>> male narrator: TONIGHT...
ON<i> ICE ROAD TRUCKERS...</i> >> I'M READY TO GO.
>> LET'S DO IT. >> narrator: THE BIGGEST LOAD
OF THE SEASON HITS THE DALTON... >> WE'RE OVER 200,000 POUNDS
RIGHT NOW. >> narrator: AND THE TRUCKERS
HAVE YOU PUSH THEIR WAY UP THE ICE.
>> BIG BOY BUMPER CARS. >> narrator: BUT LISA KELLY'S
BIG BREAK... >> THIS IS MY MOMENT THAT I'VE
WORKED MY CAREER FOR. >> narrator: COULD TURN INTO A
MONSTER NIGHTMARE. >> WHOA!
>> WHOA! >> DAMN.
>> THIS ISN'T A JOB FOR EVERYBODY.
[horn honks] >> narrator: THESE ARE THE
TRUCKERS WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING ON THIN ICE.
>> narrator: 350 MILES SOUTH OF FAIRBANKS, HEAVY-HAUL ACE JACK
JESSEE AND UP-AND-COMER LISA KELLY HAVE BEEN SENT TO
ANCHORAGE ON A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT.
>> LAYNE TOLD ME ABOUT IT. I WAS IN HIS OFFICE AND HE SAID,
"I'M GONNA SEND YOU HOME FOR A FEW DAYS," AND I WAS LIKE, "WHY?
I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME. I WANT TO GET UP HERE AND KEEP
ON TRUCKING," BUT HE'S LIKE, "NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE NEED YOU HOME BECAUSE WE GOT A LOAD FOR YOU TO PUSH OUT OF
ANCHORAGE," AND IT WAS LIKE, "I'M SORRY, WHAT?
WHAT'D YOU SAY? DID I HEAR YOU RIGHT?
>> narrator: A MASSIVE 100-TON MODULAR BUILDING...
>> 15, 9 1/2. >> narrator: IS AT THE ANCHORAGE
DEPOT AND NEEDS TO GET NORTH. A LOAD OVER 90 TONS IS TOO HEAVY
FOR JUST ONE TRUCK... SO THE DRIVERS USE A TACTIC
CALLED PUSH TRUCKING. ADDING THE STRENGTH OF 2
550-HORSEPOWER ENGINES TO LITERALLY PUSH THE LOAD UP THE
ROAD. >> MOST PEOPLE, THE HEAVIEST
THAT THEY'VE REALLY EVER BEEN-- AT ABOUT 115.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY HEAVY LOAD FOR THEM.
AND HERE WE ARE, WE'VE DOUBLED THAT.
>> narrator: CAREY HALL WILL DRIVE THE LOAD, BUT LISA AND
JACK WILL PROVIDE THE POWER TO MOVE THE MOD 850 MILES TO THE
OIL FIELDS OF PRUDHOE BAY. THERE IT WILL BE USED AS HOUSING
AND OFFICES TO PROTECT THE WORKERS FROM THE EXTREME COLD.
>> IT'S BEEN FOR YEARS I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO THIS AND IT'S JUST
NEVER HAPPENED. AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR IT AND
PUSHING FOR IT. >> narrator: ARMED WITH A
2 1/2-TON CONCRETE BLOCK FOR TRACTION...
AND A BUMPER DESIGNED TO SLAM OTHER SEMIS...
LISA'S SEMI IS CONVERTED FROM STANDARD HAUL ROAD RIG TO PUSH
TRUCK. >> I THINK IT'S FREAKING AWESOME
THAT I'M GETTING A PUSH BUMPER. [smooches]
LOOKS LIKE LIPS, DOESN'T IT? >> YES.
>> MY TRUCK'S NOW SMILING. LOOK AT THIS THING.
>> [indistinct chatter] >> [smooches]
IT'S LIPS. >> DOES THAT MEAN YOU GON' BE
KISSING JACK'S ASS NOW? >> YEP.
[laughter] >> narrator: JACK AND CAREY ARE
HEAVY HAUL PROS, BUT IT'S LISA'S FIRST SHOT...
AND SOME OF THE TRUCKERS THINK SHE MAY BE OUT OF HER LEAGUE.
>> YES, SIR. SUGAR BRITCHES IS GONNA BE A
PUSH TRUCK DRIVER. I HEARD THAT TOO.
>> [laughs] >> LEADING?
WHAT THE HELL? [laughter]
>> THAT WOULD BE KIND OF FUN TO WATCH, IF I HAD A CHANCE.
>> [laughs] YEAH. >> SUGAR BRITCHES?
[laughter] THERE'S MORE TO DRIVING A PUSH
TRUCK THAN LISA'S EXPERIENCE ALLOWS HER.
>> narrator: BACK IN ANCHORAGE, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF LISA'S
CAREER IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. >> WHEN WE GET UP ON THE DIRT
AND THE ICIER STUFF, PRESSURE WILL START TO BUILD ABOUT NOT
MISSING GEARS AND WHERE YOU NEED TO BE WHEN YOU NEED TO BE THERE.
THIS WHOLE TRIP'S GONNA BE NOTHING BUT LESSONS.
IT'S GONNA BE ALL ABOUT LEARNING AND LEARNING.
YOU CAN'T LEARN THIS OVERNIGHT AT ALL.
THIS ISN'T A JOB FOR EVERYBODY. LET'S DO IT.
