With the recent Utah mine tragedy, it's hard to imagine taking such a risky job. I recently read an article on CNNMoney.com about America's most dangerous jobs. I thought firefighters or miners would have been first on the list. However, fishermen are ranked first with 147 deaths per 100,000 workers, followed by pilots with 87 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2006. The stats are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Some people are braver than others -- if not, there won't be any firefighters. Then there are those who take dangerous jobs for the money, like the truck drivers on 'Ice Road Truckers' on The History Channel.
These truck drivers deliver equipment to diamond mines in Northern Canada, risking their lives by driving over frozen lakes. They drive 100,000 pounds of truck on just inches of ice. With double digit negative temperature, it's not uncommon for the trucks to freeze and break down. Did I mention the frostbite danger? This job is definitely not for the faint of heart.
The show started in June with the season finale was on August 19. In that a short period of time, the show became the most watched program on The History Channel, averaging 3.9 million total viewers according to Nielsen. Because of its success, the show will have three additional episodes: a one-hour historical show and a two-part reunion show of the truckers since the season ended last winter.
I haven't watched all of the episodes, I've just been watching video clips here and there on the Web. So far, it looks interesting ... I'll definitely add it to my list of shows to TiVo when the new episodes air!
Fore more information this show, check out AOL Television and search for 'Ice Road Truckers' on AOL Search.
Hot Searches From August 19, 2007:
1. Will Demps -- N.Y. Giants safety is injured at preseason game at Baltimore.
2. Alex Rodriguez -- Won't be re-signed by NY Yankees if he opts out of his contract.
3. 'Ice Road Truckers' -- Most watched show on The History Channel.
4. F-cup Cookie -- Enlarges your breasts?
5. Map of Jamaica -- Island gets hit by hurricane Dean.
6. Billy Graham -- Recovers from an intestinal bleed.
7. WNBA -- N.Y. Liberty faces Detroit shocks in first round of playoffs.
8. New York Fire Department -- Fire at Ground Zero kills two firefighters.
9. Anne Hathaway -- Book on William Shakespeare's wife to be published soon.
10. 'Batman' -- Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy in the next 'Batman' movie.
11. NHRA -- Race is postponed to Monday due to rain.
12. 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' -- Book tops NY Times bestselling hardcover nonfiction.
13. Hurricane Dean Path -- Heads toward Yucatan Peninsula.
14. Resumes -- Dust off your resume for a new job!
15. Ocean City, Md. -- Officials vote to oppose slot machines.
16. Boats -- Find new or used boats online.
17. NASCAR -- Michigan race is postponed because of rain.
18. Rihanna -- Has the number one song in Europe.
19. Criss Angel -- Denies dating Britney Spears.
20. NY Mets -- Beat the Washington Nationals 8-2.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
21. I watch this show every chance I get. It's nearly as interesting as the crab fishing show on a competitive channel! But I also know why these programs are so popular - like hundreds of thousands of people who watch NASCAR or other such races, they're all vultures waiting to watch somebody die! ANd there's something just not quite right about that!
Posted at 4:50PM on Aug 20th 2007 by bulldozer
22. Jesse get real as truckers do drive like we want because people in cars give no respect to trucks just as they dont to motorcycles hang up your car keys and take the bus then anything you have or buys comes from a truck somwhere so get outta our way
Posted at 4:51PM on Aug 20th 2007 by chad
23. Come on....Enough with the reality crap. If it is soooo dangerous with all the weight of the trucks, what about the camera crews and their trucks? It's all staged to boost ratings. All these reality shows are fake. They embellish on every scene, if they didn't you'd yarn yourself to sleep.
Posted at 4:52PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Dlang
24. Who cares about the mechanics? they stay in their warm garage and are most likely using tools provided by the truck company. As far as being underpaid? Take your car to a mechanic for repairs and see how much he charges. Usually more than half of your take home pay. Those guys driving the trucks deserve the respect. Now if you really want to give someone the respect they deserve, look at The Men and Women of The Armed Forces. Those folks really deserve the Respect and Thanks of every man, woman and child in The United States.
