Original subtitles

NOW ON ICE ROAD TRUCKERS"...

YEEHAW! THAT'S WHAT I CALL TRUCKIN'.

NARRATOR: THE BATTLE RAGES ON...

IT'S GOT BIG RED LETTERS, "DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS."

NARRATOR: THE STAKES KEEP RISING...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAST TO DIE.

NARRATOR: AND LIMITS ARE PUSHED...

DARRELL: 'CUZ I KNOW I'M ON THIN ICE.

THANKS FOR THE LOAD, MARK!

NARRATOR: THE BREAKING POINT.

DIDN'T LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.

♪♪

♪♪

NARRATOR: IN THE WAR ON THE WINTER ROADS...

[TRUCK HONKS]

POLAR INDUSTRIES IS TAKING IT ON THE CHIN.

THEIR EXPANSION INTO ONTARIO MET HEAD ON

WITH THE STORM OF THE CENTURY.

I'M [BLEEP] STUCK, ON THE [BLEEP] ICE.

ART: I JUST GOT A $490 [BLEEP] FINE.

NARRATOR: ONE OF THEIR DRIVERS...

THEY SHUT ME DOWN FOR THREE [BLEEP] DAYS.

NARRATOR: WAS KICKED OFF THE PLAYING FIELD.

DARRELL: I DON'T NEED TO BE SITTIN' HERE,

GETTING THREE LOADS A MONTH.

MARK: OKAY, ARE YOU DONE? DARRELL: I'M OUT THE DOOR.

MARK: SEE YA.

NARRATOR: AND THEIR TOP DOG TOOK A WALK.

TO BE DOWN A TRUCK, YOU KNOW,

WHEN WE'VE GOT A SHORT SEASON HERE TO MOVE LOADS,

IT'S NOT GOOD.

NARRATOR: NOW HEAVYWEIGHT DARRELL WARD...

I MAY HAVE FOUND THE DEAL THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

NARRATOR: IS LOOKING TO GET IN ON THE ACTION.

[KNOCKING] DARRELL: RANDY?

RANDY: YES. DARRELL: DARRELL.

RANDY: HI, DARRELL. DARRELL: HOW'S IT GOING?

RANDY: GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? DARRELL: NOT BAD.

RANDY: WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

DARRELL: I SEEN AN AD, THIS TRUCK YOU GOT OUT HERE FOR SALE.

DARRELL: LOOKING AT POLAR'S YARD, LOOKING AT POLAR'S SHOP,

RANDY: YUP.

LOOKING AT POLAR'S ORGANIZATION OVER THERE,

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE,

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF LOADS UP FOR GRABS.

I MIGHT AS WELL GRAB 'EM.

NARRATOR: THE MONTANA LEGEND'S FOUND A LOCAL

WILLING TO RENT HIM A TRUCK.

DARRELL: POP THE HOOD OPEN.

RANDY: IT'S A PRETTY NICE TRUCK. IT'S GOT A FEW MILES ON IT.

NO OIL LEAKS, HUH? EVERYTHING LOOKS PRETTY CLEAN.

[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES]

YEAH, THIS LOOKS LIKE WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

OH, THAT'D BE GREAT, IF WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN,

LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

RANDY: GOOD DEAL.

GOOD, I'M BACK IN BUSINESS.

YEAH, I LIKE IT, RANDY.

BE GOOD TO SEE ME BACK TO WORK.

RANDY: WELL, THAT WON'T TAKE LONG.

DARRELL: NO.

NARRATOR: WITH A RIG AND BAY SECURED,

DARRELL'S READY TO TAKE ON POLAR.

GOOD LUCK, MARK.

I'M GONNA TAKE EVERY LOAD FROM HIM THAT I CAN POSSIBLY STEAL.

THIS IS THE BATTLE THAT YOU'RE GETTIN'.

NARRATOR: BUT DARRELL AIN'T POLAR'S ONLY COMPETITION...

HUGH: YEEHAW!

IT'S A MONEY DAY. [LAUGHING]

NARRATOR: VP'S LOOKING TO KNOCK OUT THEIR LONG-TIME RIVAL.

HUGH: WE'RE BASICALLY HAULING OVER 80,000 POUNDS.

THIS'LL BE THE HEAVIEST LOAD GOING UP THE ICE THIS YEAR.

NARRATOR: BOSS HUGH ROWLAND'S HEADING TO ST. THERESA POINT

WITH A MAMMOTH 23 TONNE CAR CRUSHER.

NARRATOR: THROUGH THE YEARS, THOUSAND VEHICLES HAVE MET THEIR MATCH

IN ST. THERESA'S HARSH DRIVING CONDITIONS.

THEY BOUGHT THEMSELVES A CAR CRUSHER,

THEY HAUL THEM IN TO THE RECYCLING PLANT,

THEY'RE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THESE CRUSHED CARS.

NARRATOR: NOW, VP COULD CASH IN ON THE 10,000 TONNES OF MANGLED STEEL

BY HAULING IT BACK TO WINNIPEG.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR MONEY IN OUR POCKETS.

[TRUCK ENGINE ROARS]

HUGH: THIS IS GONNA BE A PROBLEM LOAD GOING UP,

IT'S REALLY LOW TO THE GROUND.

WE'LL BE SCRAPING BOTTOM A LOT.