>> JACK GETS TO PUSH. ALSO HE GETS TO HELP LISA.
WE TRYING TO GET HER TRAINED UP ON PUSHING.
>> narrator: DRIVING A PUSH TRUCK IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS
BECOMING A HEAVY HAULER. >> THIS IS MY MOMENT THAT I'VE
WORKED MY CAREER FOR. THIS IS THE GREATEST THING EVER.
>> narrator: IF LISA CAN SURVIVE THE TRIP, SHE'LL BE ONE STEP
CLOSER TO HER GOAL. >> BUT FOR NOW...
THERE IS NO HAPPIER PERSON ON THE PLANET EARTH THAN ME RIGHT
NOW. I COULD HAVE JUST WON THE
LOTTERY. >> narrator: THE FIRST STOP IS
THE WEIGH STATION TO MAKE SURE THIS GIANT LOAD ISN'T TOO BIG
FOR THE ROAD. >> JACK, YOUR OVERALL WIDTH'S
22-FEET WIDE. >> OKAY.
>> ACTUAL HEIGHT: 15', 11". WELL, WE'LL GO INSIDE AND GET
THE REST OF IT WEIGHED. YOU'RE ALLOWED 20,000 ON THE
FRONT. YOU GOT 19,950.
YOU'RE ALLOWED 82,000 AND YOU'VE GOT 68,000.
YOU'RE ALLOWED 90,000 AND YOU'VE GOT 89,300.
50,000 ON THE REAR. YOU HAVE 31,850 FOR A TOTAL OF
209,450. >> THAT'S GOOD.
>> [whistles] >> narrator: AT OVER 104 TONS,
THIS MEGA-LOAD IS JUST UNDER THE LEGAL LIMIT.
>> 209,000. >> THAT'S A BIG ONE.
>> THAT'S IT? [laughter]
>> NOT AS EASY AS JUST HOOK ONTO IT AND GO LIKE FREIGHT LOADS AND
EVEN NORMAL OVERSIZED. THIS THING IS, UH--
THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND NORMAL OVERSIZE.
THIS IS THE HEAVIEST LOAD OF THE SEASON SO FAR.
>> narrator: BACK ON THE DALTON, RAY VEILLEUX IS 90 MILES SOUTH
OF PRUDHOE BAY. NEARLY FINISHED WITH HIS NINTH
LOAD OF THE SEASON. >> YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
WE'RE PULLING THIS VAN. BUT EVERYTHING'S BEEN GOING
PRETTY GOOD. SO OUR LAST BIG HILL HERE BEFORE
WE GET INTO PRUDHOE IS ICE CUT. >> narrator: THE ICE CUT.
A NOTORIOUS 1/4-MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY KNOWN FOR ITS SHORT,
STEEP CLIMB UP A FROZEN MOUNTAIN RIDGE.
>> WHAT THE HELL? THIS AIN'T GOOD.
WE'RE ALREADY SPINNING. COME ON.
OH... SHOOT!
WE'RE STUCK. WE GOT STUCK ON THE ICE CUT.
THIS IS NOT GOOD. WE'RE IN A MESS HERE AND IT'S 42
BELOW. I GOT TO GO CHAIN UP QUICK
BEFORE SOMEBODY COMES DOWN. MOTHER[bleep].
THIS IS JUST WHAT I NEED. ALL RIGHT.
READY TO GO. OH!
[exhales sharply] MAN, THAT'S COLD.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE. WHAT THE...
NOW THE TRAILER BRAKES WON'T DISENGAGE.
[mechanical squealing] COME ON.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. THE THREE-WAY VALVE ON THE
FREAKING TRAILER'S STUCK. >> narrator: WHILE RAY WORKED ON
HIS CHAINS, THE ARCTIC WEATHER WORKED ON HIS RIG.
THE MOISTURE THAT ACCUMULATES IN THE BRAKE LINES HAS FROZEN
SOLID. WITH NO AIR PRESSURE RUNNING
THROUGH THE VALVE, THE BRAKES CAN'T RELEASE, LEAVING RAY
STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING
TRAFFIC. >> THIS IS SO [bleep] UP.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE. [horn honks]
>> narrator: 80 MILES SOUTH OF PRUDHOE BAY...
[horn honks] >> A TOOL TO FIX MY BRAKES.
>> narrator: WITH HIS BRAKE VALVE FROZEN SHUT...
>> YOU KNOW, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AFTER A WHILE, YOU KNOW?
>> narrator: RAY VEILLEUX MAKES A DESPERATE MOVE.
>> TRY TO HEAT UP THIS VALVE. IT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO DO.
YOU COULD BURN LINES. STARTS TO OPEN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO. COME ON.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO. LET'S GO. LET'S GO.
DAMN IT! SUCKS!
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANOTHER RUN AT IT HERE.
SOMETHING STILL FEELS WEIRD. FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE
DRAGGING OR SOMETHING. TIRES ARE SPINNING.
[sighs] [bleep]
STILL FILMING ME, HUH? GOD, YOU GUYS ARE JUST [bleep]
IMPOSSIBLE, MAN. >> narrator: WITH THE BRAKES
STILL ENGAGED, HE CAN'T BUILD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET OVER THE
HILL. AND RAY IS REACHING HIS BOILING
POINT. >> YOU'RE GONNA TURN THAT
[bleep] OFF. I'LL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT [bleep]
NOW. >> WHAT? THIS ONE?