Posted at 4:53PM on Aug 20th 2007 by jim
25. In response to #18....you must have a nice butt, because when I break down they just keep on driving by.
Posted at 4:56PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Dlang
26. ONE OTHER THING, I WATCHED THE ICE TRUCKERS AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE PROGRAM. AND THE MECHANICS DON'T ALWAYS GET TO GO HOME TO A NICE WARM MEAL AT NITE, IF THERE IS A TRUCKER STUCK SOMEWHERE HE HAS TO GET OUT THERE AND FIX THE TRUCK TO GET IT OFF OF THAT ICE. IT KIND OF MAKES YOU WONDER WHY THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF SOME WAY TO BUILD SOME KIND OF A BRIDGE FOR THOSE GUYS. I HOPE THEY SHOW THE WHOLE PROGRAM AGAIN. I MISSED SOME OF IT.
Posted at 4:59PM on Aug 20th 2007 by SANDYSSEWKNITS
27. IN RESPONSE TO #22 - AS A MATTER OF FACT I DO NOT HAVE A NICE BUTT. I WEIGH 190 LBS. I JUST HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW TO BE POLITE AND NOT STUCK UP. AND IT WASN'T THAT I WAS BROKE DOWN, OUR LITES WENT OUT AND THEY TRIED TO FIX THEM BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE UNABLE TO. ALL I DID WAS ASK THEM POLITELY IF THEY WOULD SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME OUT AND I HAD THREE OF THEM ALL SAY YES AT THE SAME TIME. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF RESPECT (AND A NICE SMILE WON'T HURT).
Posted at 5:06PM on Aug 20th 2007 by SANDYSSEWKNITS
28. To #15. The odds seem to be against you. Did you ever think that maybe you're the one that's driving a little crazy? Every trip? Come on. I drove a truck for 10 years and I never saw that many incidents involving truckers and stinkin' 4-wheelers. In your trek for gas to avoid us stinkin' truckers, I hope you don't run out of stinkin' gas, but you can bet if you do, one of those stinkin' truckers will offer to help your stinkin' behind out. Gigi
Posted at 5:18PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Gigi
29. Dave, in defense of the trucks not being outfitted for cold weather, many of these truckers work over the road and only work the ice road for two or two and a half months out of the year. It probably wouldn't be financially convenient to outfit the trucks for such a short time. Just a thought.
Posted at 5:19PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Gigi
30. In response to #15: Without those stinking truck drivers you referred to, there wouldn't be food on your local grocery store shelves, clothes at the department stores, or even gas at those stations you go out of your way to get to so you don't have to get it at a truck stop. SO maybe you should have a little more respect for truck drivers, they are a vital component to our economy!
Posted at 5:24PM on Aug 20th 2007 by lightkeeper49
31. I love this show and after discovering these guys make 20,000 to 30,000 grand in two months, I wish I could learn to drive a rig and do it! I can drive manual, so how hard can it be? Ok, frostbite and going through ice are a fear, but I live in NYC where terrorists and criminals are a daily fear...so where do I sign up?
Posted at 5:27PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Lila
32. Ice Road Truckers is a good show. But do they have to run so many overloaded "doubles" on that ice? Also, it seems the guys don't get along with one another very much. They are always cussing about each other.
And the History Channel and its likes are a definite relief to the deluge of COPS, COPS, COPS; DOCTORS, DOCTORS, DOCTORS AND LAWYERS, LAWYERS, LAWYERS which is about all of the other channels (cable and broadcast) have to offer. god ENOUGH ALREADY!
Posted at 5:30PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Gary
33. Hey Proud Wife!
I've worked for International Navistar for more than 20 years, kiss your husband, say thank you for allowing your naggy a$$ to stay home and do nothing while the rest of us make the world revovle. Go back to sitting on your over wide load and shut your pie hole, better yet do a little research other than the price of potato chips, LOL.