DEFINITELY THE HEAVIEST AND LOWEST LOAD YET THIS YEAR,

BY FAR.

NARRATOR: BUT IT'LL TAKE EVERYTHING HUGH'S GOT

AS ONLY 10 INCHES SEPARATES THE BOTTOM OF THE CRUSHER

FROM THE GROUND.

OH-OH.

[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES]

THE ONLY WORRY IS GETTING UP THE ROAD,

GETTING OVER ALL THESE HUMMOCKS.

NARRATOR: HUMMOCKS ARE NATURAL MOUNDS OF EARTH

THAT ARE FOUND SCATTERED ON THE WINTER ROADS.

IF THE CAR CRUSHER IS UNABLE TO CLEAR THEM,

IT COULD 'CAUSE THE 70,000-POUND-LOAD

TO BOTTOM OUT AND TIP OVER,

DESTROYING BOTH TRUCK AND DRIVER.

OOH, [BLEEP].

OH YEAH.

[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES]

OOH!

OH... [LAUGHING]

IT'S PROBABLY RUBBING A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.

EVERYBODY'S SPUN OUT ON THIS HILL BEFORE.

♪♪

♪♪

[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES]

YEAH!

WELL, WE AIN'T FAR UP THE ROAD HERE YET,

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

NARRATOR: WHILE VP UPS THE ANTE...

340 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST...

THIS IS BUMPY, IT'S CHALLENGING,

YOU GET STUCK, YOU COULD FREEZE TO DEATH,

YOU COULD FALL THROUGH THE ICE.

GOT DISPATCHED FROM POLAR GOING CAT LAKE

WITH SOME BUILDING SUPPLIES.

NARRATOR: POLAR'S COUNTING ON LISA KELLY TO CONQUER A NEW TRAIL

AND KEEP THEM IN THE GAIN.

LIKE I HAVE TO BE THE FRONT, THE FACE,

THE FIRST ON THE NEW ROAD,

THE FIRST ON THIS ROAD, THE FIRST IN ONTARIO.

AND THAT'S AWESOME THAT I GET TRUSTED WITH THAT,

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M STEPPING UP TO THAT PLATE.

NARRATOR: THE TREACHEROUS 500 MILE ROUTE TO CAT LAKE IS LEGENDARY.

HAD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO LAST YEAR

ROLLED HIS TRUCK REALLY BAD.

HE WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE.

NARRATOR: AND MANY SEASONED TRUCKERS HAVE LOST THE FIGHT

ON ITS RUGGED TERRAIN.

LISA: THE WINDS ARE BLOWING

AND THE ROADS ARE STARTING TO DRIFT A LITTLE BIT.

AND I DON'T WANNA GET STUCK.

IF YOU DROP A TIRE OFF THE ROAD,

YOU DON'T GO IN THE DITCH, YOU GET PULLED OUT.

YOU GET PULLED OUT AND PUT IN A CASKET AND BURIED.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME.

[GEARS CRANK, ENGINE RUMBLES]

♪♪

♪♪

NARRATOR: THROUGH THE TWISTS, TURNS, AND BRIDGES...

IT'S A MESS.

NARRATOR: IT TOOK A BEATING FROM THE BLIZZARD.

EVERY INCH IS A CHALLENGE HAULING THE 35 TONNE LOAD.

LISA: IF YOU TRY TO DO ANYTHING DANGEROUS,

AS SAFE AS YOU CAN, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA DO IT,

YOU'VE GOT TO DO THE DANGEROUS STUFF.

AND WHAT IS THIS?

NARRATOR: AROUND THE BEND A REMINDER THAT ON THIS ROAD,

LISA'S TRIP COULD END IN A SPLIT SECOND.

LISA: OH MY GOSH.

APPARENTLY THIS IS RIGHT WHERE THAT ACCIDENT WAS

THAT MARK'S FRIEND TIPPED HIS TRUCK OVER,

AND THEY'RE JUST NOW PULLING IT ALL OUT

OF THE DITCHES AND STUFF.

SO SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THREAD IN THIS AREA.

IT'S HORRIBLE.

YOU'RE LIKE, OH, THAT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME,

KIND OF ATTITUDE, BUT IT'S VERY REAL,

AND IT VERY MUCH COULD HAPPEN TO ME.

[TRUCK WHINES, CREAKS]

NARRATOR: IN THE MANITOBA WILDERNESS...

LET'S RIP AND ROAR! [LAUGHING]

NARRATOR: VP'S ALEX DEBOGORSKI'S TRYING TO BRING IN A BIG SCORE

FOR THE COMPANY.

ALEX: I'M GOING TO ST. THERESA POINT,

I HAVE A LOAD OF STRUCTURAL STEEL.

NARRATOR: THE STEEL BEAMS ARE PART OF ST. THERESA'S ARENA PROJECT,

VP'S RICHEST CONTRACT TO DATE.

ALEX: THE LOAD IS KINDA OF A SHAKY LOAD,

SO I HAD TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA DUNNAGE IN THERE,

PUT LOTS OF STRAPS ON IT,

JUST DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, TAKE MY TIME.

NARRATOR: THE OLD PRO USED EXTRA CARE

WHEN TYING DOWN THE 15 TONNE LOAD.

ALEX: WATCH SO IT DOESN'T BLOW THE HECK ON ME.

NARRATOR: AND IT'LL NEED IT OVER THE BRUTAL 150 MILE TRAIL.