>> YEAH. >> IS IT BOTHERING YOU?
>> WHY? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, A [bleep] INTERVIEW RIGHT NOW?
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH. [thud]
>> I DON'T HAVE TO PUT-- >> DON'T YOU--YOU GOT TO GIVE A
GUY A [bleep] BREAK SOMETIMES, MAN.
YOU KNOW? THIS WAS ALL [bleep] WORK BACK
THERE. THIS AIN'T NO CANDY-ASS [bleep]
WHERE YOU SIT IN A [bleep] CAR. [bleep]
GIVE A DUDE A [bleep] BREAK. YOU [bleep] GUYS ARE RELENTLESS.
WELL, IT'S QUARTER AFTER 4:00 AND WE GOT STUCK HERE ON ICE CUT
AT ABOUT 12:30. >> narrator: FINALLY, THE HOURS
OF TORCHING AND HAMMERING BEGIN TO PAY OFF.
>> KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. >> I GOT 'EM.
>> IT WON'T MAKE IT. NOW LET'S SEE IF WE MAKE IT.
COME ON. OH, I'M GONNA GO DOWN IN HISTORY
FOR THIS ONE. TEARING UP [bleep] AND ICE CUT.
>> narrator: AFTER A FOUR-HOUR STRUGGLE, RAY CLEARS THE SUMMIT.
>> WOO-HOO. >> narrator: THE THAWED-OUT
BRAKE LINE WILL GET RAY THE LAST 80 MILES TO PRUDHOE BAY.
BUT IT'S ANOTHER ROUGH NIGHT FOR THE HAUL ROAD ROOKIE.
BY DAYBREAK, THE MEGA HAUL HAS MADE IT FROM ANCHORAGE TO THE
START OF THE DALTON. >> WELL, I'M BASICALLY DOING TWO
JOBS TODAY. I GOT TO PUSH CAREY AND I GOT
TO MAKE SURE LISA'S PUSHING ME WHEN SHE NEEDS TO BE THERE.
RIGHT NOW IS WHEN THE PRESSURE'S REALLY GONNA START TO HAPPEN.
>> narrator: THE FIRST TEST OF THEIR PUSH TRUCKING SKILLS IS
THE TAPS: A GAUNTLET OF STEEP INCLINES AND SHARP CURVES.
>> RIGHT NOW, THIS ROAD IS, YOU KNOW, SHRUNK DOWN 10, 15 FEET.
SO WE GOT LESS ROOM TO PLAY WITH, BIGGER HILLS, SHARPER
CURVES. >> I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SCARED,
BUT DON'T BE SCARED AND YOU'LL DO JUST FINE.
>> OKAY. GOTCHA.
>> OH, YEAH, IF MISTAKES HAPPEN TODAY, THINGS COULD REALLY GO
BAD. >> narrator: AS THE CONVOY
APPROACHES THE FIRST BIG HILL, JACK CALLS OUT THE PLAN.
>> CAREY WILL CREEP DOWN TO THE BOTTOM AND WE'LL PUT IT PROBABLY
THIRD OR THIRD OVER. THEN WE'LL ALL HOOK UP AND WE'LL
ALL GO UP THE HILL LIKE THAT. NICE AND EASY AND SMOOTH.
NO BANGING AROUND. >> narrator: RUNNING A PUSH
TRUCK TAKES CAREFUL COORDINATION OF SPEED, TIMING, AND GEAR
SHIFTING. >> SO THIRD'S GONNA BE--
WE'RE JUST GONNA CREEP, LIKE, IN THIRD GEAR AND THEN HOOK UP
AND THEN JUST GO FROM THERE, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO
DO ANY SHIFTING? >> OKAY, WELL, IT'S GONNA BE A
LITTLE TRICKIER THAN THAT. SO THE TRICK ON THAT IS TO COME
UP IN FOURTH GEAR AND CREEP UP UNTIL YOU GET RIGHT UP ON IT,
THEN SHOVE IT INTO THIRD GEAR. THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> YES, IT DOES. IT MAKES SENSE.
PERFECT. I GET IT.
I THINK. >> narrator: JACK MOVES INTO
POSITION DIRECTLY BEHIND CAREY. >> NICE.
>> narrator: NOW IT'S UP TO LISA TO HELP POWER THE 209,000-POUND
BUILDING OVER THE HILL. >> YOU'RE 23 MILES UP.
>> OKAY, LISA, GO AHEAD AND HOOK UP.
>> BIG BOY BUMPER CARS. ANY MOMENT NOW.
ALMOST TOUCHING. TOUCHING.
>> OKAY, WE JUST STARTED THE HILL.
>> narrator: ONCE CONNECTED, LISA MUST MATCH SPEED WITH JACK.
WHILE LISA AND JACK PROVIDE POWER, CAREY DOES THE STEERING,
WHICH MEANS LISA NEEDS TO KEEP HER HANDS OFF THE WHEEL.
AND IT'S NOT EASY. >> MY TRUCK IS FOLLOWING CAREY.
WE ARE PHYSICALLY CONNECTED RIGHT NOW.
NOT, LIKE, WITH A CHAIN, BUT WE'RE TOUCHING.
SO MY TRUCK WILL FOLLOW HIM, BECAUSE I'M PUSHED AGAINST HIM
REALLY HARD AND WHEREVER HE GOES, I'M GONNA GO.
