Ice Road Truckers (2007) s07e02 Episode Script
Art Attack
Narrator: Last time on Ice Road Truckers Whoo-hoo! So, I'm here to take over Winnipeg.
Narrator: Hugh Rowland set up shop right down the street from his former boss.
Hugh came in here, stabbed me in the back, and now he's gonna be my competitor.
Narrator: But Polar brought in a team of veteran drivers to run Hugh and his new company out of town.
It's like I'm going to war.
We're just about to cross enemy lines.
I don't even think Lisa will make it on these roads, because she's a girl.
Narrator: Hugh and business partner Vlad Pleskot fired the first shot by landing and exclusive $1/2 million contract.
I love this job, man.
Every load that we can get is one that Polar ain't gonna get.
Narrator: But when the winter roads opened All right, I'll get it.
Narrator: The top drivers at Polar Industries brought in the first loads of the season.
Got our first three loads delivered for Team Polar.
Oh, shoot.
Narrator: Leaving Hugh and Vlad struggling on their first mission Fuck.
Come on.
Get it together.
Narrator: Unable to cash in until new driver delivers his load.
This is fucking ridiculous.
When someone doesn't know, you don't usually leave them behind, right? Got some serious trouble right fucking now.
[Loud crash.]
Narrator: - 650 miles north of Winnipeg - Art, are you on here? Narrator: VP Express's first delivery has come to a halt while Hugh and Vlad wait for their missing employee.
Art, are you on there? Narrator: - But 35 miles back - We're not gonna get out of this, buddy.
Narrator: Art Burke put his truck in the ditch.
And it's holding up the first payday of the company's $1/2 million contract.
We're stuck.
Can you fucking believe it? We're gonna need a tow here.
That's a given.
Please put that away, bud.
[Laughs.]
We're fucked, big time.
I'm fucking freakin'.
That's a grader.
I'll go get them.
I got an 18-wheel stuck up there on the road, buddy.
You think you could come up and give me a tug? You betcha.
Good man.
Okay, one second.
Hang on.
Come on.
Thank you, buddy.
All right, boys, away we go again.
Holy shit.
Now we're gonna try not to repeat the pattern, as they say.
This is it right here, eh.
I hope she's open or we're fucked.
[Horn honks.]
Narrator: - After a four-hour delay - Art's here.
Narrator: VP Express can finally cash in.
All right.
We've got the first three loads in the book.
I was fucking scared you'd be unloaded before I get that act together, eh? I had to get the grader to tow me.
I got the fucking grader to tow me, bud.
The thing is we've all got tow straps.
Yeah.
So we can all tow each other no matter if we hit the ditch or what the fuck happened.
Hunker all together.
Well, if shit's gonna happen, it's gonna happen to you, fuck Fartsy.
Apparently so.
Apparently so, buddy.
Narrator: With three loads on the books, Art's mistakes take a backseat to cold, hard cash.
The last load's getting unloaded right now, and that's a big money day for us.
We didn't think we were gonna get unloaded today, but we did.
So it's, you know, three loads, money in the bank.
We get paid right away for this.
[Laughs.]
Got to love it, man.
By the end of the year, me and Vlad are gonna be fucking wiping our asses with this shit.
From VP Express, Hugh and Vlad, to Mark from Polar, you can kiss our lily white asses.
[Laughter.]
Quite nice, man! [Laughter.]
Narrator: Now VP Express needs to race back to Winnipeg to keep pace with the competition.
Shamattawa? Perfect.
Narrator: But Polar boss Mark Kohaykewych is mounting a counter assault.
Thank you.
Narrator: Scoring a contract to haul loads to the remote community of Shamattawa, 800 miles northeast of Winnipeg.
We've been working on this Shamattawa School Project for a long time, and we're proud to say we're the selected contractor to do it.
Narrator: If they can make it, the contract's worth nearly $100,000.
But the Shamattawa Road is notorious for causing breakdowns and deadly wrecks that could shut down Polar's team of top drivers.
And near its end, the Hayes River crossing features an incline so steep, it can send trucks backwards through the ice.
Hugh hasn't been to Shamattawa 'cause he can't handle Shamattawa.
Never sent him there, wouldn't send him there.
The way he drives, they would have pulled him off that road.
They don't just send anybody up on that road.
You've got to be skilled.
You've got to have a proven track record.
And you've got to have the right drivers.
And we've got all of the above.
Never been on this road that I'm headed to.
[Honks horn.]
Narrator: The first driver to face the winter road to Shamattawa Montana legend Darrell Ward.
I've got a flatbed load of construction supplies for a school in Shamattawa.
I need to make enough money here to take care of my children and get my life started over.
They're not too crazy about the things I do sometimes with my work, but I got to do what I got to do.
So I'm a little nervous, but I'm excited because I'm going to Shamattawa, one of the hardest roads that they have.
And they're sending us up there for a first time.
Narrator: Back at Polar, Alaskan icon Lisa Kelly and Debogorski join the mission.
- Ready to rock and roll? - Yes, ma'am.
All right.
Very good.
See ya.
Let's get 'er.
Lisa's very capable.
She's responsible, hardworking, and she can drive a truck.
Ready to go! I sometimes think that Lisa doesn't have any fear.
I'm going trucking.
[Honks horn.]
Narrator: Lisa's looking for a chance to prove herself.
All righty, boys.
Drive safe.
Yep, be careful.
See you shortly.
Narrator: But the grizzled veteran is well aware that they're tempting fate with every run on the ice.
You know, I bring a rosary with me.
I like to hang the rosary in the corner of the cab.
On occasion, I get a chance to say a prayer.
Well, Lord, keep us safe on our trip to Shamattawa.
Look after Lisa.
And thank you for your blessings and help.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Narrator: As Team Polar sets out to conquer Shamattawa - 350 miles northeast - Farty Pants, can you read us yet? Narrator: The bosses at VP Express are only an hour into their return trip home.
Arty, Arty, Arty.
Narrator: And Art is already lagging behind.
Okay, are you out there? Yeah, buddy.
So I don't know-- I still don't know if I should go or wait for him.
I would say we better wait.