[LOAD CREAKS]

THAT'S THE FIRST LITTLE SHAKE.

SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE.

HERE'S A ROUGH SPOT HERE.

SO I CAN SEE IT KIND OF SHAKE APART.

I'M GONNA PULL OVER AND CHECK THE LOAD.

[CAB DOOR CLOSES]

THAT ONE THERE'S NOT SO GOOD.

THAT'S ANOTHER BROKEN ONE, RIGHT THERE.

NARRATOR: THE WOOD KEEPING THE HAUL STABLE HAS SNAPPED LIKE TWIGS

OVER THE BRUTAL ROAD.

ALEX: I'M NOT HAPPY WITH IT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT ONE TO BREAK.

THIS ONE HERE MIGHT BE NEXT.

THE THING IS SLOWLY STARTING TO COLLAPSE.

NARRATOR: IF THE DUNNAGE CONTINUES BREAKING,

THE STEEL LOAD COULD BECOME SO UNBALANCED,

IT'LL TUMBLE OFF THE TRAILER.

I THOUGHT THESE ONES HERE AT THE BACK

WERE THE HEALTHIEST ONES. MAYBE NOT.

I'M REALLY NOT TOO SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

NARRATOR: BUT WITH THE BIG MONEY CONTRACT ON THE LINE...

I'M HOPING FOR SOME DIVINE INTERVENTION

TO GET THIS THING THERE, I GUESS.

[LAUGHS] I DON'T KNOW!

NARRATOR: THE VETERAN'S GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.

AND OFF LIKE A HURDLE OF TURTLES WE'LL GO.

THIS IS NOT GONNA DO VERY WELL ON THE BUMPY ROADS AT ALL.

IN THE VERY WORST DISASTER, IT BREAKS THE STRAPS,

FALLS OF THE TRUCK,

AND HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER ROAD.

NARRATOR: WHILE VP GAMBLES IN MANITOBA...

DEEP IN ONTARIO...

TODD: FOUND OUT TODAY THAT DARRELL QUIT.

NARRATOR: WORD OF DARRELL'S EXIT FROM POLAR

HAS REACHED FORMER TEAM-MATE, TODD DEWEY.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN-IT WAS A FUN RIVAL AT FIRST,

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, BUT I DON'T KNOW,

MAYBE I PUSHED A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD.

[TRUCK HONKS]

HEY OLD MAN BACK THERE,

MARK DIDN'T PUT ME IN CHARGE OF THIS CONVOY FOR NOTHING.

[LAUGHING]

YOU KNOW, I WAS SHOOTING FOR THE NUMBER ONE SPOT,

TOLD HIM HE BETTER, YOU KNOW HE BETTER GET HIS JOB DONE

BECAUSE IF HE DON'T, I'M GOING TO DO IT.

WELL, NOW HERE IT IS, I AM DOING IT.

NARRATOR: WITH DARRELL GONE,

IT FALLS ON TODD'S SHOULDERS TO DELIVER

ONE OF POLAR'S MOST VITAL HAULS OF THE SEASON.

IT'S $80,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF GROCERIES BACK THERE.

THAT'S A LOT OF GROCERIES.

SO THE VILLAGE IS WAITING FOR THIS FOOD.

THIS IS HOW THEY SURVIVE,

IT'S GETTING TRUCKED IN THEIR SUPPLIES

DURING WINTER ROAD SEASONS,

AND YOU ONLY HAVE A SHORT WINDOW

TO GET ALL THEIR SUPPLIES THERE THAT THEY NEED.

NARRATOR: THE TOWN'S COUNTING ON TODD.

HOPEFULLY I DON'T GET STUCK.

NARRATOR: BUT HE'LL HAVE TO HAUL IT TO BIG TROUT LAKE,

A TRAIL LEFT IN RUINS IN THE WAKE OF THE BLIZZARD.

TODD: ON THE PAPERWORK FOR POLAR,

IT'S GOT BIG RED LETTERS, "DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS,

GO VERY SLOW."

[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES]

HOLD ON!

WHOA!

THE ABUSE I'M PUTTING THIS LITTLE TRUCK THROUGH IS PHENOMENAL.

WHEN YOU GO OVER BIG HUMPS AND WHOOPEE'S,

EVERYTHING'S HIGH-CENTRED AND DRAGGING,

AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET OVER IT

IS TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR

AND [BLEEP] DRAG EVERYTHING RIGHT OVER IT.

NARRATOR: IN THESE CONDITIONS, TODD NEEDS TO HAMMER DOWN.

TODD: JUST HANG ON.

[LOUD THUD]

HOLLY SMOKES!

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK ANY CHAINS TODAY.

NARRATOR: BUT INCREASED SPEED WILL PUSH HIS TIRE CHAINS EVEN HARDER.

♪♪

[LOUD CLANG] HOLY SHYSTER!

[CHAINS CLINK]

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT NOISE?

LET'S SEE.

OH, I GOT A BROKEN LINK, LOOK AT THAT.

THIS DAMN TRUCK.

NARRATOR: CHAINS ARE VITAL FOR TRACTION.

OH, I'LL JUST TAKE ONE CHAIN OFF, WE'LL CONTINUE ON.

NARRATOR: ESPECIALLY OVER A BRUTAL PATH, LIKE THE ONE TO BIG TROUT.