>> narrator: THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF SPEED AND RPMs
CAN FORCE THE BUMPERS TOGETHER WITH SO MUCH PRESSURE THAT THE
REAR TRUCK ACTUALLY FOLLOWS THE LEAD TRUCK.
BUT IF A PUSH TRUCKER TRIES TO STEER, THE CONNECTION CAN BREAK,
CAUSING BOTH TRUCKS TO LOSE CONTROL.
>> IT'S LIKE YOU LEARN ALL THIS STUFF TRUCK DRIVING AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT ALL.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THE OPPOSITE.
THAT'S WHY YOU GOT TO TRUST THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M JUST GONNA KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S DOING WHAT
I WANT IT TO BE DOING. >> narrator: AFTER JUST A FEW
MINUTES, THE HANDS-FREE DRIVING MAKES LISA NERVOUS.
>> FEEL LIKE HIS BUMPER'S SLIPPERY.
I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO STEER IT, BUT IT KEEPS SLIDING AROUND IF I
DON'T. >> narrator: JACK AND CAREY CAN
FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT. >> WHEN YOU'RE HOOKED UP, YOU
WANT TO TURN THE WHEEL A LITTLE BIT AND IT'S FIGHTING IT.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT? >> IT COULD BE, SO JUST--
>> 'CAUSE THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES WE WENT AROUND A CORNER
AND MY TRUCK JUST SLID LIKE THIS, SO I WAS, LIKE, KIND OF--
>> SO YOU GOT TO STEER A LITTLE. JUST KIND OF FOLLOW LIKE YOU
WOULD NORMALLY. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING AND
THEN I-- >> AND KEEP YOUR FOOT TO THE
FLOOR WHEN YOU'RE PUSHING. >> YEAH, IT MIGHT--
>> RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY? >> narrator: BUT THE TAPS ARE
JUST THE BEGINNING. >> LET'S GO.
>> narrator: AS THE CONVOY HEADS INTO ONE OF THE STEEPEST HILLS
ON THE DALTON... >> SO WE'RE COMING UP ON THE
ROLLER COASTER. THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST THE
ABILITY TO MAKE THE OTHER SIDE. >> narrator: COMING UP...
>> YOU EVER HAD 12,000 POUNDS ROLLING AT YOU?
SIX TONS? >> narrator: GREG'S LOAD OF PIPE
TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. >> IT'LL KILL ANYTHING IN ITS
WAY. >> YES, I AM.
>> narrator: 150 MILES INTO RUNNING PUSH TRUCK FOR THE
HEAVIEST LOAD OF THE SEASON, LISA KELLY'S ALREADY MADE ONE
ROOKIE MISTAKE. >> YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO STEER
IT, BUT IT KEEPS SLIDING AROUND IF I DON'T.
>> WHEN YOU'RE HOOKED UP, YOU WANT TO TURN THE WHEEL A LITTLE
BIT AND IT'S FIGHTING IT. >> narrator: BUT THE FIRST
STRETCH OF THE DALTON WAS A CAKEWALK COMPARED TO THE
CHALLENGES AHEAD. >> I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW
ROLLER COASTER FEELS WITH THIS. >> narrator: THE ROLLER COASTER,
A HEART-STOPPING DROP FOLLOWED BY A BRUTAL 1/4-MILE CLIMB.
ONE MISTAKE HERE COULD SEND THE ENTIRE CONVOY CRASHING DOWN THE
HILL. >> YEAH, ALL RIGHT, LISA, WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO HERE-- >> TEN-FOUR.
>> ALL RIGHT, CREEPING DOWN REAL SLOW.
WANT TO GET IN THE BOTTOM HERE. WE'RE GONNA GET EVERYBODY HOOKED
UP AND THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA GET IN OUR PULLING GEAR AND WALK TO
THE TOP. >> OKAY, LISA.
>> I'M THERE. LOCKED IN AND HOOKED UP.
JESUS. >> OKAY, CAREY, WE'RE ALL GOOD
IN THIRD OVER. >> narrator: WITH THE PUSH
TRUCKS IN PLACE... THE CLIMB BEGINS.
>> JUST STAY RIGHT UP THERE. KEEP PUSHING HIM.
YOU SEE MY BRAKE LIGHTS? >> I CAN'T SEE YOUR BRAKE
LIGHTS. WHAT ABOUT YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS?
>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT 'EM. JUST KEEP PUSHING.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO FOURTH DIRECT.
>> YEAH, HOLD IT RIGHT HERE FOR A SECOND.
>> PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME SHIFT. >> PUT IT BACK DOWN JUST A
LITTLE BIT. THIRD OVER, EASY.
>> WHOA! DAMN.
>> OH, [bleep]! >> YOU LOST ME.
HANG ON. I MISSED IT ALL.
TRYING TO SHIFT TOO FAST. NEVER MISSED A GEAR THAT BAD
BEFORE. AND THEN AFTER THAT DIDN'T WORK,
I TRIED TO GO TO THIRD AND I MISSED THAT ONE COMPLETELY TOO.
SO I JUST COMPLETELY [bleep] MISSED EVERYTHING.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE LEARNING TO DRIVE.
AND I'VE BEEN PRACTICING AND MY WHOLE DEAL THIS YEAR IS, "DON'T
MISS GEARS." CAN'T BE RUNNING AROUND MISSING
GEARS. I JUST PANICKED.
