Ice Road Truckers (2007) s04e16 Episode Script
New King of the Dalton
Tonight This is extreme trucking up here Like it or leave it.
On the final day of the season, the ice road is melting.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
You can make it.
Just when you think you know what to expect this road surprises you.
And the competition reaches a fever pitch.
Just let me around.
That.
They wanna bring it on, they can bring it on.
Rookie Ray has battled his way to the top of the load count.
I'm gonna get it.
I'm gonna go out there, and I'm gonna get it.
But the ice road veterans Hold on for the ride.
Aren't going down without a fight.
All my hard work that i worked for all season is finally going to pay off.
The throne is empty right now.
That's up for grabs, as far as I'm concerned.
Livin' on the edge These are the truckers who make their living On thin ice.
In Fairbanks, Alaska K.
F.
A.
R.
660 A.
M.
temperature's somewhere just north of 15 degrees.
Well, the ice road's getting melty, a little soft there.
You need to get your trips in right now, folks.
The final day of the season is heating up.
You can feel the warmth of the sun.
Things are melting in the afternoons already.
The road is more dangerous than ever.
The sun's starting to stay up a lot longer.
The road is getting a lot slicker.
And the truckers have one last chance to make a run at the load-count crown.
I've been fighting my whole life.
I had to fight for everything i got, and I ain't done yet.
So if they want to bring it on, they can bring it on.
Yeah, when I want something, i go after it.
But when I really need it or my family needs it, I mean, you ain't gonna stop me.
After his construction business back in Montana went under, rookie Ray Veilleux hit the ice road to support his wife and two kids.
If you're a responsible parent, husband, you're gonna do it.
You're gonna do what you gotta do to support your family and not lose what you got.
With his family counting on him, Ray never slowed down, fighting his way to the front of the pack with 18 loads.
Hugh "the polar bear" rowland is hot on his heels with 17 loads.
Jack Jessee and Lisa Kelly are tied with 16 loads each.
Alex Debogorski sits at 15, while Greg Boadwine is last, with just ten loads.
I'm gonna get it.
I'm gonna go out there, and I'm gonna get it.
Just one load behind Ray Hugh "the polar bear" rowland isn't backing down.
We'll be on the front for weight, pickup on the back.
I can just just [Bleep.]
Go.
Hugh's plan is to race north with this load of cable, then pull a turn-and-burn, hauling a second load back to Fairbanks to even the score with Ray and claim his share of the load-count crown.
Well, I had a pretty lucky season this year.
I mean, I beat most of the storms.
I never had any breakdowns.
Took my truck in for regular service.
I had a pretty lucky season.
I like I said, I got a golden horseshoe up my ass, and it worked out real well for me.
Hugh dodged a few bullets this season, but with no time to spare, any trouble today means the polar bear will have to settle for second place.
This road is empty right now.
That's up for grabs, as far as I'm concerned.
I can fill that vacancy.
While Hugh races north, rookie Ray is headed back to Fairbanks Hoping this final run will lock up the load-count crown.
I'm heading South here.
My load is two big tanks that they put cement powder in.
I don't usually take heavy loads southbound.
We don't get that lucky to have any.
I was like, "wow, there's a good-bye present.
" Ray's first season on the ice road got off to a rocky start.
Shoot! We're stuck.
Damn it! It's stuck! Enough's enough.
Two months in Ice cut, southbound.
Ray's season nearly ended in disaster.
Hey, we crashed.
I'm in the ditch.
But since the accident, Ray has played it safe, and his hard work has paid off.
So I got more loads than anybody else.
I'm pretty proud of myself, especially for being a rookie.
Just a few Miles back, second-year driver Greg is hauling the same load as Ray.
We've got a pair of oversized concrete tanks.
Should be sitting about ten-six wide.
At the start of the season, Greg talked a big game.
Jack Jessee, the haul road ace, is out ahead.
We need to have him behind us and keep him behind us for the duration of the ice road season.
But bad luck and bad decisions quickly knocked Greg out of the race.
Now I'm back at the shop with too many problems with that truck to take it out again.
It's Don't even want to talk about it.
But I'm still pretty irritated.
I could have still been on top of the load count if I wanted to fly and beat the crap out of myself and my truck, but not interested in doing that.
I really don't care what the load count is.
It's got almost no bearing on me.
With no chance to get back into the competition, Greg's only got one goal for his final run of the season.
Gotta go catch Ray.
The last time the two former friends ran together, Ray chose to pull over instead of giving Greg the satisfaction of sacking or passing him on the road.
I'm gonna pull right the Over and let him go by.
What in the hell? Come on! Just get it going.
What is he thinking? Ray thinks he pulled into a driveway instead of into a ditch, so Good one.
One of those situations where, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Now, with nothing to lose, Greg is out for revenge.
I'm gonna lay in the shadows.
I'm gonna wait until I know i gotta wind up somewhere.
Gonna track him down and get him on a hill.
20 Miles behind Ray and Greg We're climbing ice cut.
It's pretty slick.
Jack Jessee has spent his season hauling the heaviest and most dangerous loads on the road, and his final run is no exception.
You know, this jet fuel is extremely volatile.
It has a low flash point.
If this stuff gets too hot, it can just go up for the heck of it.
If this load were to go into a ditch and get a hole punched in it, you're.
At the beginning of the season, Jack Jessee was the odds-on favorite to win the dash for the cash.
It's all about Jack Jessee.
He's the ace of the haul road.
That's all there is to it.
Long, heavy hauls knocked Jack out of the load-count race.
When you're pulling the oversized stuff, hazardous loads, you can't get in a hurry.
But the defending champ isn't going home empty-handed.
You know, I didn't get as many loads in as some others out there.