OKAY. CHAINS ARE OFF.

PROBABLY GET STUCK NOW.

NARRATOR: BUT WITH AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY'S FATE IN HIS HANDS...

TODD: ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THAT THEM GROCERIES

GET TO THEM FAMILIES UP THERE.

NARRATOR: TODD CONTINUES WITH A BARE SET OF TIRES.

TODD: AND I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

TO MAKE SURE THOSE- THESE VILLAGES UP HERE GET THEIR GROCERIES.

IF THAT MEANS RIPPING THIS TRAILER TO SHREDS GETTING THERE,

THEN SO BE IT.

NARRATOR: AND HE CLOSES IN ON BIG TROUT LAKE.

NARRATOR: IN WINNIPEG...

I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EVER GET CAUGHT

ON THE [BLEEP] SCALES.

NARRATOR: POLAR'S DOWN A DRIVER.

ART: SO THAT PERFORMANCE COST ME $490 DOLLARS,

AND TO MAKE LIFE EVEN MORE BETTER,

THEY SHUT ME DOWN FOR THREE [BLEEP] DAYS.

NARRATOR: AFTER FAILING HIS LOG BOOK INSPECTION,

ART BURKE WAS GROUNDED FOR THREE DAYS.

ART: THEY SHUT ME DOWN.

I ALREADY GOT A COUPLE THINGS ON MY RECORD,

SO WHEN THEY GET MY RAP SHEET OUT,

IF I WANNA GET ANOTHER JOB,

THAT'S GONNA BE ON THERE, RIGHT.

IT COST ME $490 [BLEEP] DOLLARS.

AND OH YES, YES,

AND DON'T FORGET THE THREE DAYS VACATION.

BUT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE,

I CAN'T DO [BLEEP] ALL ABOUT IT, SO [BLEEP] IT.

I MEAN, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING ON THE [BLEEP] ROAD,

I DON'T WANNA [BLEEP] AROUND.

THAT WASN'T COOL, EH.

[BLEEP] IT.

NARRATOR: WHILE A POLAR DRIVER'S STUCK IN NEUTRAL...

IN REMOTE ONTARIO BACKCOUNTRY...

RIGHT NOW, BESIDES TEAM POLAR,

I'VE GOT TEAM BIG TROUT WAITING ON ME.

NARRATOR: TODD DEWEY'S FIGHTING THE LAST 100 MILES

TO DELIVER THE TOWN'S FOOD SUPPLY FOR THE YEAR.

TODD: IT'S-IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME AND MAKING MONEY UP HERE,

BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT SUPPLYING THESE COMMUNITIES' FAMILIES

WITH WHAT THEY NEED.

DO YOU THINK I WOULD WANNA BE SITTING HOME WITH MY KIDS,

FEEDING THEM A FEW CRACKERS WHEN THEY'RE HUNGRY,

AND THEY WANNA EAT SOMETHING,

AND THEY'RE WAITING ON A LOAD OF SUPPLIES TO GET THERE?

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE'S KIDS TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT,

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T WANT MY KIDS TO GO THROUGH IT.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I GET THIS LOAD THERE.

NARRATOR: BUT HE'S RUNNING WITH A SET OF BARE TIRES

OVER THE ROUGH TRAIL.

TODD: YEAH, GOT A LITTLE ICE CROSSING TO GO ACROSS.

NARRATOR: AND NOW, A ONE MILE ICE CROSSING

STANDS IN THE WAY OF COMPLETING THE JOURNEY.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, AND EXTREMELY DEADLY.

NARRATOR: WITH THE SUN BEATING DOWN ON THE ICE,

IT'S RAPIDLY MELTING.

WHETHER IT'S STILL STRONG ENOUGH

TO HOLD THE 23 TONNE LOAD

IS A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.

TODD: READY?

[GEARS CRANK, TRUCK RUMBLES]

NARRATOR: BUT WITH TODD HOLDING THE KEY TO THE TOWN'S SURVIVAL...

HE TAKES THE RISK.

AT LEAST IT'S LIGHT OUT, I CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE'S SOME PRETTY GOOD CLEAR PATCHES OF WATER ON TOP HERE.

NARRATOR: ONLY A QUARTER MILE IN...

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE IN THE WATER - COME OUT THROUGH THE ICE CRACKS.

NARRATOR: IT'S CLEAR THE ICE IS TAKING A HIT FROM THE SUN.

TODD: ICE IS ICE, A LAKE IS A LAKE.

AND I REALLY DON'T WANNA FIND OUT TODAY

HOW DEEP ONE REALLY IS.

I'M GONNA STAY RIGHT IN THE DEAD MIDDLE HERE.

THIS IS WHERE YOU GOTTA GO REAL SLOW,

SO THE WAVES DON'T COLLAPSE WITH EACH OTHER.

[WATER BUBBLES]

I GOT A FAMILY I WANNA GO HOME TO.

I WANNA BE ABLE TO GO HOME AND TALK TO THEM,

NOT GO HOME IN A BODY BAG.

AND OVER THERE, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OFF THIS SON OF A GUN.

♪♪

ON LAND RIGHT NOW, YES.

NARRATOR: FINALLY...

OFF THE ICE, ANOTHER ONE DOWN.

NARRATOR: TODD REACHES SOLID GROUND.

I LIVED TO CROSS ANOTHER ONE.