THAT'S ALL. >> narrator: THIS TIME, THEY GOT
LUCKY. >> I APPRECIATE ALL YOU GUYS'
PATIENCE AND LETTING ME PLAY AROUND AND STUFF.
>> narrator: BUT JACK AND CAREY AREN'T IMPRESSED.
>> WHEN YOU NEED TO BE THERE, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE THERE.
>> OKAY. >> ATIGUN AND KOYUKUK, THE
WAY WE'RE TRAVELING, IT COULD CATCH YOU IF YOU DON'T WATCH
YOURSELF. >> narrator: WHILE THE MEGA HAUL
PULLS OVER TO REMOVE THEIR CHAINS...
>> OVERSIZE JUST STOPPED BY THE ROCK THERE.
TAKING OFF TIRE CHAINS, HIM AND THE TWO PUSH TRUCKS.
SO TAKE IT EASY WHEN YOU GO BY 'EM THERE, IF YOU WOULD.
>> YEAH, TEN-FOUR. >> narrator: DOUBTS ABOUT LISA'S
ABILITIES CONTINUE TO FLOOD THE AIRWAVES.
[horn honks] >> SEE THE BIG CIRCUS.
[laughs] MAN-MADE CIRCUS FROM ANCHORAGE
TO [bleep] FAIRBANKS. JACK'S HELPING LISA.
>> YEAH. >> OH, YEAH.
[laughs] WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE LISA OUT THERE DOING A HEAVY HAUL ALL BY
HERSELF. THAT WOULDN'T BE GOOD.
>> YEAH, I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO BE THE BEST OF THE BEST TO BE A
PUSH TRUCK DRIVER. >> I'M GONNA GO WITH,
"APPARENTLY NOT." YEAH, I LIKE LISA.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT LISA DOES NOT HAVE THE SKILL SET TO
PUSH. SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
LEVEL. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
>> narrator: BUT GREG'S GOT HIS OWN PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT.
HIS PIPE HAS STARTED TO RATTLE. AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE GREG
FEELS HIS LOAD BEGIN TO SHIFT. >> WORST-CASE SCENARIO, THAT TOP
TIER DECIDES TO COME OFF THE TRUCK, CHANCES ARE IT WOULD KILL
SOMEONE. IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF THIS
JUST RIGHT... COULD MEAN THE END OF SOMEONE'S
CAREER, IF NOT THE END OF THEIR LIFE.
THIS IS GONNA SUCK. THIS IS REALLY GONNA SUCK.
HERE'S YOUR MISTAKE RIGHT HERE. OH, YEAH.
YOU CAN SEE IT PRETTY EASY. TOP TIER, COMING FROM THIS BACK
CORNER, IS SHIFTING OUT TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK.
FUN, FUN, FUN. >> narrator: WITH A 24-TON
PALLET OF PIPE SLIDING OFF THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK, GREG'S
DECISION TO CHECK HIS LOAD CAME JUST IN TIME.
>> THE SITUATION'S SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT IF I DON'T CATCH IT
AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TO FIX IT NOW, IT'S GOT THE POTENTIAL
TO DUMP ALL THIS PIPE ON THE TOP TIER AT LEAST INTO THE ROAD.
THAT TIER COMES OFF-- YOU EVER HAD 12,000 POUNDS
ROLLING AT YOU? SIX TONS?
IT'LL KILL ANYTHING IN ITS WAY. I ADDED FOUR STRAPS TO THAT
LOAD. HOPE IT HOLDS UP.
ONLY THING WE CAN REALLY DO NOW IS WATCH IT LIKE A HAWK AND
HOPE. >> narrator: COMING UP...
>> THIS IS REALLY, REALLY STEEP. >> narrator: LISA LOOKS FOR
REDEMPTION... >> I NEED EVERY PIECE OF
CONCENTRATION THAT I CAN MUSTER. >> narrator: BUT THE HAUL ROAD
HAS OTHER IDEAS. >> TRYING NOT TO SCREW THIS UP.
>> narrator: 80 MILES OUTSIDE OF PRUDHOE BAY, ALEX DEBOGORSKI IS
NORTHBOUND WITH HIS OWN HEAVY LOAD OF PIPE.
>> I'M GOING UP ICE CUT. IT'S 37 BELOW.
>> narrator: ALEX IS HEADING TOWARD THE SCENE OF RAY'S
LATE-NIGHT DISASTER. >> OH, OH, OH, OH, OH.
SON OF A GUN. JUST ABOUT GOT ME.
SOMEBODY SPUN OUT AND I WAS RIGHT IN THEIR TRACKS.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS, SO I REALIZED
THAT QUICK ENOUGH THAT I MOVED OVER BEFORE I SPUN.
>> narrator: ON A STEEP UPHILL LIKE THE ICE CUT, THE TRACKS OF
A SPINOUT ARE A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS.
>> SO HE MUST HAVE BEEN SPINNING FOR A LITTLE WAYS AND THEN HE
COME UP TO WHERE THE TRUCK FINALLY STOPPED.
AND I WAS RIGHT IN HIS MARKS. I TIP-TOED PAST THAT PARTICULAR
AREA. YOU COULD SAY I TIP-TOED UP THE
HILL. [laughs]
[horn honks] >> narrator: 180 MILES SOUTH,
THE MEGA HAUL IS APPROACHING KOYUKUK.
