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 3 of 4)
41. Number 27, I couldn't have said it any better myself. What you stated is a matter of fact. Trucking is a vital part of our economy that mostly goes unappreciated. These guys bust there humps drive long hours, and are away from home for weeks if not months at a time. It's a very lonely and stressful job, especially when they have to deal with a-hole drivers like #15.
Posted at 6:24PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Frank Rizzo
42. I drive a truck all across this nation and I see both rude and dangerous truck drivers and rude and dangerous 4 wheelers. the problem lies with everyone being out for themselves. Nobody seems to care about the other guy anymore or even pay attention to what they are doing or causing out there on our roads. And just a little note to patt, if you bought it more than likely a trucker brought it...Without trucks america stops. And by the way I wish we had a seperate highway as well it would be less crowded and move better
Posted at 6:37PM on Aug 20th 2007 by slyex2
43. Truckers saved my life once. It wasn't frozen lakes, it was frozen Indiana highways-with snow blowing and no visibility and 20 below temps. Two students heading home for the holidays in an old pickup truck and there must have been some condensation in the fuel lines. Our pickup kept stalling, and every time we restarted it, it drained the battery a little more. Two big trucks pulled in front and in back of us, talked to us on our CB, and stayed with us until we managed to get to an exit ramp at a truck stop. The pickup finally died for good about 100 yards from the building, and one of the truckers jumped out, got us in his cab, and drove us over there to the building and bought us some hot chocolate to warm us up. When we got back to the pickup with a tow truck, the plants I had been transporting in the cab fell on the ground and SHATTERED like ice! We would have frozen for sure without the truckers' help.
Yes, there are always some rude and unconscious ones, but as a whole, I've always found truckers to be good guys.
Posted at 7:31PM on Aug 20th 2007 by fiorastar
44. having done both jobs(trucking & wrenching) in deep snow and ice,both are dangerous, demanding, and extremely frustrating! so lets all have respest for anyone who actualy works for a living
Posted at 7:40PM on Aug 20th 2007 by dedawg
45. Thank God for our truckers, they keep America alive.......
Posted at 7:43PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Buck
46. This series should have been at most a 2 hour Modern Marvels episode. Watching it reminded me of hanging out at a truck stop for 3 hours once when I broke down! Same characters and the same stories. Maybe they could do a series on insurance salesmen in Nebraska next year.
Posted at 7:56PM on Aug 20th 2007 by steve
47. Well of course there are the naysayers who have never been in a truck, so until the shoe is on the other foot, it would be wise to do a little research on the accident ratio's (truck vs car) and see who is at fault most of the time. As for it being staged, you need to get a reality check yourself. Having done the trucking thing for 27 years, and off the road 11, except for a quick load on a bull rack a couple months ago as a favor, I must admit nothing has really changed over the years, except the drivers. One last thing, so called bad driver attitudes are more than likely the same attitude they had before driving a truck. Correct the problem at the real source, and everything will be peachy keen.
Posted at 7:58PM on Aug 20th 2007 by willy
48. Just like everyone else you have jerks both big rig and 4 & 2 wheelers. Who also think they own the road. It could be a 4 wheeler doing 50 mph in a 60 mph and refuses to move over. Or a big rig trying to pass uphill with 45,000 lbs behind him. To not letting the big rig move over. Or lane closures with
trucks blocking both lanes to keep 4 wheelers from cutting them off. Courtesy works both ways. Trucker
Posted at 8:01PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Edward Kline
49. **** a bunch of mechanics! I drove my own trucks for years and never met an honest mechanic. The idiot talking about low wages for them is off his rocker, when I gave it up u couldn't find a shop for less than $50 to $100 an hour for doing work u didn't need! As for the idiot that can stand truck drivers, you would be in sad shape with out them. U would have the shitpaper to wipe ur ass with, not to mention the food to eat so u would shit! The trucker gets such a bad rap from the media and the public its a sin. I mean study after study reveals 9 out of ten wrecks involving trucks and autos are caused by the auto drivers yet the trucker is the bad guy, it don't make sense. what about the many times when truckers come upon auto wrecks and risk their lives to pull people from burning cars and the such long before the police or rescue squads arrive? I admit there are a few assholes driving trucks, but there's a lot more in the four wheelers. It would be nice just to see a little respect for the drivers that keep this great country going, believe me, you'd be lost with out them! i'm retired with with almost 3,000,000 accident free miles and proud of it. So, the idiot that can't stand truckers can kiss my, never mind, I'm just glad everyone isn't like you!!!
Posted at 8:02PM on Aug 20th 2007 by lot lizard sticker
50. I've watched the show, it it only one of the most dangerous jobs listed, I overhaul powerplants when they go down for maintenence.dealing with 24/7 schedules,bearings that weigh several tons,the disassembly of machines that weigh in the tons, limited work areas,tools that break that could hurt someone,dangers of high pressuer steam,& if it's a Nuke plant, radioactive contamination!