I mean, you know, we're all one team, eh? Yeah, that's what we'll do.
All right, good deal.
Thanks.
I'm having deja vu or something.
We're waiting for Art again.
[Laughs.]
This morning he's still not here.
So we're just going to wait for a little bit and then we're gonna hit the road.
Narrator: To keep up with the drivers at Polar, Hugh needs to get his team back to Winnipeg to pick up their next load.
Today's a new day.
I was hoping it was gonna start better than it did yesterday, but apparently not.
Art just can't get it together.
But like I said, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on one trip here.
Art's here.
Finally.
Can't get no worse than yesterday.
Yesterday wasn't a good day, man.
I'm half wondering if I'm going to get the axe? Holy fuck.
Okay, we're gonna stop right here.
Are you ready? See if we can't get her together here, eh? Let's try.
This is our fucking maiden voyage here, and we're-- Yeah, and I don't want to go through what I went through yesterday.
That's for fucking sure.
We don't want to go through what we did yesterday.
'Cause when I look like a fool, then we all look like a fucking fool, eh? That's exactly what we're telling you.
Have you got a map or anything to give me to go? Didn't we give him a map? No, I never got a map, buddy.
I've been misled since I got here, if you want to know the truth.
- When I come here the other day-- - Or the place misguided.
I'd like to talk to the both of youse, actually, eh? You know, you're a great guy, buddy, and I got a lot of respect for you in the short time that I worked with you, right? But? There's really no but to it.
You're great, but from this end of it, I've sort of been mis-- I didn't have a map.
When I came here that morning, I was supposed to run between youse was what you told me.
- I never got any map stuff-- - Who told you? You told me.
I never got any maps.
I said we're convoying.
Yes, but I was in the middle.
If I had known I was leading, I would have had that all mapped out, you.
The perfect way, the same I always fucking did.
And I would have had it.
And none of that stuff yesterday would have happened if I had known.
What's the problem? The problem is I got lost yesterday, and I don't feel it was my fault.
- And then another thing, too, when I-- - Hang on, let-- let-- let-- here, here, time out, time out.
Okay.
Who's the boss? Who do you work for? Who do you get the money from? That's right, you.
End of story.
Maybe we should get a raise, man, for babysitting today again, eh? Holy fuck! He's still going on like he got lost yesterday, and he doesn't think it's his fault.
Well, he was driving.
Whose fault is it? I have no idea.
I have no idea.
A know-it-all, eh? Nothing is his fault.
Everything is somebody else's fault.
About two hours behind schedule already, in my books anyway.
I mean, shit happens, but if it's preventable, let's make it preventable.
The conversation just seems to be one-sided.
He don't want to listen.
He still figures that all that shit that went on yesterday wasn't his fault.
He's got maps in the truck.
Every one of our trucks has a book like this.
Permits, maps, everything in this book that you ever wanted to need.
More organized than any company I've ever worked for or hauled for or anything 'cause it's our company.
He just don't get it.
He don't listen until it's too late.
And that's the problem.
By the time he wants to start listening, things have already happened.
And that's a no-no in my books.
It's all adding up, like the scale is tipping slowly, right? Not in my favor.
Narrator: - Coming up - So we're starting off with some interesting road already.
Narrator: Hell frozen over.
Why is it spinning? Oh, I hate you.
Narrator: On the road back to Winnipeg [Truck horn honks.]
Well, we're empty today, and we're leading ourselves.
Ugh, this is gonna be long one.
Narrator: Bosses Hugh Rowland and Vlad Pleskot are at the head of the pack and trying to make up time.
Eh, we were a little late getting started this morning.
We got quite a hike back to Winnipeg.
Narrator: They're closing in on the town of Norway House, the halfway point for the journey home.
Hey, Fart, can you hear us way up here? [Radio static crackling.]
You hear anything else from Fart and company? Negative.
You don't have to hire anybody that's costing us money, and he's costing us fucking money.
[Horn honks.]
Narrator: 30 miles back and out of radio range It's been a very long haul, and it's only the first one.
But they might get better, eh? Narrator: New hire Art Burke is going at his own pace.
I think Vlad and Hugh is down at Norway House, I would think.
I'm not sure because I'm out of contact.
They're too far ahead, so I'm not sure what the plan is.
We made her to Norway House.
We just keep going then? We can probably make up some time.
No use in stopping here and fuck around.
We're almost off the ice road.
Narrator: - An hour later - But we're here now, buddy.
Narrator: Art finally reaches Norway House.
Well, I was supposed to meet Vlad and Hugh here.
Hey, Vlad, you got a copy? Hugh, you got a copy, bud? Hey, boys, anybody, you got a copy? [Whistles.]
Well, it's quite obvious that they took off without me.
I'm not too impressed with this.
I know what my plan is.
I'd like to have some food.
Hugh and Vlad fucking took off and left me.
You don't do this to your employees.
What more can I say? That's the way it is.
Oh, well.
Narrator: While Art stops for lunch If I hang around here long enough, maybe Lisa will come and put my chains on for me.
- Polar drivers Alex Debogorski - Here we go.
Narrator: And Lisa Kelly are about to take on the road to Shamattawa, hoping to deliver loads that could bank $100,000 for Polar Industries.
Brrr! Oh.
Ouch.
We got a lot of things working against us, and then I got my dingdong wrist working against me too.
I broke my wrist this year racing motocross.
I was doing awesome in this race, and I totally over-jumped this jump, landed completely flat in a corner, and I broke my wrist.
But some days it just hurts more than others.
And guess what.
Today is one of those days.
So I'm kind of fighting the odds today.
Narrator: With a nonstop barrage of hills and tight curves, the Shamattawa Road is one of the most technically challenging runs in Manitoba.
And being able to shift at a moment's notice is key to survival.
I was thinking if I had, like, some support around my wrist, that, like, it would help.
So I have some duct tape.
And I'm gonna try this out.
I think that support will really help take the pressure off the wrist when I'm shifting.
I think I'm ready to go.
Alex, you got a copy? Go ahead, Lisa.
I think I'm just about as prepared as I can get before just getting on the road and just discovering it.
Okay, let's get going.
Okay.
[Honks horn.]