Posted at 5:48PM on Aug 20th 2007 by momatsyjr
34. And by the way LOUD WIFE!
I'm not taking anything from truck drivers, learn to read, oopps sorry Cant Understand Normal Thinking... says it all huh ?
Posted at 5:50PM on Aug 20th 2007 by momatsyjr
35. To #15, I have been in the trkng field all my life and if you have been "blocked in" then odds are you were being rude or a danger to other drivers. Truckers have their own way of protecting themselves and other drivers. I have witnessed them "blocking" in drunk drivers until hwy patrol could arrive several times. If I am ever in danger or in need of help, I look for a trucker. And you seem to forget one small detail, Everything you come into contact with that makes your life better (computer, car, CLOTHES, FOOD) some trucker, somewhere put up with a jerk like you to bring it to you! Piece of good advice- They ARE bigger than you.
Posted at 6:05PM on Aug 20th 2007 by claraalen
36. I've watched it a time or two and must say "I'm not impressed" with the show...AND WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS SHOW HAVE TO DO WITH HISTORY?!! The History Channel SUCKS anymore....remember "back in the day" when they aired programs that were all about "history"?....and NOW they're going the way of MTV and their stupid reality bullshit. It really PISSES ME OFF...no wonder I quit watching tv and spend most of my free time on the internet.
Posted at 6:07PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Tim
37. And by the way LOUD WIFE!
I'm not taking anything from truck drivers, learn to read, oopps sorry
Cant Understand Normal Thinking... says it all huh ?
Posted at 6:11PM on Aug 20th 2007 by moatsyjr
38. Jim,
Sorry, all the tools used by Mechanics are bought and payed for by after tax dollars out of pocket, Average pay for Dealership Mechanic $10hr starting
$18-$20hr high end, average monetary investment for Heavy Equipment, Truck mechanic $20,000 - $30,000 worth of Tools. I don't expect any of you to believe that though, because you see what the dealership charges you. Average cost of a "medium" sized Snap-On tool box... $3,000 - $6,000 Price for the "Large" ones, not the medium sized like car mechanics but the large ones... $8,000 - $17,000 !
Oh Yeah, by the way... that is the price EMPTY... no tools, just the box.
Bottom line is that Dealerships make all their money off of the service department, they make the payroll for Parts, Administration, Building and Grounds, and oh yeah... even the do nothing salesmen!
But I don't expect anyone to respect it, or care. get used to the high prices though leaches and gentlemen, the average age of the truck/heavy equipment mechanic in the united states right now is 47 years old, whats that mean? It means no one is getting into the business, Why? You make your own decision, unlike cars all the parts are 5-7 times heavier than car parts, the equipment necessary to lift, move, install and YES... Haul (thank you drivers) (sincerely) the parts are twice the size, twice the cost, and the necessary continued schooling required to diagnose and repair these trucks and equipment is twice as extensive, due in part to the fact that unlike cars most trucks are modified to a great deal supplement the specific needs of the material being hauled.
So in closing, I am not taking anything from drivers, or the amount of time spent in the saddle, just saying pay attention to who else makes this industry function.
And by the way it isn't the spouses (non gender bias for all you hard working respectable females in the industry) sitting at home sprouting off that help in any way shape or form.
Posted at 6:12PM on Aug 20th 2007 by moatsyjr
39. ARE YOU KIDDING? THAT IS THE DUMBEST T.V.SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN. WHO CARES ABOUT TRUCKERS WHO DRIVE ON ICE. THE T.V.INDUSTRY HAS GONE DOWN THE TUBES IN THE LAST 20 YRS BY SHOWING THIS KIND OF CRAP.
Posted at 6:15PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Buddy Locatelli
40. BTW, Ice road truckers have more balls than I do.
The show is awesome, but I get the creeps just hearing that ice crackle. No thanks...I will stick to the blacktop.
Posted at 6:22PM on Aug 20th 2007 by FiFi