Posted at 8:08PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Mike Ingenito
51. in response to #15 might help if you knew what you were talking about ive been a trucker for 20 years and have seen many morons like you in my time with your im better than you attitude get a life and learn to share the road with trucks not all of the drivers are bad if not for trucks you wouldnt have anything without trucks america stops if you got it a truck brought it.
Posted at 8:59PM on Aug 20th 2007 by brian
52. My God more of the same old truckers vs. 4 weelers. Just another bitch fest. Come on, I drive to work in a 4 weeler every day and then drive a truck all day. If a person is a ass hole it doesnt mater what they are driving. It pisses me off to see road rage go both ways but it happens. Beside that everyone has gotten way off the topic and is just blog raging now.
Posted at 9:30PM on Aug 20th 2007 by khzhunter
53. IN response to 43, mechanics never see that money. The shop charges $80 per hour and the mechanic sees about $15-$25. Oh yeah, and without a mechanic, how could you run 3,000,000 miles?
In my opinion, everyone with a blue collar gets screwed and underappreciated.
Posted at 9:50PM on Aug 20th 2007 by mechanic1
54. Hey Lizard Sticker,
read it again, it's exactly what was state! Shops are making close to $100 an hour now, like he said. Less than 1/6th of it makes it to a Mechanic, and yer full of $h1t, you never saw a shop charging over a hundred an hour, you have 3 million miles on yer brain air head, if you can count that many zeros, we've all seen the crap you drove and worked on, so stick with yer B/S lot lizard stories hero !
Any Driver with 1/2 a brain does nothing but praise his Wrench yer just another whiny A$$ Cheap skate wheel turning No Brain Puke!
Posted at 9:52PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Wrench
55. Yeah Lizard,
your a real HERO, bet you saved a lot of burning vehicle operators, I read about 8 of them last week ya Meth head, the more I read your tatement the more people I have to forward it to, (fellow Mechanics that is) and they all say the same thing, cheap F-ck Owner Operator, cryin about having to spend a dime on anything, wanting someone else to work for him for free!
OH YEAH ! ! ! ! ! ! !
TO THE OTHER 99.9 PERCENT OF THE OWNER OPERATORS WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GRACIOUS, APPRECIATIVE, AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE WERE COMING FROM...
THANK YOU
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
AND YES YOU DO MAKE THIS COUNTRIES INFRASTRUCTURE WORK!
TOO BAD THERE IS ALWAYS AN IDIOT IN EVERY INDUSTRY WHO OWNS A COMPUTER AND ENOUGH TIME TO POST HIS THOUGHTS.
Posted at 10:06PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Wrench
56. My husband is a truck driver & got me watching this show this last weekend when they were doing a marathon to catch up on the season before the finale. OMG this is a great show...kept me entertained! I was hoping for someone other than the "Polar Bear" Hugh to be the top in the "Dash for the Cash" but the show sure did keep me on the edge of my seat. Can't imagine how a rookie driver like TJ felt on his first haul. If you get a chance watch this show..it is really entertaining!
Posted at 12:31AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Tammi
57. Well I have a CDL, have been driving a truck since age of 6. The Ice Truckers is pretty real. We have -40 degrees here in North Dakota. Brake lines freeze, fuel gels up, metal breaks, and you can freeze to death in a few min. Tough work for mechanics, but they keep warm in the shop, unless the fuel filters get plugged up on the road. Keep Truckin'.
Posted at 12:44AM on Aug 21st 2007 by garygrndfrks
58. I believe that if stacked flywheel energy storage units were used, there would be no fuel line problems because the trucks would be electric. They would also have more range and the ability to pull themselves out of trouble thanks to the winches and devices that could help lift them out of holes in the ice or pull them free of holes. I could design a rig for ice road trucking that would do the job quite well and could even be a great addition to trucking fleets down in the lower 48. The detachable cab that can float to the surface of a lake would save countless lives too. For heavier loads, I would use special "wheel trailors" that would lower more wheels to displace the weight of the rig better to prevent breaking through the ice. The wheels would be raised after leaving the lakes to make the rigs narrower for regular road travel. I can make the job safer and better so that more cargo can be delivered with fewer problems. If stacked flywheel units are as good as I believe they can be, we might eventually see all-season rigs that use double-field motive systems to allow them to glide above the water and roads and ice during the winter. If the heavier air can be ionized to displace the motive field and levitation field better, the rigs passing over the ice may seem lighter which means they could travel faster. If travel time can be reduced by 50%, more material can be delivered to the mines. The rigs will be more expensive. But they could make the truckers more money and extend their careers.
Posted at 1:12AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Rick Badman
59. This is in regard to Jesse (comment#15)!I am a lady truck driver and both my self and my boy friend are very courteous when we are out there on that road and if you four wheelers knew how to drive you wouldn't think we were so bad.Did you know it takes the length of a football field to stop an 18 wheeler? and that is a lot compared to a car.
Posted at 2:11AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Jackie S.
60. Allie and Mia are soo hott!
Posted at 7:54AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Trever