trans-alaska pipeline system). everything i know about operating a heavy load over the road, i learned there. i’ll never forget my own incident spinning out on atigan pass with a deadhead semi-flatbed. i’ll never forget “the red-headed indian” who was my foreman who came to my rescue, got me over the top and taught me how to handle the problem of warm tires on warm ice – without chains.
at the time, the winter of ’78, i was living at camp chandalar just below the pass on the typical 9-weeks-on/2-weeks-off work stretch and, believe it or not, the original Lisa was on the job then. Her name really was Lisa. I saw here a few times, as she hauled 80′ pipe from fairbanks to the staging pads all along the road. she was the absolute cutest little blond i ever saw anywhere – in a truck or out. whenever i met her on the move, it just made my day – for at least 2 days…9 weeks in the camps with some of the scariest looking tundra queens on earth, dreaming of R&R and all the squeezing i was going to do with pretty women on the beaches of waikiki…
that was the first time i made more money than god. i learned just how badly new wealth can be managed, believe me. i’m now 58 and semi-retired from a successful career as an IT consultant. sure, the producers are always going for drama. sure they’re always trying to build sensational episodes. so what. that’s what TV is all about today.
i remember the real dalton, i admire all these drivers from jack to lisa and the kanucks in between and i love this show. be safe, drivers.