>> KOYUKUK'S A MAJOR HILL, SO I NEED EVERY PIECE OF
CONCENTRATION THAT I CAN MUSTER. TRY NOT TO SCREW THIS UP.
>> narrator: THE NARROW SLIPPERY ROAD COMBINED WITH A LONG,
STEEP, UPHILL CLIMB MAKES KOYUKUK THE PERFECT STORM.
MAKING IT TO THE TOP... [horn honks]
WILL TAKE THE POWER OF ALL THREE BIG RIGS, WHICH MEANS THERE'S
NO ROOM FOR ANOTHER ROOKIE MISTAKE.
>> THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT HILL OUT HERE.
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS, THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S GONNA GET
YOU. NOT YET.
SHOULD I BE? >> UH, I'M IN--WHOA--FOURTH.
>> IT'S OKAY. GO AHEAD. JUST HOOK UP.
>> "HOOK UP," HE SAYS. "HOOK UP," HE SAYS.
"HOOK UP," HE SAYS. "HOOK UP."
OKAY, I'M HOOKED. OKAY, I'M AT 18.
>> SO JUST WATCH YOUR RPM GAUGE, LISA, AND JUST HOLD IT RIGHT
THERE. >> narrator: FOR EVERY MILE THEY
CLIMB, THE PRESSURE GROWS FOR LISA TO STAY CONNECTED.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW FOR HER.
WE'RE TRYING TO HOLD AN RPM INSTEAD OF NORMALLY OUR FOOT'S
TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS MORE OF A FINESSE ON THE
PUSH. >> THIS IS QUITE THE CLIMB WHEN
YOU'RE GOING THIS SLOW. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HIT
RIGHT HERE THIS SLOW. >> WE JUST GOT AROUND THE CURVE.
NOW WE'RE HITTING THE STEEPEST PART.
>> narrator: AS THE HILL GETS STEEPER, THE PUSH TRUCKS WILL
HAVE TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. IT'S THE SAME MOVE THAT LISA
BLEW ON THE ROLLER COASTER. >> SAY "WHEN."
OKAY, I'M THERE. UGH.
THIS IS KIND OF CRAZY. SHOOT.
[chuckles] MAN, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY
STEEP. >> VERY NICE JOB.
>> narrator: AFTER 20 WHITE-KNUCKLE MINUTES, THEY'VE
REACHED THE TOP. >> YEAH, WE MADE IT UP KOYUKUK.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE MADE IT. WE'VE FINISHED THE HARDEST PART
OF THE HILL. NOW WE'RE STARTING TO PICK 'EM
BACK UP. OH, YEAH.
WE'RE DEFINITELY PASSING THE TEST TODAY.
>> narrator: THE TEAM TAKES A MINUTE TO UNCHAIN AND UNWIND.
>> THE MOD SQUAD ACED IT. JUST 'CAUSE Y'ALL'S TRUCK AS BIG
AS OURS, SHE SHOULD BE AS TALL AS WE ARE.
>> SHE SHOULD. [laughter]
NOW--NOW WE'RE EQUAL. >> BUT MY TRUCK ENGINE'S SMALLER
THAN YOURS, SO I'M SMALLER THAN YOU.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT. IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE ENGINE.
IT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT. >> RIGHT.
THAT MANY GEARS YOU GOT TO PLAY WITH, THAT HELPS TOO.
YEAH. >> YOU BUY A WATER?
>> YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT THE COFFEE THOUGH.
>> narrator: AFTER A ROCKY START, LISA STEPPED UP WHEN IT
MATTERED MOST. [horn honks]
BUT IN THE MORNING... THE TRUE MONSTER OF THE DALTON
WILL BE WAITING. ATIGUN PASS.
UP IN PRUDHOE BAY... GREG BOADWINE'S PULLING A TURN
AND BURN. DROPPING HIS LOAD OF PIPE AND
IMMEDIATELY HEADING SOUTH WITH AN EASY BACK HAUL OF SCRAP WOOD.
>> AFTER A WEEK OF JUST GETTING BEAT ON BY PIPE, ALL I REALLY
GOT LEFT IS TO MOSEY ON BACK DOWN TO FAIRBANKS.
SO I GOT 500 MILES TO WATCH OUT FOR AND GET ABOUT 244 OF 'EM
TAKEN CARE OF TONIGHT. DEAL WITH THE REST OF 'EM
TOMORROW. >> narrator: BUT JUST AS GREG
SETTLES IN... HE SPOTS TROUBLE ON THE ROAD
AHEAD. >> UH-OH.
DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. NOT QUITE SURE.
>> narrator: JAY PENICK AND HIS BROTHER ROBERT WERE HEADED NORTH
WITH A 50-TON LOAD OF FUEL... >> THESE GO BACK IN THE SIDEBOX?
>> narrator: WHEN JAY'S TRUCK LOST POWER.
>> YEAH. YOU GUYS WANT ME TO DROP MY FLAT
HERE? I CAN RUN THIS IN.
THAT WAY YOU'RE NOT LEAVING THE FUEL SITTING HERE AND WE GOT
THREE TRUCKS RUNNING INSTEAD OF JUST THE TWO OF YOU.
I MEAN, IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.
IF HE DISCONNECTS FROM THE TRAILER, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
BOBTAIL. >> OH, YOU TALKING ABOUT TAKING
IT IN NOW? YEAH, YOU COULD FOLLOW US, YEAH.