NARRATOR: AND THE TOWN'S ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING THE CRITICAL HAUL.

BACK IN WINNIPEG...

A RENEGADE TRUCKER'S TRYING TO GET IN GEAR.

HELLO, JOHN? YEAH, NO THIS IS DARRELL.

YEAH...YEAH. YEAH, I WAS DRIVING FOR POLAR,

I AIN'T ANYMORE.

SO I'M CALLING YA, I'M LOOKING FOR SOME LOADS.

NARRATOR: DARRELL WARD'S LOOKING TO GET WHEELS TURNING

ON HIS NEW BUSINESS.

DARRELL: NO? I UNDERSTAND.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS. YEAH, BYE.

JUST GO THROUGH MY LIST OF CONTACT NUMBERS

AND SEE IF I CAN FIND SOMETHING ANYWAY.

HELLO? NO THIS IS DARRELL,

I TALKED TO YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT A LOAD.

WHEN I LEFT POLAR, I HAD MARK'S SHIPPER LIST, YOU KNOW.

I KNEW THESE GUYS THAT MARK WAS HAULING FOR

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE, PICKING UP LOADS,

GOT THEIR PHONE NUMBERS, GOT THEIR CONTACT NUMBERS.

AND THEY'RE LOADED RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE READY TO GO?

YEAH, I'LL COME AND GET 'EM.

YEAH, I'LL BE THERE SHORTLY.

ALL RIGHT, YEAH, THANKS. BYE.

ALL RIGHT, I GOT A LOAD.

FIRST LOAD I CAME UP WITH WAS A LOAD OF CULVERTS

GOING UP TO WASAGAMACK.

NARRATOR: THE 10 TONNE LOAD IS DARRELL'S FIRST JAB AT POLAR.

AND SUDDENLY, THERE'S A NEW CONTENDER

IN THE FIGHT ON THE WINTER ROADS.

DARRELL: YEAH, I GOT MY FIRST LOAD ON, A LOAD OF CULVERTS.

HELLO.

FEELS PRETTY GOOD, DOING IT ON MY OWN,

DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANYBODY ELSE'S BULL [BLEEP].

GET AS MANY LOADS HAULED AS I CAN.

GET HOOKED UP TO MY TRAILER AND GET OUT OF HERE.

♪♪

YEAH, I GOT A LOAD ON,

GOT A NEW TRUCK, GOT A LOAD ON IT.

I STOLE IT FROM MARK, FROM ONE OF HIS SHIPPERS,

AND I'M GONNA GO RIGHT BY POLAR AND LET HIM KNOW I GOT IT.

WE'LL SWING BY HERE AND RUB IT IN A LITTLE BIT.

[TRUCK HONKS]

MY CULVERT LOAD!

LET HIM KNOW THAT I'M STILL AROUND.

HERE COMES MARK.

OH, YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.

WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THIS?

I'M TAKING YOUR CULVERT LOAD.

GO [BLEEP] YOURSELF, DARRELL.

MARK: HONESTLY WHEN DARRELL WALKED OUT THAT DOOR,

I FIGURED THAT WAS THE LAST I WAS EVER GONNA SEE OF DARRELL WARD.

BRING IT ON, I'M NOT WORRIED.

I THINK I'VE GOT A REAL FIGHT ON MY HANDS WITH HIM.

OH WELL.

MARK: I WASN'T TOO WORRIED ABOUT THE CLOWNS DOWN THE ROAD,

BUT WITH DARRELL, IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING.

THANKS FOR THE LOAD, MARK!

[TRUCK HONKS]

NARRATOR: DEEP IN ONTARIO...

TODD: YOU KNOW WE'RE HERE AT BIG TROUT LAKE.

NARRATOR: TODD DEWEY MAKES IT TO HIS DROP OFF POINT

WITH ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT HAULS OF THE SEASON.

TODD: AND THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF TO UNLOAD.

$80,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF GROCERIES IN THE BACK.

NARRATOR: THE TRUCK OF FOOD SUPPLIES IS A VALUABLE DELIVERY FOR POLAR,

BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY OF BIG TROUT,

IT MEANS MUCH MORE.

TODD: ALL THESE BOYS SHOWED UP TODAY TO GIVE ME A HAND,

AND HELP UNPACK THIS STUFF INTO THE STORE.

THE LOAD IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

NOTHING WAS DAMAGED, NOTHING WAS BROKE OPEN.

YOU KNOW THAT WHAT YOU'RE HAULING ON THAT TRUCK

IS POSSIBLY SAVING SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.

YOU'RE SUPPLYING WHOLE VILLAGES WITH WHAT THEY NEED

TO LIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

LAST ONE, BABY!

[LAUGHING]

IT'S JUST-IT'S A PRETTY AWESOME FEELING.

[LAUGHS]

NARRATOR: AS TODD COMPLETES HIS MISSION...

HIS OLD RIVAL'S JUST GETTING STARTED.

[TRUCK HONKS]

DARRELL: I'M ON MY OWN MISSION. GOT MY OWN TRUCK.

NARRATOR: DARRELL WARD'S ON HIS FIRST SOLO RUN

SINCE BREAKING FREE FROM POLAR.

AMAZINGLY WE GOT ELECTRICITY OUT IN SOME OF THESE PLACES.

VERY REMOTE.