Let's roll.
Narrator: Hauling loads that will keep Polar ahead of VP Express, Lisa and Alex hit the brutal Shamattawa trail.
Well, so we're starting off with some interesting road already.
It's gonna get rougher than that.
I hope Lisa pays attention.
This is like a whole new animal.
It's kind of like motocross.
It's technical.
Like certain tracks, you know? You got to time it right.
There's no forgiveness on it.
It's like an obstacle course.
Ow.
This truck is hard to shift.
You got to put some pressure on it and get it out of gear, and then kind of jam it in gear again.
I've been doing a lot of shifting, and it's kind of painful.
It's, like, seriously messing me up.
I don't know.
I don't even know.
Hmm, there's a hill sign.
Here's where we find out what gear I pull in.
Ow! Oh, my God.
You got to be kidding me.
Ugh! I cannot believe this.
Such a disaster.
Narrator: - Coming up - Oh, you fucking cock sucker.
Narrator: VP Express boils over.
Will you get out of the fucking way with that? Ugh! Narrator: On the rugged road to Shamattawa This truck can't even pull itself up a hill.
Narrator: Lisa Kelly's hauling part of a $100,000 contract that will keep Polar Industries ahead of the rival drivers at VP Express.
I almost thought we had it there, but-- ugh! Narrator: But a broken wrist is making the road nearly impossible to navigate, and she may have met her match.
Okay, here's my plan.
I'm gonna just try it in first.
So right now it's a rally if I can even get it going.
Come on, you gutless, worthless piece of-- oh, I hate you.
Why is it spinning? You got to be kidding.
Okay, I'm frustrated now.
It's not even gonna go up it in first.
Look at that, it is literally in first gear, and it's not even moving.
Okay, you know what? I'm gonna go faster.
I'm scratching plan "B" on hauling it in first, 'cause it ain't gonna work.
Narrator: Out of options, Lisa's gotta gun it up the hill and hope her wrist holds up.
[Mouthing silently.]
Up to the top of that one on a curve.
Three tries to get up a hill that's not even mentioned.
Hayes River, I am now officially terrified.
Narrator: 100 miles up the road Whoo! Rodeo! Narrator: - Thanks to an early start - Ooh.
Narrator: Polar teammate Darrell Ward's already halfway to Shamattawa.
I don't break something on this rough road, we'll be in pretty good shape.
Narrator: But the road is proving just as tough for the Montana log hauler.
Whoa! I've got 100 kilometers to go.
To average 20 kilometers an hour out here is pretty-- pretty intense.
I'd just soon get unloaded and be on my way back towards Winnipeg to get another load.
Boy, she's a rough one.
Ladies and gentlemen, do not try this at home.
That's the river crossing.
Looks like a pretty good one.
Looks like a pretty good one.
Narrator: Taking the season's first load to Shamattawa also means being the first to attempt the Hayes River crossing.
Your edges are your biggest problem most of the time.
So just take her easy and ease down onto the ice.
Narrator: The ice is rated for a maximum of 41 tons, and hauling just under 40 tons, Darrell's right near the limit.
[Ice cracking.]
I can hear the ice cracking.
I can see it cracking.
Kind of gives you an eerie feeling when you hear the ice crack under you.
Sure don't want to fall through.
It'd be mighty cold.
I got to have my momentum.
This is where you got to come off of the ice.
Narrator: Drivers have to keep a slow and steady pace on the ice.
But on the Hayes River, they also have to keep enough momentum to scale the steep incline on the other side.
Come on! God! See what happens? Fuck.
I just spin the shit out of my tires, 'cause my trailer makes it heavy.
Narrator: Darrell's forced back down the hill.
You got to be careful.
We don't need to go falling through.
Narrator: And back onto the ice with his 40-ton load.
I spun out on that hill.
I'm gonna have to get a run at it again.
Great deal.
Momentum will take you a long ways.
Any load on any road.
That's my motto.
Narrator: As the sun sets and the temperature drops to 40 below What's going on there? Anything coming, buddy? Narrator: VP Express driver Art Burke is headed back to Winnipeg, miles behind his bosses.
Yeah, I think I'm going the right way.
We're heading now to get some fuel.
I hope she's open or we're fucked.
This fucking place is gonna be on the right.
Is this it? This is it right down here.
Whoa.
Oh, you cock sucker.
[Beeping.]
[Engine sputters.]
Oh, man! [Engine sputters.]
What? What is this all about now? [Clicking sounds, engine silent.]
Well, the truck won't start.
I have no fucking idea.
Well, this is a fucking damn dandy fuck situation now, ain't it? I don't believe it.
What the fuck next? Will you get out of the fucking way with that? Narrator: At the fuel stop in Ponton, Manitoba We don't soon get her going, it'll be too cold, and then we'll never get it going.
Narrator: VP Express driver Art Burke has been left behind to fend for himself at 40 below.
We're trying to get the fucking truck going.
Narrator: And he's only got a few minutes until the oil cools down and the engine is too cold to restart.
[Clicking.]
The starter's either fucked up or it's froze or something, eh? I'm not quite sure what the fuck to do here.
That fucking thing.
I think it might be fucking yet.
We froze up.
Narrator: - Up ahead - Vlad and Hugh, you got a copy? Narrator: Bosses Hugh Rowland and Vlad Pleskot pick up the call from their stranded employee.
Art, what happened? Fucking sucker shut off and she won't start.
We're frozen.
I'm sick and tired of his bullshit.
Just keep driving, Vlad.
Fucking prick! He's dead wrong.
You're talking about your fucking self.
I'll stuff that cocksucker and make a fucking matt.
I didn't get in business by fucking hiring idiots like that.
You turn your back on him, and he just fucks up.
He's lost us fucking money.
I'm not even gonna deal with him anymore.
I don't want him around anymore or I'll [Murmurs angrily.]
.
What a fucking idiot.
You forgot who you're working for.
You're working for us! You do what you're supposed to do! Fuck, he's lucky I ain't there.
I'd ring his cocksucking fucking neck.
Ugh! Well, Mark will have another driver now anyway.
Oh, he's Polar material, man.
