Ice Road Truckers was a bit of a moonshot for the History channel. As a nation, we've shown very little interest in what is objectively one of the most important vocations a person can take on these days.
Without trucks crossing our country every day as they do, business as we know it would cease. History channel knew that when they released the show and so there's a lot that they don't tell you about how the show is made and what exactly the truth is behind the scenes and shots that you're seeing.
It might be a bit of a shock to those of you that might think Santa is still real, but reality television is far from reality. Ice Road Truckers is no different. Much of what you haven't seen paints a much clearer and truthful picture about what really goes on in one of the most barren settings imaginable. There is one fact about something that didn't happen in such a cold setting that you might be shocked by.
14 Truckers Don't Go Out Alone
You might think that truckers are "Lone Wolves" out in the subzero temperatures making runs on their own but that's not the case. A person very close to the production mentioned that they always go out in pairs if not foursomes with safety as the goal. You're not actually allowed to go out alone.
13 The Go Out As Often As Every 20 Mins
That same source made it clear that when they're in the height of the season, it's so busy up there that convoys of drivers are leaving together every 20 minutes. That certainly isn't something you'll ever see on the show.
12 Stopping On The Ice Is Forbidden
Stopping on the ice may not seem dangerous, but the truth is that the heat from the vehicle and the sustained weight can weaken the ice quickly. Because of that, stopping on the ice is prohibited and against safety protocols. We'll get to what happens when they don't have an option, below.
11 That Sinking Truck Wasn't Real
The most famous scene from the first season of the show is of an 18-wheeler slipping beneath the ice after it begins to crack beneath. Yeah, that was made in a sound stage in sunny California with a 1/6th model and some shaved ice and sugar.
10 Camera Operators Risk Their Lives
While safety is important to the truckers themselves, there have been safety problems with the film crew. One is even said to use nothing more than a single seat belt strap to hold them into the camera vehicle while they hang out the back of it to get shots of the front of the trucks going down the road.
9 The Venues They Shoot At Don't Love Them
The venue each of the first 3 seasons changed and that was because the producers were told to kick rocks as it were. Communities didn't love the way production was carried on. Small communities took some drastic action too.
8 One Community Made Them Illegal
One of those small communities actually outlawed not only the filming and production of the show. They outlawed the transportation of the equipment used to film the show just in case the showrunners got any smart ideas.
7 Producers Produce Extra Drama
One thing you can do to mess up production in a normal workgroup is to throw a rookie in. For a reality show that's perfect. So they've intentionally hired inexperienced drivers just to add drama to the production value.
6 Accidents Have Happened
One camera crew actually crashed into the back of a truck due to low visibility. They were three miles away from where they had left off. It took police 3 hours to arrive. What a rough penalty for just being negligent.
5 When Break Downs Happen They're Stuck For Hours
As mentioned above, stopping on the ice is dangerous. When something happens where the truck must stop, it's important to pull off the road to a thicker part of the ice if possible. Here you can see the truck has been stuck for hours but the driver inside is still warm.
4 Truckers Are Personally Prepared For The Worst
When these breakdowns do happen, the truckers are packed to the gills with survival equipment. They have to be ready to endure -40 degree temperature, and as mentioned above, long delays before help will arrive.
3 The Trucks Are In Excellent Shape
Break downs don't happen as often as the show portrays. In such cold weather, the vehicles are that much more prone to breaking down. Because of that, the trucks are rigorously maintained so that they're less likely to leave their operators stranded.
2 Drivers Aren't Allowed Promotional Deals
The creator of the show has a rule that applies to all his shows. The cast isn't allowed to profit from the show outside of the show itself. He believes that it'll change the cast and make them less watchable.
1 There Are Strict Speed Limits
As we've made clear, safety is far more of a priority than the show tells you. Speed limits are strictly adhered to throughout the regions they shoot in because you can actually damage the ice by going too fast. It creates waves below the ice that can cause it to break prematurely.