I'LL GET MY TRUCK OUT OF THE WAY.
TRUCK-- >> THAT'LL WORK.
>> OKAY. >> BACK TO PRUDHOE.
>> narrator: GREG'S PLAN IS TO LEAVE HIS LOAD BY THE SIDE OF
THE ROAD... HITCH ONTO THE FUEL TANKER AND
HAUL IT 70 MILES BACK PRUDHOE BAY.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, MAN. >> AW, NO PROBLEM.
>> YEAH, THANKS A LOT, MAN. >> NO, IT'S NO PROBLEM.
>> narrator: DRIVING A 52-TON TANKER IS ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS JOBS ON THE ROAD. LIQUID MOVES AROUND INSIDE THE
TANK AND IF A DRIVER DOESN'T COMPENSATE, THE RESULTS CAN BE
DEADLY. >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE
EVER HAULED A TANKER WITH FUEL IN IT.
I'VE HAULED A COUPLE OF EMPTY TANKERS BACK DOWN TO FAIRBANKS
FROM PRUDHOE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE WITH ANY JUICE IN IT.
>> narrator: WITH A SECOND-YEAR MAN WITH ONE ACCIDENT ALREADY
ON HIS RECORD, TAKING ON THIS LOAD IS A GAMBLE GREG COULD
EASILY LOSE. >> HAULS PRETTY GOOD, DOESN'T
IT? >> ACTUALLY, IT REALLY DOESN'T
FEEL AS HEAVY AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD.
BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE I'M GONNA EAT MY WORDS HERE
IN ABOUT THREE SECONDS. [horn honks]
I BETTER SLOW DOWN. I'M NOT USED TO PULLING THIS
MUCH WEIGHT. I WANT TO COME OFF THE TOP OF
THIS HILL AS QUICK, GET DOWN LOWER.
[horn honks] >> narrator: COMING UP...
THE SEASON'S BIGGEST LOAD HITS THE HAUL ROAD'S DEADLIEST MILES.
>> IF YOU LOSE YOUR BRAKES, YOU'RE GOING OFF THE EDGE.
>> narrator: 20 MILES SOUTH OF PRUDHOE BAY...
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, GREG BOADWINE IS HAULING A 52-TON
FUEL TANKER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER.
>> I KNOW THIS FUEL CAN SLOSH AROUND IN THERE AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH FUEL'S IN THERE. JUST GOT TO REMEMBER I'M HAULING
LIQUID, NOT SOLID. OOH.
THERE'S THE WEIGHT. CORNERS FEEL A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT TO ME. THIS TRUCK'S SHORT.
WITH THAT MUCH WEIGHT, IT LIKES TO KIND OF TRY AND PUSH THE
REAR END THROUGH A CORNER. TRYING TO JUST KIND OF KEEP IT
ALL SMOOTH. >> narrator: TAKING OVER THIS
HEAVY, UNSTABLE LOAD IS A RISKY MOVE.
BUT TO GREG, IT'S ALL PART OF BEING AN ICE ROAD TRUCKER.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING ON THIS ROAD, YOU'VE GOT TO HELP
PEOPLE OUT NO MATTER WHAT. THAT'S A SENTIMENT THAT'S
DEFINITELY THROUGHOUT THE ROAD. NOT JUST CARLILE OR ANY OTHER
INDIVIDUAL COMPANY. IF YOU'RE IN NEED, YOU GET HELP.
I AM PULLING INTO THE CARLILE PRUDHOE YARD AGAIN.
>> narrator: GREG TOOK A RISK, BUT HE PROVED HIMSELF WORTHY OF
DRIVING MORE THAN PIPE. >> WHEN I GO TO CLIMB IN THE
SLEEPER TONIGHT, THERE'S GONNA BE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
SATISFACTION. NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
PLEASURE TO HELP. >> narrator: 680 MILES INTO THE
BIGGEST RUN OF THE SEASON... THE MEGA HAUL HAS MADE IT OVER
HALFWAY UP THE HAUL ROAD. BUT THIS MORNING...
THEY FACED THE DALTON'S DEADLIEST MILES.
>> WELL, WE GOT THE BIG HILL COMING UP.
ATIGUN. THE BIGGEST, SCARIEST ONE ON THE
ROAD. "NOTORIOUS" I GUESS IS THE WORD
FOR IT. >> TODAY IS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.
IT'LL BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING FOR HER ONCE WE GET UP THERE.
>> I'M READY TO GO. >> WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO
OVER ATIGUN PASS RIGHT NOW. IT'S REALLY A LONG PULL.
IT'S A RATHER STEEP PULL AND IT'S ALSO LONG.
THE ENGINE'S COULD OVERHEAT. BREAK AXLES, DRIVELINES.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MECHANICAL THINGS THAT COULD
HAPPEN. >> OKAY, LISA.
>> [bleep] >> narrator: WITH THE PUSH
TRUCKS IN PLACE, THE CLIMB BEGINS.
>> THESE RAILS HERE, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO STOP CARS AND
NORMAL-SIZE TRUCKS. NORMAL LOADS.
80,000. MAYBE 90,000 POUNDS IF YOU'RE UP
CLOSE TO IT. THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT
RAIL WOULD STOP THIS LOAD. IF YOU WENT OVER THE EDGE, YOU
WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL YOU GOT TO THE BOTTOM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT IS. IT'S--I DON'T WANT TO KNOW HOW
FAR IT IS. >> narrator: AFTER 30 MINUTES,
JACK AND LISA HAVE PUSHED THE MEGA LOAD TO THE TOP OF THE
PASS. BUT WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN.