I'm gonna trade him off for two school girls, and I'm gonna be better off.
Yeah, for sure.
I just don't hire idiots.
Well, we made her back to Winnipeg in one piece.
We had a good run, except for Art there.
He got lost about four times on the way up there.
We kind of lost faith in him there.
And then on the way back, we ended up way ahead of him.
He said, "Oh, yeah, I'm coming right behind you," and then he was a couple hours behind us and he cost us time, and time is money for us.
We can't put up with that shit.
I mean, he won't listen to nothing.
And he doesn't know much.
So we'll decide what we're gonna do tomorrow, and that's about it.
Narrator: Art's failure to match Hugh's pace has VP Express falling behind their rivals at Polar Industries.
But 700 miles north Polar's drivers are having problems of their own.
I'm coming up on the Hayes River.
Once I get to where it's flat and there's enough room, I'll wait for Lisa.
Narrator: Lisa and Alex are driving through the night to deliver the first round of loads in Polar's $100,000 Shamattawa contract.
Wrist is holding up good.
It is.
This tape is really taking a lot of pressure off of it.
Narrator: And they've just reached the Hayes River, the same crossing that nearly derailed Darrell earlier in the day.
I think it's just gonna kind of be trial and error.
I'm kind of hoping Alex waits for me so that I can kind of see how he does it.
Hey, looks like Alex.
I'm gonna bundle up, and I'm gonna go say hi.
I'm so glad he waited.
I'd love to do this in the daytime.
I haven't been on this road before.
We can't see the ice.
Hi, I've been feeling lonely up here.
Yeah, I've been lonely back there.
[Laughs.]
Is this the river? - Let's take a walk down there and take a look at it, see-- - Yeah.
You got your rubber boots on? [Laughs.]
No.
[Chuckles.]
I mean, I've heard stories, you know, where guys have gone through the ice, and it's pretty spooky.
You know, I guess we lost a couple of operators last week or two just over not far from here.
I'll go across.
We got to be one kilometer apart.
And if you fall through, I'm not going to follow you.
[Laughs.]
Don't bother jumping in the water.
Keep an eye out.
You know, if water starts coming through the ice, then get ready for the big jump.
[Laughs.]
Whoo.
Well, here we go, crossing the river on the ice.
Well, Lord, give us a hand.
Narrator: - 700 miles north of Winnipeg - We're halfway to Shamattawa.
Well, as far as how the ice looks, there's not much to look.
You can't see the ice.
Narrator: Alex and Lisa attempt the Hayes River crossing on the road to Shamattawa.
I've been doing a lot of sitting, and now I'm doing a lot of worrying.
And I just want to get my worrying part over with.
It'd be a lot more fun in the daytime, see what's coming up.
This is much more suspenseful, not having a clue what's past ya the end of the headlights.
Alex, if you read me, you on the other side yet? I don't know how to tell when he gets to the other side.
Alex, are you across yet? [Static.]
Communication's lovely.
I think he's far enough.
I am just dropping down on the river now.
Touchdown.
It's dark out, so you can't really tell what's ice and what isn't.
I wish it was daylight.
I'm a little terrified of just bumps-- they're cracked.
My chains are so noisy, I can't hear if the ice is cracking or not.
Where's the other side? Okay, we're back in the trees.
There's a hill? Put her in her favorite gear.
And then kind of go for it.
Run for it.
Oh, come on, I gotta make it up this hill.
Uh-oh.
You got to be kidding me.
This thing is slipping.
I have chains on.
I'm not gonna make it up this hill.
Holy cow! Ugh! Crap.
Narrator: The Hayes River hill gets the best of Lisa.
We're back on the river now.
Narrator: With no way to gain momentum on the ice, adding a second set of chains is her only hope.
Okay, we're gonna try to go up the hill.
I'm gonna try this again.
Can I get up the hill? This is so ridiculous.
We're at the top.
[Chuckles.]
Is that Lisa? Lisa.
Well, Lisa and I have made it over the ice.
Just to complicate that, that was a pretty tough climb.
That was kind of crazy.
I made it.
Narrator: Lisa and Alex still have 100 miles to go.
But up ahead Darrell Ward is closing in on Shamattawa.
Well, we're almost there.
Narrator: And as he pulls into the drop-off site By the skin of my teeth, I made her, didn't I? Narrator: And the first load of Polar's $100,000 contract is in the books.
And Polar keeps the load count lead.
Well, I got my load unloaded here in Shamattawa.
And I don't have a backhaul, so I'm headed back to Winnipeg for another load, you know.
Narrator: But with Lisa and Alex still on the road, team Polar isn't out of the woods yet.
[Horn honks.]
Art Burke's been left behind by his bosses.
It's been a long day, boy.
And now we got to sleep on it, so to speak.
Narrator: And with his truck broken down, he's done for the night.
There's nothing I can do tonight.
Might as well get rested up for tomorrow.
Well, this is quite the fucking spot too.
Well, I'm not very happy about being here.
I mean, fuck.
But it's gonna have to do.
I'm half scared to have a shower in there, boy.
That's the fucking truth.
Smells good too, don't it? It's cold as a bastard in here too, isn't it? Well, well, well, well, well, well, jumping shit.
I'm just fed up with the whole fucking thing, man.
We're gonna put this here like this and hope that I'm the only thing that crawls into it.
Well, I called Hugh and told him what I did.
They never got back to help me.
They fucking took off and left me there.
He's a fucking cocksucker, man.
And I'll beat the fucking face right off of that, is how I feel when I think about this, eh? Anyway, now I'm here by myself for the night, right? And I can't go anywheres.
This is the first trip, boy.
What the fuck is gonna happen for the next three or four? - Next time on Ice Road Truckers - Be a long season for you boys.
[Honks horn.]
Narrator: Team Polar tries to survive Manitoba's most brutal road.
Yeah, there's a flat tire.
This is a dangerous road.
The new guy Todd here, he's gonna lead the way today.
Narrator: VP Express calls in reinforcements.
If you make the wrong move up here Sweet fuck! It's gonna be a dead wrong move.
Narrator: - And with their rivals on the ropes - Fuck! Narrator: Hugh's ready to strike.