NARRATOR: HAULING AN 10 TONNE LOAD OF DRAINAGE PIPE,

THE MONTANA LEGEND'S LOOKING TO LAND A BIG PAYDAY

AND MAKE HIS MARK.

YEAH, THE OLD ROAD'S GETTING ROUGHER THE FARTHER IN I GET.

NARRATOR: BUT IT'S NO EASY RIDE OVER THE RUGGED 150 MILE TRAIL

TO WASAGAMACK.

THAT [BLEEP] PIPE ROLLS AROUND ON THERE.

[CREAKS]

AWFUL EASY TO SLIDE OFF THIS ROAD, THIS ROAD'S SLICK.

ALL THE CORNERS SEEM TO BE OUT SLOPED.

EVERY TIME YOU COME INTO ONE,

YOU GOTTA GO AROUND 'EM PRETTY EASY,

BECAUSE ONCE SLIDE YOU RIGHT TO THE EDGE.

PRETTY EASY TO FIND YOURSELF CAMPING IN THE WOODS

IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.

NARRATOR: OPERATING ON HIS OWN,

THERE'S NO HEADQUARTERS TO CALL IF HE RUNS INTO TROUBLE.

NO SUPPORT STAFF IF HE BREAKS DOWN OR GETS STUCK.

I SEE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GONE OFF INTO THE DITCH,

JUST LIKE RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S ANOTHER SPOT,

ANOTHER ONE AUGURED IN RIGHT THERE.

COME AROUND THESE CORNERS TOO FAST

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GONNA END UP.

NARRATOR: AND NOW...

DARRELL: WELL, I'VE GOT THIS THIN ICE CROSSING.

NARRATOR: DARRELL CONFRONTS HIS FIRST TRIP ON THE ICE

AS A FREE AGENT.

IT'S ONLY BEEN OPEN TO EMPTY TRUCKS.

IF I DON'T CROSS THIS,

IT'S A LONG WAYS AROUND ON THE NORTHERN ROUTE.

IT'LL TAKE ME TWO MORE DAYS.

NARRATOR: WITH HIS START-UP BUSINESS ON THE LINE...

DARRELL: I'M NOT GONNA SPEND TWO DAYS DRIVING BACK AROUND IT.

I'M GONNA RUN FOR IT.

NARRATOR: DARRELL ROLLS THE DICE.

[TRUCK RUMBLES]

DARRELL: I'M PROBABLY THE HEAVIEST LOAD THAT'S GONNA CROSS THIS ROAD.

I'M JUST TAKING 'ER ABOUT 12 KILOMETRES AN HOUR ACROSS HERE

BECAUSE I KNOW I'M ON THIN ICE.

CRACKS IN IT TOO.

[ICE CRACKING]

STAY DOWN AND WE'RE GOING RIGHT BY 'EM RIGHT NOW.

IT'S CRACKING!

WELL, I MADE IT ACROSS THAT, THAT'S GOOD.

FIRST ICE CROSSING WITH THE NEW TRUCK.

STILL GOT ABOUT 230 KILOMETRES OF WINTER ROADS TO WASAGAMACK.

NARRATOR: AS THE LONE WOLF CONQUERS A TOUGH PATCH...

HIS OLD TEAM-MATE'S KNEE DEEP IN A ROUGH TRIP.

LISA: I'M DRIVING LIKE MAD.

NARRATOR: LISA KELLY'S BATTLING THE ELEMENTS

ON THE NOTORIOUS ROUTE TO CAT LAKE.

LISA: TEMPERATURE JUST DROPPED FROM 16 BELOW TO 20 BELOW,

AND THAT'S KIND OF FREAKING ME OUT.

THE LATER IT GETS, THE COLDER IT'S GONNA GET.

NARRATOR: LISA ONLY HAS 70 MILES TO GO,

BUT SHE'S ABOUT TO GET TESTED

OVER THE NARROWEST BRIDGE ON THE ENTIRE TRAIL.

LISA: HERE'S OUR BRIDGE THAT THEY SAID TO GO REALLY SLOW ON.

IN ALASKA, THERE WAS AN UPHILL BRIDGE THAT'S ON A CORNER.

AND I WENT INTO IT, AND IT DID NOT TURN,

AND I CAME THIS CLOSE TO HITTING THE SIDE OF THAT BRIDGE.

I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.

♪♪

LAKES CAN BE SCARY IF YOU OVER THINK THEM.

THESE ICE BRIDGES ARE SCARY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO NARROW.

YOU GOTTA KNOW YOUR TRUCK.

YOU GOTTA KNOW WHERE THE WHEELS ARE

BEFORE YOU DROP DOWN ONTO THOSE OR YOU'LL JUST MISS COMPLETELY,

FALL OFF. GOT SIX INCHES ON EACH SIDE, MAYBE.

[CREAKING]

NARRATOR: WITH LESS THAN A FOOT CLEARANCE ON EITHER SIDE...

LISA: I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: SHE'LL HAVE TO MANOEUVRE WITH PIN POINT ACCURACY

OR HER RIG COULD TUMBLE INTO THE COLD WATER BELOW.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAST TO DIE.

♪♪

♪♪

IT'S SUCH A DEATH TRAP OUT HERE.

[LOUD CLANG] AH!

NARRATOR: ON ONE OF THE MOST FEARED TRAILS IN ONTARIO...

LISA: THESE ICE BRIDGES ARE SCARY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO NARROW.

