Super Swamper Tire Center

Matthew Harrell

Ice road trucking is one of the most dangerous in the world. With a job description that includes sub-zero working conditions, long hours with little sleep, and potentially the risk of falling through an ice bridge, ITA??? S amazing that anyone signs for the job. Incredibly, these are just some of the challenges of being an ice road trucker.

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Truck ice road has been christened two months time??? Script? For cash. â?? Road teams spend weeks preparing the ice road for trucks. Using radar to measure ice depth, road teams to ensure the ice is thick enough (usually a minimum of approximately 27 inches) to support large trucks. In what may become a scheduling nightmare, 600-900 truckers have the task of delivering 10,000 loads at an average speed of only about 20 miles per hour. Drivers carry loads throughout the day and night, often getting little or no sleep before receiving their next load. In addition, drivers constantly battle the cold, physical injuries and mechanical problems. Tilcox TJ is a driver that was unlucky enough to experience all this in his first season on the road just ice.

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Tilcox, 22-year-old truck driver Hillsburg, Ontario, read a newspaper advertisement for a work of transport equipment, cleaning materials and food in western Canada. While relaxing in a bar with some friends in Yellowknife, NT, Canada, a camera crew came in and asked TJ to document his journey on the path of ice. As a result, this team was the Channela History?? S again a series of visits???? Ice Road Truckers. â?? With â?? Why not? Â???? approach to challenge the glacial ice road with cameras watching every step, Tilcox agreed and embarked, and is not seeking extra money, but by experience. That’s a good thing, because over the term of two months, there were a lot of experience.

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TJA?? S careful first entry on the track was an experience in itself. The ice under the weight of the truck tip, cracks loud enough to be heard inside the cab of the truck. Tilcox said you get used to the fact that normally you can hear the ice crack while driving. The times to leave the truck on the ice road can be unnerving. “When you’re there with the truck can be seen popping air bubbles in the ice by the weight of the truck sitting there … And you’re like ‘Oh God, I gotta get outta here!” TJ said. But ITA?? S, not just the ice road that is dangerous for truckers. Sometimes it may be that the truck itself that???? S dangerous.

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One of the first episodes of â?? Ice Road Truckers?? TJ shows tie a load with a load folder. â?? threading me a burden and the upload folder flew open – I was still hanging from her and threw me against the van behind me, â?? TJ said. Not feeling any immediate pain, lashing cargo TJ completed and returned to work. Several days later, TJ began experiencing severe abdominal pain and was forced to fight for the rest of his trip before he could receive medical attention. His injury was so severe it had to be taken to the nearest medical facility, where he made a quick recovery.

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After returning in the way of his injury, TJA?? S truck problems continued. He had been given a 1999 Freightliner Classic flat top without heat to combat the cold outside. â?? Thereâ?? s of an episode where you can see my building snowballs in bed because that???? s the cold that is â? | And I duct-taped to a door? | Because the wind was blowing through it. Another guy went home and asked if I wanted to drive his truck and said, â?? I’ma sure???? Ll drive it, as long as ITA???? S is hot, â? ?? â?? TJ said. As a result, TJA?? S new trip was a brand new Volvo 2007, far from his last truck.

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Things got better for the rookie ice road, right? Wrong.

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TJ didnâ?? Not even reach the ice road to the Volvo before it was again affected by misfortune. An air line in the trailer separately, off the brakes. TJ slid on ice on the roads until he collided with a pickup truck. Tilcox was quickly cleared of responsibility and allowed to continue on the road of ice.

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With the trucks with a tension so great during the two-month extension of drag loads over 50 tons, it is understandable that often have problems. In fact, only minimal modifications are made to the truck before reaching the ice road. For starters, the mechanics of installing a â?? Tarpa belly?? under the truck in order to achieve a better grip on the truck???? s heat. Drivers are all oils and lubricants changed in order to minimize stress on the truck and was hoping to avoid mechanical failures. ITA???? S also imperative that the truck stays on if possible. â?? You donate?? I turn it off because, fifteen minutes [not run] and I could start again, â?? Tilcox said about the frigid conditions. TJ added that tire chains are only needed in case of a Spinout on a hill of ice, or if you get stuck.

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While it is important to keep the truck in top running order, one could say that is even more important to ensure that the driver is well rested. With some trips requiring 20 hours or more in one sense, the alertness of the driver becomes a problem. When it comes to keeping focused, TJ advised, â?? The best thing to do is talk to people [the other drivers on the ice road] around. â?? He also mentioned that he brings a lot of snacks and drinks to help him not only stay awake but also be prepared in case of failure. TJ always makes sure that he is properly rested before you leave on the road.

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With all the precautions taken to ensure the safety of drivers, none is more important than the drivers???? speed. As the drivers make the transition from the hard top for ice, a wave immediately forms under the ice. The heavier the load, the greater the wave becomes. The danger occurs when two truckloads of meeting at a normal speed, with each truck???? S wave a little later. When two waves meet, the pressure becomes too great to bear and ice causes the ice to a??? Blow. â?? This can result in a truck falling through the ice, and for this reason that drivers carrying heavy loads must slow down to 7 mph when he met another truck. When a truck loading and unloading a truck are not necessary for any truck because the truck stop downloading? S wave is not significant enough to cause a problem.

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To maintain security on the ice road, speed limits vary by location. Near the southern tip of the ice road, where the ice is thinner, the speed can be as slow as 7 mph. At the north end of the ice road thicker ice allows loaded trucks to travel up to 25 mph. Unloaded trucks can travel up to 37 mph.

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So what to do if your vehicle starts to fall into the icy waters below, you ask? â?? Jump! â?? TJ responded quickly. ITA???? S as simple as that, without any special procedures or security of high-tech gadgets in place. TJ stated that some drivers have been known to drive with one hand on the wheel and the other on the door in case of an emergency. â??? The ice is quite safe, ITA??? s, and watched the ice depth is controlled by ground penetrating radar to they?? are constantly inspecting the ice and floods and it is thicker. They estimate that about 45 seconds is all you have to live once you go on the ice, â?? He said.

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TJ has enjoyed to meet new people and see different places as a result of appearing in â?? Ice Road Truckers. â?? A place that was not expected on the set of a TV show late at night?? Jimmy Kimmel Live. â?? â?? I never liked the audience, I never like being in a band and stuff. But you get used to the video camera and I think Jimmy Kimmel on the area whoeverâ?? S watching and only pay attention to what Jimmy???? S saying, â?? TJ revealed. â?? The cameras were a little different in the truck and the like to start one? | But it has just started Hee-thaw and fun, â?? TJ said.

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Television TJ has not changed, however. â?? I drive because I love driving and Nobody?? s looking over my shoulder, â?? Tilcox confessed. When hea?? S did not drive a truck, TJ still enjoys going hunting, fishing, hanging with friends, and clay pigeon shooting. He also believes that it’s fun when people recognize him in public. â?? They look at you and they???? Re trying to find out who you are they???? I’ve seen before, but who gives???? I do not know whether to ask so many to me, â?? Tilcox joked.

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TJ is a devoted fan of a show???? Ice Road Truckers. â?? He sits down and watch every episode that aired. â?? I think the program is pretty good, I think it went well, â?? TJ admitted.

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In general, TJ described this ice road last season, saying, â?? It was a hell of experience. â??