If he's trying to break me, he's gonna have to fucking work at it.
Let's fucking go!
Narrator: Hugh Rowland set up shop right down the street from his former boss.
Hugh came in here, stabbed me in the back, and now he's gonna be my competitor.
Narrator: But Polar brought in a team of veteran drivers to run Hugh and his new company out of town.
It's like I'm going to war.
We're just about to cross enemy lines.
I don't even think Lisa will make it on these roads, because she's a girl.
Narrator: Hugh and business partner Vlad Pleskot fired the first shot by landing and exclusive $1/2 million contract.
I love this job, man.
Every load that we can get is one that Polar ain't gonna get.
Narrator: But when the winter roads opened All right, I'll get it.
Narrator: The top drivers at Polar Industries brought in the first loads of the season.
Got our first three loads delivered for Team Polar.
Oh, shoot.
Narrator: Leaving Hugh and Vlad struggling on their first mission Fuck.
Come on.
Get it together.
Narrator: Unable to cash in until new driver delivers his load.
This is fucking ridiculous.
When someone doesn't know, you don't usually leave them behind, right? Got some serious trouble right fucking now.
[Loud crash.]
Narrator: - 650 miles north of Winnipeg - Art, are you on here? Narrator: VP Express's first delivery has come to a halt while Hugh and Vlad wait for their missing employee.
Art, are you on there? Narrator: - But 35 miles back - We're not gonna get out of this, buddy.
Narrator: Art Burke put his truck in the ditch.
And it's holding up the first payday of the company's $1/2 million contract.
We're stuck.
Can you fucking believe it? We're gonna need a tow here.
That's a given.
Please put that away, bud.
[Laughs.]
We're fucked, big time.
I'm fucking freakin'.
That's a grader.
I'll go get them.
I got an 18-wheel stuck up there on the road, buddy.
You think you could come up and give me a tug? You betcha.
Good man.
Okay, one second.
Hang on.
Come on.
Thank you, buddy.
All right, boys, away we go again.
Holy shit.
Now we're gonna try not to repeat the pattern, as they say.
This is it right here, eh.
I hope she's open or we're fucked.
[Horn honks.]
Narrator: - After a four-hour delay - Art's here.
Narrator: VP Express can finally cash in.
All right.
We've got the first three loads in the book.
I was fucking scared you'd be unloaded before I get that act together, eh? I had to get the grader to tow me.
I got the fucking grader to tow me, bud.
The thing is we've all got tow straps.
Yeah.
So we can all tow each other no matter if we hit the ditch or what the fuck happened.
Hunker all together.
Well, if shit's gonna happen, it's gonna happen to you, fuck Fartsy.
Apparently so.
Apparently so, buddy.
Narrator: With three loads on the books, Art's mistakes take a backseat to cold, hard cash.
The last load's getting unloaded right now, and that's a big money day for us.
We didn't think we were gonna get unloaded today, but we did.
So it's, you know, three loads, money in the bank.
We get paid right away for this.
[Laughs.]
Got to love it, man.
By the end of the year, me and Vlad are gonna be fucking wiping our asses with this shit.
From VP Express, Hugh and Vlad, to Mark from Polar, you can kiss our lily white asses.
[Laughter.]
Quite nice, man! [Laughter.]
Narrator: Now VP Express needs to race back to Winnipeg to keep pace with the competition.
Shamattawa? Perfect.
Narrator: But Polar boss Mark Kohaykewych is mounting a counter assault.
Thank you.
Narrator: Scoring a contract to haul loads to the remote community of Shamattawa, 800 miles northeast of Winnipeg.
We've been working on this Shamattawa School Project for a long time, and we're proud to say we're the selected contractor to do it.
Narrator: If they can make it, the contract's worth nearly $100,000.
But the Shamattawa Road is notorious for causing breakdowns and deadly wrecks that could shut down Polar's team of top drivers.
And near its end, the Hayes River crossing features an incline so steep, it can send trucks backwards through the ice.
Hugh hasn't been to Shamattawa 'cause he can't handle Shamattawa.
Never sent him there, wouldn't send him there.
The way he drives, they would have pulled him off that road.
They don't just send anybody up on that road.
You've got to be skilled.
You've got to have a proven track record.
And you've got to have the right drivers.
And we've got all of the above.
Never been on this road that I'm headed to.
[Honks horn.]
Narrator: The first driver to face the winter road to Shamattawa Montana legend Darrell Ward.
I've got a flatbed load of construction supplies for a school in Shamattawa.
I need to make enough money here to take care of my children and get my life started over.
They're not too crazy about the things I do sometimes with my work, but I got to do what I got to do.
So I'm a little nervous, but I'm excited because I'm going to Shamattawa, one of the hardest roads that they have.
And they're sending us up there for a first time.
Narrator: Back at Polar, Alaskan icon Lisa Kelly and Debogorski join the mission.
- Ready to rock and roll? - Yes, ma'am.
All right.
Very good.
See ya.
Let's get 'er.
Lisa's very capable.
She's responsible, hardworking, and she can drive a truck.
Ready to go! I sometimes think that Lisa doesn't have any fear.
I'm going trucking.
[Honks horn.]
Narrator: Lisa's looking for a chance to prove herself.
All righty, boys.
Drive safe.
Yep, be careful.
See you shortly.
Narrator: But the grizzled veteran is well aware that they're tempting fate with every run on the ice.
You know, I bring a rosary with me.
I like to hang the rosary in the corner of the cab.
On occasion, I get a chance to say a prayer.
Well, Lord, keep us safe on our trip to Shamattawa.
Look after Lisa.
And thank you for your blessings and help.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Narrator: As Team Polar sets out to conquer Shamattawa - 350 miles northeast - Farty Pants, can you read us yet? Narrator: The bosses at VP Express are only an hour into their return trip home.
Arty, Arty, Arty.
Narrator: And Art is already lagging behind.
Okay, are you out there? Yeah, buddy.
So I don't know-- I still don't know if I should go or wait for him.
I would say we better wait.
I mean, you know, we're all one team, eh? Yeah, that's what we'll do.
All right, good deal.
Thanks.