NARRATOR: LISA KELLY'S LOAD...

LISA: GOT SIX INCHES ON EACH SIDE, MAYBE.

NARRATOR: COULD BE TOO BIG FOR HER BRIDGES.

LISA: IT'S SUCH A DEATH TRAP OUT HERE.

[LOUD CLANK] AH!

WHAT THE [BLEEP].

NARRATOR: THE RICKETY BRIDGE BARELY SUPPORTS LISA'S 35 TONNE HAUL.

I DON'T WANNA BE DYING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A TRUCK.

IT KIND OF FELT LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL.

NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES ARE ACTUALLY

A QUICK WAKE UP CALL TO LIKE,

HEY, WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE IN LIFE?

WHAT GIVES IT VALUE?

HOW DO WE WANNA BE REMEMBERED WHEN WE'RE DEAD?

NARRATOR: SOON, THE DESTINATION OF CAT LAKE IS IN SIGHT.

LISA: ALL I CAN TELL YOU,

IS I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS STUFF TO GET OFF THIS TRAILER.

NARRATOR: AFTER A HARD TRIP...

I JUST GOT TO CAT LAKE. STRAPS ARE FREEZING.

I'M GONNA GET COLD REAL FAST,

SO I'VE JUST GOTTA GET THIS STUFF OFF OF THERE

SO THEY CAN OFFLOAD IT.

NARRATOR: LISA BAGS A KEY LOAD FOR POLAR.

AND I'M GONNA GO SIT IN THE TRUCK FOR A MINUTE.

I'M COLD.

NARRATOR: 200 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST...

THE COMPETITION'S LOOKING TO SCORE, TOO.

ALEX: SOME OF THE DUNNAGE IS BROKEN.

IT'S CREAKING AND CROAKING, AND CLANGING AND BANGING,

AND MAKING LOTS OF NOISE.

NARRATOR: ALEX DEBOGORSKI'S TRYING TO BRING IN

HIS 15 TONNE HAUL OF STEEL FOR VP'S BIG CONTRACT.

I STILL GOTTA GET THIS LOAD TO ST. THERESA POINT.

NARRATOR: THE VETERAN'S BEEN NURSING THE LOAD FOR OVER SIX HOURS,

BUT THE WOOD SUPPORTING THE CARGO CONTINUES TO SHATTER.

ALEX: I DON'T WANNA TIGHTEN IT UP,

BECAUSE IF I TIGHTEN IT UP, IT MIGHT BREAK.

NARRATOR: AND THE STEEL BEAMS GROW MORE UNSTABLE

WITH EACH AND EVERY MILE.

♪♪

NARRATOR: NOW THE UNSTABLE LOAD'S ABOUT TO BE PUT TO THE TEST...

ON ICE.

ALEX: I'M AT THE ICE CROSSING.

IT SAYS MAXIMUM 15 KILOMETRES.

I'M AROUND 80,000 POUNDS, I THINK.

[WIND GUSTS]

ONE WAY OF WAKING UP, HITTING THE COLD WATER.

[TRUCK RUMBLES]

I'M COMING ON TO THE ICE. GOT MY SEAT BELT OFF.

[ICE CRACKING]

[LOAD CREAKS]

ALEX: I KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE THROUGH THE ICE.

HUGH'S BROTHER-IN-LAW WENT THROUGH THE ICE

IN A SNOW MACHINE AND HE DROWNED.

I GUESS FROM THE FEAR AND THE COLD,

ANYWAY, HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

AND THEN A FRIEND SURVIVED,

AND HE USED TO SIT IN THE HOT TUB

ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR TO WARM UP.

IT TOOK HIM MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE HE FELT WARM.

NARRATOR: IF THE HEAVY LOAD OF STEEL BREAKS FREE,

IT COULD CRASH THROUGH THE ICE

AND SEND ALEX TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.

ALEX: IN THIS KIND OF WEATHER IF YOU GO UNDER WATER

AND YOU COME UP, THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU.

35-40 BELOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA- A PERSON WON'T LAST.

I CAN HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF CRACKING.

IT'S OKAY IF IT'S CRACKING, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT SPLASHING.

NARRATOR: AFTER A HALF MILE, SOLID GROUND'S WITHIN SIGHT.

LET'S GET UP THIS HILL.

NARRATOR: TO SCALE A HILL AT THE CROSSING'S EDGE,

HE'LL NEED TO ACCELERATE.

BUT THE INCREASE IN SPEED COULD PUSH THE SHAKY LOAD TO THE BRINK.

[LOUD CLANG] I DIDN'T LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.

NARRATOR: ON A REMOTE MANITOBA ICE CROSSING...

I CAN HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF CRACKING.

NARRATOR: ALEX DEBOGORSKI'S STRUGGLING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER.

THE VETERAN'S TRYING TO GET TO ST. THERESA POINT

TO BRING IN A BIG PAYCHEQUE FOR VP.

♪♪

[LOUD CLANG]

I DIDN'T LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.

OOH, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!

BETTER NOT SPIN NOW OR ELSE WE'RE GONNA BE DONE.

NARRATOR: BUT HIS UNSTABLE LOAD OF STEEL

IS VIRTUALLY BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

ALEX: GROANING AND MOANING, AND SQUEAKING AND CREAKING.

I THINK WE MADE IT.

WE'RE IN THE CLEAR.

WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR ONE MORE GROWL, I DON'T KNOW.

[LAUGHING]

NARRATOR: WITH THE CROSSING BEHIND HIM, ALEX GUNS FOR ST. THERESA.

100 MILES TO THE EAST...

DARRELL WARD'S BIG GAMBLE IS STARTING TO PAY OFF.

YES!

NARRATOR: AS HE CHALKS UP HIS FIRST STRIKE

AGAINST HIS OLD EMPLOYER.

DARRELL: PERFECT.

YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH WITH POLAR

AND GOT THREE LOADS.

I GOT MY OWN TRUCK GOING, I'VE GOT ONE LOAD ALREADY.

THINGS ARE GOING GOOD FOR ME.

ON TO WINNIPEG,

SEE IF I CAN GET ANOTHER LOAD OUT OF THERE RIGHT AWAY.

NARRATOR: AS MORNING BREAKS,

ANOTHER POLAR RIVAL'S ON A ROLL.

[LAUGHING]

NARRATOR: HUGH ROWLAND'S CLOSING IN ON HIS DESTINATION.

WE'RE HITTING BOTTOM AND IT'S JUST [BLEEP] STEEL ON ICE,

AND SLIDING RIGHT AROUND.

SON OF A BITCH, WE MADE IT.

YOU GOTTA LOVE IT, MAN, GOTTA LOVE IT.

NARRATOR: WITH A 23 TONNE CAR CRUSHER SAFELY IN TOW...

HUGH: NO MORE BANGING YOUR HEAD ON THE ROOF.

[LAUGHING]

NARRATOR: THE DELIVERY TO ST. THERESA POINT

WILL START VP'S MONEY TRAIN FLOWING...

HUGH: BUT SHE'S HERE, SHE'S DELIVERED,

NOW WE CAN GET SOME CAR CRUSHING IN

AND THE BOYS CAN ALL GET BACK LOADED TO GO HOME.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

NARRATOR: AND PUTS EVEN MORE HEAT ON POLAR.

IN AND OUT. IN AND OUT!

THAT'S WHAT I CALL TRUCKIN'!

NARRATOR: BUT VP'S STILL GOT ONE DRIVER ON THE ROAD.

OH, BABY.

JUST TWIST AND A SHAKE.

NARRATOR: ALEX DEBOGORSKI'S FIGHTING THROUGH THE FINAL MILES

TO ST. THERESA POINT.

YOU DON'T WANT IT TWISTING AND SHAKING AT THE SAME TIME

OR IT'S GONNA BREAK LOOSE.

NARRATOR: BUT HIS LOAD OF STEEL BEAMS IS BECOMING MORE UNHINGED

WITH EVERY JOLT.

ALEX: PIECE OF WOOD'S ON THE VERGE OF SLIDING OUT.

NARRATOR: AS THE VETERAN ROUNDS THE BEND...

ALEX: WE MADE IT. THERE'S THE LAY DOWN YARD.

NARRATOR: THE 150 MILE TRIP COMES TO A WELCOME END.

ALEX: I KINDA HAD A CHALLENGING LOAD,

BUT WE GOT IT ALL HERE IN ONE PIECE.

NARRATOR: AND VP'S LOAD COUNT IS QUICKLY GROWING.

[LAUGHING]

NARRATOR: WITH VP'S PROFITS ON THE RISE...

HUGH AND ALEX MEET WITH A FIRST NATIONS CHIEF

TO SHOW THEIR GRATITUDE.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

CHIEF EVANS: MORNING. ALEX: CHIEF EVANS, ALEX DEBOGORSKI.

ALEX, WELCOME TO THE NORTH HOUSE.

ALEX: WE HAVE A TOKEN OF RECOGNITION

FOR TRAVELLING OVER YOUR LAND, HERE.

ONE OF MY OWN HATS.

CHIEF EVANS: OH, THESE ARE LOVELY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

...ICE ROAD TRUCKERS. SOME TOBACCO.

CHIEF EVANS: THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS.

THESE WINTER ROADS ARE VERY IMPORTANT

TO THE ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH.

IT'S A TIME OF THE YEAR THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR SUPPLIES IN

SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD THEIR MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE

IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR TRIPS BACK AND FORTH HERE.

YOU CERTAINLY ARE WELCOME.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT EACH YEAR.

CHIEF EVANS: OKAY, THANKS. ALEX: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR,

HUGH: OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ALWAYS GOOD MEETING THAT CHIEF. NICE GUY.

[TRUCK ENGINE ROARS]

OKAY, PREACHER MAN, WE'RE READY TO ROLL HERE.

JUST A TOKEN RECOGNIZING

THAT YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING OVER FIRST NATIONS LAND.

WE'RE BLESSED AS DRIVERS TO HAVE THESE ROADS.

NARRATOR: NEXT TIME ON "ICE ROAD TRUCKERS"...

YOU CAN FEEL THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE LIKE YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE.

NARRATOR: NEW DANGERS...

LISA: THIS LAKE JUST WENT POP.

NARRATOR: AND NEW RIVALRIES...

MARK: I'LL TAKE YOU ON IN A HEARTBEAT.

NARRATOR: BRING THE WINTER ROAD SEASON...

GET OUT OF MY SHOP.

NARRATOR: TO A BOIL.

MARK: REMEMBER, YOU'RE ON MY [BLEEP] TURF.