>> I THINK JACK'S GONNA GO AROUND IN FRONT OF CAREY AND
HELP HIM DOWN AND I'M PROBABLY JUST GONNA BE A HELP BY NOT
TOUCHING EITHER ONE OF THEM. >> narrator: SURVIVING ATIGUN'S
LONG, STEEP DESCENT TAKES A DANGEROUS MANEUVER THAT PUTS
JACK'S PUSH TRUCK IN FRONT TO SLOW THE MOMENTUM OF CAREY'S
104-TON CARGO. >> IT'S A REALLY LONG DOWNHILL.
WE DON'T WANT HIM TO GET HIS BRAKES A LITTLE TOO HOT.
IF THE BRAKES GOT TOO HOT, THEY WOULD FAIL ON HIM AND THEN OF
COURSE, YOU'D HAVE A RUNAWAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY RUNAWAY TRUCK
RAMPS UP HERE. IF YOU LOSE YOUR BRAKES...
YOU'RE GOING OFF THE EDGE. YOU KNOW, WITH ME BEING IN
FRONT, CAREY'S NOT REALLY DRIVING THIS THING NOW, 'CAUSE
HE CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, I'M DRIVING THIS.
>> OKAY. >> COMING AROUND THIS LAST
CORNER AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO SWING IT WIDE AND PUT CAREY
WHERE HE WOULD NORMALLY BE. SO ME BEING OUT IN FRONT OF HIM,
THAT'S GONNA PUT ME CLOSER TO THE EDGE.
I CAN EASILY SAY I'VE GOT MY HANDS FULL ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST-- YOU KNOW, WE'RE LIVING ON THE
EDGE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. I CAN LOOK OVER AND SEE THE
EDGE. >> narrator: FINALLY, JACK
STEERS THE MEGA LOAD TO FLAT GROUND.
>> YES, WE ARE CLEAR. WELL, WE MADE IT OVER THE PASS.
THAT'S A BIG HURDLE FOR THE DAY. SOMETIMES THE PASS CAN ACTUALLY
HOLD YOU UP AND MAKE THE DAY EVEN LONGER, BUT THINGS WENT
REALLY GOOD FOR US THIS TIME. I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE IN
PRUDHOE TONIGHT. >> narrator: UP IN PRUDHOE...
THE ROOKIE AND THE ICE ROAD VETERAN ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR
NEXT LOADS. >> I'LL JUST TAKE HUGH'S LOAD.
DID ICE CUT LOOK ALL MESSED UP? >> NO.
>> YOU DIDN'T NOTICE? MADE A RUN AT IT, FOUR TIMES I
BACKED DOWN THAT MOUNTAIN. >> OH, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
>> SO I GET UP TO THE TOP, SPIN OUT.
SO I THROW MY CHAINS ON. ALL MY VALVES IN THE BACK
FREEZE. CAN'T FREAKING MOVE NOWHERE.
>> [laughs] [bleep]
>> WHAT A FLIPPING MESS. >> DID YOU HAVE TO SHOVE THE
CAMERA UP ANYBODY'S ASS? >> OH, I WANTED TO A COUPLE
TIMES. >> narrator: DESPITE HIS
DISASTER ON ICE CUT, RAY IS HANGING TOUGH WITH NINE LOADS,
JUST ONE BEHIND FRONTRUNNER JACK JESSEE.
THREE DAYS AND 850 MILES AFTER LEAVING ANCHORAGE ON A MISSION
TO HAUL AN ENTIRE BUILDING UP THE DALTON, THE MEGA HAUL TEAM
APPROACHES THE LIGHTS OF PRUDHOE BAY.
>> THE CUSTOMER'S GONNA BE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT THEY GOT
THIS HIGH-DOLLAR PIECE UP HERE, BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT GONNA
KNOW WHAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH TO GET THIS JOB DONE.
IT MAKES US FEEL GOOD. EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD KNOWS WHAT
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. GET A LOT OF RESPECT FOR IT.
>> narrator: AND NO ONE HAS WORKED HARDER FOR THAT RESPECT
THAN LISA KELLY. >> I HAD SO MUCH FUN.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. THEY PAY ME TO DO THIS.
I'M EXHAUSTED. I PLAYED HARD.
I'M DIRTY AND TIRED. THAT WAS A GOOD DAY.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO GO BACK TO REGULAR TRUCKING.
THEY GAVE ME A TASTE AND I DON'T WANT TO LET GO NOW.
>> narrator: NEXT, ON<i> ICE ROAD</i> <i>TRUCKERS...</i>
>> JUST BEEN HAULING ASS STEADY HERE.
>> narrator: HUGH GOES LOOKING FOR A FIGHT...
>> MEET ME IN THE PARKING LOT AND I'LL KNOCK YOUR [bleep]
TEETH OUT. >> narrator: A CARELESS MISTAKE
SENDS LISA OVER THE EDGE... >> [bleep]
OH, NO, [bleep]. STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP.
>> narrator: AND ALEX HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS.
>> EITHER YOU SAW HIM OR YOU DIDN'T.
Captioning by<font color="#008000"> CaptionMax</font> www.captionmax.com