I'm having deja vu or something.
We're waiting for Art again.
[Laughs.]
This morning he's still not here.
So we're just going to wait for a little bit and then we're gonna hit the road.
Narrator: To keep up with the drivers at Polar, Hugh needs to get his team back to Winnipeg to pick up their next load.
Today's a new day.
I was hoping it was gonna start better than it did yesterday, but apparently not.
Art just can't get it together.
But like I said, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on one trip here.
Art's here.
Finally.
Can't get no worse than yesterday.
Yesterday wasn't a good day, man.
I'm half wondering if I'm going to get the axe? Holy fuck.
Okay, we're gonna stop right here.
Are you ready? See if we can't get her together here, eh? Let's try.
This is our fucking maiden voyage here, and we're-- Yeah, and I don't want to go through what I went through yesterday.
That's for fucking sure.
We don't want to go through what we did yesterday.
'Cause when I look like a fool, then we all look like a fucking fool, eh? That's exactly what we're telling you.
Have you got a map or anything to give me to go? Didn't we give him a map? No, I never got a map, buddy.
I've been misled since I got here, if you want to know the truth.
- When I come here the other day-- - Or the place misguided.
I'd like to talk to the both of youse, actually, eh? You know, you're a great guy, buddy, and I got a lot of respect for you in the short time that I worked with you, right? But? There's really no but to it.
You're great, but from this end of it, I've sort of been mis-- I didn't have a map.
When I came here that morning, I was supposed to run between youse was what you told me.
- I never got any map stuff-- - Who told you? You told me.
I never got any maps.
I said we're convoying.
Yes, but I was in the middle.
If I had known I was leading, I would have had that all mapped out, you.
The perfect way, the same I always fucking did.
And I would have had it.
And none of that stuff yesterday would have happened if I had known.
What's the problem? The problem is I got lost yesterday, and I don't feel it was my fault.
- And then another thing, too, when I-- - Hang on, let-- let-- let-- here, here, time out, time out.
Okay.
Who's the boss? Who do you work for? Who do you get the money from? That's right, you.
End of story.
Maybe we should get a raise, man, for babysitting today again, eh? Holy fuck! He's still going on like he got lost yesterday, and he doesn't think it's his fault.
Well, he was driving.
Whose fault is it? I have no idea.
I have no idea.
A know-it-all, eh? Nothing is his fault.
Everything is somebody else's fault.
About two hours behind schedule already, in my books anyway.
I mean, shit happens, but if it's preventable, let's make it preventable.
The conversation just seems to be one-sided.
He don't want to listen.
He still figures that all that shit that went on yesterday wasn't his fault.
He's got maps in the truck.
Every one of our trucks has a book like this.
Permits, maps, everything in this book that you ever wanted to need.
More organized than any company I've ever worked for or hauled for or anything 'cause it's our company.
He just don't get it.
He don't listen until it's too late.
And that's the problem.
By the time he wants to start listening, things have already happened.
And that's a no-no in my books.
It's all adding up, like the scale is tipping slowly, right? Not in my favor.
Narrator: - Coming up - So we're starting off with some interesting road already.
Narrator: Hell frozen over.
Why is it spinning? Oh, I hate you.
Narrator: On the road back to Winnipeg [Truck horn honks.]
Well, we're empty today, and we're leading ourselves.
Ugh, this is gonna be long one.
Narrator: Bosses Hugh Rowland and Vlad Pleskot are at the head of the pack and trying to make up time.
Eh, we were a little late getting started this morning.
We got quite a hike back to Winnipeg.
Narrator: They're closing in on the town of Norway House, the halfway point for the journey home.
Hey, Fart, can you hear us way up here? [Radio static crackling.]
You hear anything else from Fart and company? Negative.
You don't have to hire anybody that's costing us money, and he's costing us fucking money.
[Horn honks.]
Narrator: 30 miles back and out of radio range It's been a very long haul, and it's only the first one.
But they might get better, eh? Narrator: New hire Art Burke is going at his own pace.
I think Vlad and Hugh is down at Norway House, I would think.
I'm not sure because I'm out of contact.
They're too far ahead, so I'm not sure what the plan is.
We made her to Norway House.
We just keep going then? We can probably make up some time.
No use in stopping here and fuck around.
We're almost off the ice road.
Narrator: - An hour later - But we're here now, buddy.
Narrator: Art finally reaches Norway House.
Well, I was supposed to meet Vlad and Hugh here.
Hey, Vlad, you got a copy? Hugh, you got a copy, bud? Hey, boys, anybody, you got a copy? [Whistles.]
Well, it's quite obvious that they took off without me.
I'm not too impressed with this.
I know what my plan is.
I'd like to have some food.
Hugh and Vlad fucking took off and left me.
You don't do this to your employees.
What more can I say? That's the way it is.
Oh, well.
Narrator: While Art stops for lunch If I hang around here long enough, maybe Lisa will come and put my chains on for me.
- Polar drivers Alex Debogorski - Here we go.
Narrator: And Lisa Kelly are about to take on the road to Shamattawa, hoping to deliver loads that could bank $100,000 for Polar Industries.
Brrr! Oh.
Ouch.
We got a lot of things working against us, and then I got my dingdong wrist working against me too.
I broke my wrist this year racing motocross.
I was doing awesome in this race, and I totally over-jumped this jump, landed completely flat in a corner, and I broke my wrist.
But some days it just hurts more than others.
And guess what.
Today is one of those days.
So I'm kind of fighting the odds today.
Narrator: With a nonstop barrage of hills and tight curves, the Shamattawa Road is one of the most technically challenging runs in Manitoba.
And being able to shift at a moment's notice is key to survival.
I was thinking if I had, like, some support around my wrist, that, like, it would help.
So I have some duct tape.
And I'm gonna try this out.
I think that support will really help take the pressure off the wrist when I'm shifting.
I think I'm ready to go.
Alex, you got a copy? Go ahead, Lisa.
I think I'm just about as prepared as I can get before just getting on the road and just discovering it.
Okay, let's get going.
Okay.
[Honks horn.]
Let's roll.
Narrator: Hauling loads that will keep Polar ahead of VP Express, Lisa and Alex hit the brutal Shamattawa trail.
Well, so we're starting off with some interesting road already.
It's gonna get rougher than that.
I hope Lisa pays attention.
This is like a whole new animal.
It's kind of like motocross.
It's technical.
Like certain tracks, you know? You got to time it right.
There's no forgiveness on it.
It's like an obstacle course.
Ow.
This truck is hard to shift.
You got to put some pressure on it and get it out of gear, and then kind of jam it in gear again.
I've been doing a lot of shifting, and it's kind of painful.
It's, like, seriously messing me up.
I don't know.
I don't even know.
Hmm, there's a hill sign.
Here's where we find out what gear I pull in.
Ow! Oh, my God.
You got to be kidding me.
Ugh! I cannot believe this.
Such a disaster.
Narrator: - Coming up - Oh, you fucking cock sucker.
Narrator: VP Express boils over.
Will you get out of the fucking way with that? Ugh! Narrator: On the rugged road to Shamattawa This truck can't even pull itself up a hill.
Narrator: Lisa Kelly's hauling part of a $100,000 contract that will keep Polar Industries ahead of the rival drivers at VP Express.
I almost thought we had it there, but-- ugh! Narrator: But a broken wrist is making the road nearly impossible to navigate, and she may have met her match.
Okay, here's my plan.
I'm gonna just try it in first.
So right now it's a rally if I can even get it going.
Come on, you gutless, worthless piece of-- oh, I hate you.
Why is it spinning? You got to be kidding.
Okay, I'm frustrated now.
It's not even gonna go up it in first.
Look at that, it is literally in first gear, and it's not even moving.
Okay, you know what? I'm gonna go faster.
I'm scratching plan "B" on hauling it in first, 'cause it ain't gonna work.
Narrator: Out of options, Lisa's gotta gun it up the hill and hope her wrist holds up.
[Mouthing silently.]
Up to the top of that one on a curve.
Three tries to get up a hill that's not even mentioned.
Hayes River, I am now officially terrified.
Narrator: 100 miles up the road Whoo! Rodeo! Narrator: - Thanks to an early start - Ooh.
Narrator: Polar teammate Darrell Ward's already halfway to Shamattawa.
I don't break something on this rough road, we'll be in pretty good shape.
Narrator: But the road is proving just as tough for the Montana log hauler.
Whoa! I've got 100 kilometers to go.
To average 20 kilometers an hour out here is pretty-- pretty intense.
I'd just soon get unloaded and be on my way back towards Winnipeg to get another load.
Boy, she's a rough one.
Ladies and gentlemen, do not try this at home.
That's the river crossing.
Looks like a pretty good one.
Looks like a pretty good one.
Narrator: Taking the season's first load to Shamattawa also means being the first to attempt the Hayes River crossing.
Your edges are your biggest problem most of the time.
So just take her easy and ease down onto the ice.
Narrator: The ice is rated for a maximum of 41 tons, and hauling just under 40 tons, Darrell's right near the limit.
[Ice cracking.]
I can hear the ice cracking.
I can see it cracking.
Kind of gives you an eerie feeling when you hear the ice crack under you.
Sure don't want to fall through.
It'd be mighty cold.
I got to have my momentum.
This is where you got to come off of the ice.
Narrator: Drivers have to keep a slow and steady pace on the ice.
But on the Hayes River, they also have to keep enough momentum to scale the steep incline on the other side.
Come on! God! See what happens? Fuck.
I just spin the shit out of my tires, 'cause my trailer makes it heavy.
Narrator: Darrell's forced back down the hill.
You got to be careful.
We don't need to go falling through.
Narrator: And back onto the ice with his 40-ton load.
I spun out on that hill.
I'm gonna have to get a run at it again.
Great deal.
Momentum will take you a long ways.
Any load on any road.
That's my motto.
Narrator: As the sun sets and the temperature drops to 40 below What's going on there? Anything coming, buddy? Narrator: VP Express driver Art Burke is headed back to Winnipeg, miles behind his bosses.
Yeah, I think I'm going the right way.
We're heading now to get some fuel.
I hope she's open or we're fucked.
This fucking place is gonna be on the right.
Is this it? This is it right down here.
Whoa.
Oh, you cock sucker.
[Beeping.]
[Engine sputters.]
Oh, man! [Engine sputters.]
What? What is this all about now? [Clicking sounds, engine silent.]
Well, the truck won't start.
I have no fucking idea.
Well, this is a fucking damn dandy fuck situation now, ain't it? I don't believe it.
What the fuck next? Will you get out of the fucking way with that? Narrator: At the fuel stop in Ponton, Manitoba We don't soon get her going, it'll be too cold, and then we'll never get it going.
Narrator: VP Express driver Art Burke has been left behind to fend for himself at 40 below.
We're trying to get the fucking truck going.
Narrator: And he's only got a few minutes until the oil cools down and the engine is too cold to restart.
[Clicking.]
The starter's either fucked up or it's froze or something, eh? I'm not quite sure what the fuck to do here.
That fucking thing.
I think it might be fucking yet.
We froze up.
Narrator: - Up ahead - Vlad and Hugh, you got a copy? Narrator: Bosses Hugh Rowland and Vlad Pleskot pick up the call from their stranded employee.
Art, what happened? Fucking sucker shut off and she won't start.
We're frozen.
I'm sick and tired of his bullshit.
Just keep driving, Vlad.
Fucking prick! He's dead wrong.
You're talking about your fucking self.
I'll stuff that cocksucker and make a fucking matt.
I didn't get in business by fucking hiring idiots like that.
You turn your back on him, and he just fucks up.
He's lost us fucking money.
I'm not even gonna deal with him anymore.
I don't want him around anymore or I'll [Murmurs angrily.]
.
What a fucking idiot.
You forgot who you're working for.
You're working for us! You do what you're supposed to do! Fuck, he's lucky I ain't there.
I'd ring his cocksucking fucking neck.
Ugh! Well, Mark will have another driver now anyway.
Oh, he's Polar material, man.
I'm gonna trade him off for two school girls, and I'm gonna be better off.
Yeah, for sure.
I just don't hire idiots.
Well, we made her back to Winnipeg in one piece.
We had a good run, except for Art there.
He got lost about four times on the way up there.
We kind of lost faith in him there.
And then on the way back, we ended up way ahead of him.
He said, "Oh, yeah, I'm coming right behind you," and then he was a couple hours behind us and he cost us time, and time is money for us.
We can't put up with that shit.
I mean, he won't listen to nothing.
And he doesn't know much.
So we'll decide what we're gonna do tomorrow, and that's about it.
Narrator: Art's failure to match Hugh's pace has VP Express falling behind their rivals at Polar Industries.
But 700 miles north Polar's drivers are having problems of their own.
I'm coming up on the Hayes River.
Once I get to where it's flat and there's enough room, I'll wait for Lisa.
Narrator: Lisa and Alex are driving through the night to deliver the first round of loads in Polar's $100,000 Shamattawa contract.
Wrist is holding up good.
It is.
This tape is really taking a lot of pressure off of it.
Narrator: And they've just reached the Hayes River, the same crossing that nearly derailed Darrell earlier in the day.
I think it's just gonna kind of be trial and error.
I'm kind of hoping Alex waits for me so that I can kind of see how he does it.
Hey, looks like Alex.
I'm gonna bundle up, and I'm gonna go say hi.
I'm so glad he waited.
I'd love to do this in the daytime.
I haven't been on this road before.
We can't see the ice.
Hi, I've been feeling lonely up here.
Yeah, I've been lonely back there.
[Laughs.]
Is this the river? - Let's take a walk down there and take a look at it, see-- - Yeah.
You got your rubber boots on? [Laughs.]
No.
[Chuckles.]
I mean, I've heard stories, you know, where guys have gone through the ice, and it's pretty spooky.
You know, I guess we lost a couple of operators last week or two just over not far from here.
I'll go across.
We got to be one kilometer apart.
And if you fall through, I'm not going to follow you.
[Laughs.]
Don't bother jumping in the water.
Keep an eye out.
You know, if water starts coming through the ice, then get ready for the big jump.
[Laughs.]
Whoo.
Well, here we go, crossing the river on the ice.
Well, Lord, give us a hand.
Narrator: - 700 miles north of Winnipeg - We're halfway to Shamattawa.
Well, as far as how the ice looks, there's not much to look.
You can't see the ice.
Narrator: Alex and Lisa attempt the Hayes River crossing on the road to Shamattawa.
I've been doing a lot of sitting, and now I'm doing a lot of worrying.
And I just want to get my worrying part over with.
It'd be a lot more fun in the daytime, see what's coming up.
This is much more suspenseful, not having a clue what's past ya the end of the headlights.
Alex, if you read me, you on the other side yet? I don't know how to tell when he gets to the other side.
Alex, are you across yet? [Static.]
Communication's lovely.
I think he's far enough.
I am just dropping down on the river now.
Touchdown.
It's dark out, so you can't really tell what's ice and what isn't.
I wish it was daylight.
I'm a little terrified of just bumps-- they're cracked.
My chains are so noisy, I can't hear if the ice is cracking or not.
Where's the other side? Okay, we're back in the trees.
There's a hill? Put her in her favorite gear.
And then kind of go for it.
Run for it.
Oh, come on, I gotta make it up this hill.
Uh-oh.
You got to be kidding me.
This thing is slipping.
I have chains on.
I'm not gonna make it up this hill.
Holy cow! Ugh! Crap.
Narrator: The Hayes River hill gets the best of Lisa.
We're back on the river now.
Narrator: With no way to gain momentum on the ice, adding a second set of chains is her only hope.
Okay, we're gonna try to go up the hill.
I'm gonna try this again.
Can I get up the hill? This is so ridiculous.
We're at the top.
[Chuckles.]
Is that Lisa? Lisa.
Well, Lisa and I have made it over the ice.
Just to complicate that, that was a pretty tough climb.
That was kind of crazy.
I made it.
Narrator: Lisa and Alex still have 100 miles to go.
But up ahead Darrell Ward is closing in on Shamattawa.
Well, we're almost there.
Narrator: And as he pulls into the drop-off site By the skin of my teeth, I made her, didn't I? Narrator: And the first load of Polar's $100,000 contract is in the books.
And Polar keeps the load count lead.
Well, I got my load unloaded here in Shamattawa.
And I don't have a backhaul, so I'm headed back to Winnipeg for another load, you know.
Narrator: But with Lisa and Alex still on the road, team Polar isn't out of the woods yet.
[Horn honks.]
Art Burke's been left behind by his bosses.
It's been a long day, boy.
And now we got to sleep on it, so to speak.
Narrator: And with his truck broken down, he's done for the night.
There's nothing I can do tonight.
Might as well get rested up for tomorrow.
Well, this is quite the fucking spot too.
Well, I'm not very happy about being here.
I mean, fuck.
But it's gonna have to do.
I'm half scared to have a shower in there, boy.
That's the fucking truth.
Smells good too, don't it? It's cold as a bastard in here too, isn't it? Well, well, well, well, well, well, jumping shit.
I'm just fed up with the whole fucking thing, man.
We're gonna put this here like this and hope that I'm the only thing that crawls into it.
Well, I called Hugh and told him what I did.
They never got back to help me.
They fucking took off and left me there.
He's a fucking cocksucker, man.
And I'll beat the fucking face right off of that, is how I feel when I think about this, eh? Anyway, now I'm here by myself for the night, right? And I can't go anywheres.
This is the first trip, boy.
What the fuck is gonna happen for the next three or four? - Next time on Ice Road Truckers - Be a long season for you boys.
[Honks horn.]
Narrator: Team Polar tries to survive Manitoba's most brutal road.
Yeah, there's a flat tire.
This is a dangerous road.
The new guy Todd here, he's gonna lead the way today.
Narrator: VP Express calls in reinforcements.
If you make the wrong move up here Sweet fuck! It's gonna be a dead wrong move.
Narrator: - And with their rivals on the ropes - Fuck! Narrator: Hugh's ready to strike.
If he's trying to break me, he's gonna have to fucking work at it.
Let's fucking go!