But the ones I did do paid me better.
Uh, you know, you get compensated for hazardous loads.
You get compensated for oversized loads.
So, all in all, you know, it's been a really good season.
Last year, I didn't do any pushing, and this year I did.
One of them took five whole days.
If I hadn't have done that, i probably would have got a couple extra loads in there.
But the year's not over until the last load reaches the Fairbanks yard.
And up ahead, a d.
O.
T.
Plow in the ditch is a grim reminder of just how dangerous the melting ice road has become.
The job they do and as close to the edge as they get, it just happens.
It happens to everybody.
There's really not much you can do.
It's just hold on for the ride.
We're coming to the end of the ice road season here.
You gotta be extra careful.
That was a pretty slick curve right there.
That'll catch you by surprise.
That one area's no joke, though.
It's a pretty serious area.
Jack's final run of the season will be one of his most dangerous, and the haul road ace isn't taking any chances.
I gotta put chains on to go up Atigun.
This road has a mind of its own.
You gotta have enough knowledge and experience to handle it.
It may not get you the first time or the second time you don't pay attention.
But if you if you don't give it respect, that road will get you.
20 Miles up the road We had a hard time just getting here.
I've been spinning for the last freakin' two Miles here, trying to get up these little hills, so Rookie Ray is approaching Atigun pass.
I think what I've learned, you know, I mean, doing this this winter, is you don't want any problems, no misery just to be safe, so I'm gonna chain up right here.
Yeah, they said there's good dirt on the road, but I ain't taking any chances.
Like, before, I think I would have tried to take this load up Atigun without chains on.
You just chain up.
You lose a little bit of time, but it's safe.
Just behind, Greg decides not to chain up.
Definitely want to pass him.
Shouldn't have any problem holding a little better speed than he is.
Hopefully we can keep this push going by just motoring right over it and not having to chain up.
There's not really gonna be a possibility to stop.
I'm just gonna keep going.
Just not getting any choice.
All right, we finally see him.
Time to go get him.
Coming up, a showdown on the pass I ain't gonna let you have it that easy.
Just let me around.
That.
You started a war now.
On Atigun pass, Greg tracked down his rival, Ray.
Catching up on Ray pretty quick here.
I guess Ray decided to go ahead and chain.
Might be a little nervous about his little motor there, so I'm just gonna sit right here and wait for it.
Now he's stopped.
Greg will wait until Ray gets back on the road, setting up a chance to sack, or pass, him while climbing the hill.
Now he's stopped.
Time to go get him.
Ray.
He's literally driving through the middle of the road Really bad call with an oversized load, in general, much less in front of me.
Coming around.
I ain't gonna let you have it that easy.
Just let me around.
That.
You started a war now.
I would have never made it.
Even with my chains on, I'm spinning.
Greg's hitting it without chains.
Ray's best bet is to stay in the center of the road, where fresh snow provides the most traction.
I ain't gonna slide backwards 'cause because of games.
I'm not doing it.
Well, right now I'm not chained up.
Ray has chains on.
And now he's taking his sweet-ass time in the middle of the road.
He's putting me in danger doing it.
I have to keep speed built.
He's got room to get over.
He's gonna get me spun out because he's not moving over.
Ray, you're about to spin me out.
I've spun out on that pass before being behind people.
You know, happens to everybody.
I got more speed.
You need to just let me around.
That.
I'm gonna get pissed.
Think I'm [Bleep.]
Moving over? I'm already spinning with my chains on.
This is [Bleep.]
Now.
Call it what you want.
Go bitch what you want.
It's like, "dude, you should have chained up.
" Bottom line.
Ray.
It's all games, man.
It's all freakin' games.
I'm going 10 Miles an hour.
Now I'm gonna have to end up having to drop a gear because he's [Bleep.]
Blocking the road.
This is [Bleep.]
Bull.
Ray, you're about to spin me out.
Coming over the slipperiest part right here, this pipe cross.
I'm getting into position now.
Took a gambleot getting your chains on.
Don't take it for granted.
It'll come up and bite you.
Well, my rear end is hoppin'.
Burnt out.
Burnt out.
Sorry.
Should have chained up.
That son of a.
That.
He's chaining up.
That's too bad.
He knew I didn't chain.
Now, thanks to Ray's Stupidity, I'm stuck on the side of the [Bleep.]
Hill, chaining up.
It pays to chain up.
That's for sure.
Is what he is.
Prudhoe bay, Lisa Kelly's looking to cash in one last time with a paid backhaul on her final trip South.
Hey, trina.
Hey, how's it going, Lisa? Good.
How are you? Good.
Have you got anything going back to Fairbanks? We have deck flats, or we have flat two crates.
Which one pays, like, the most backhaul? Probably the trucks.
Okay.
That cool? That's cool.
Awesome.
Okay.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Have a good day.
Thanks.
Lisa's 17th load will leave her short of the title, but her season's been a success.
I think if I went back in time and knew what the season was gonna be like, even though I think it's been very hard, I think I'd do it again.
On her first run of the year, a massive car hauler was more than Lisa could handle.
Um Was more than Lisa could handle.
Me and Ryan are swapping loads right now.
And as one of the only women on the road, Lisa heard more than her share of trash talk on the radio.
I knew it.
I knew they're talking.
I had to try to make sure that I was hauling the heavier stuff, because every time I get a light load, I got teased by the guys.
But a successful run as a heavy-haul pusher I'm there, locked in and hooked up.
Very nice job.
Earned Lisa a place among Carlile's top dogs.
So much fun.
It's unbelievable.
They pay me to do this.
Now, as the season comes to a close, Lisa's looking for a few extra dollars to help her reach one final goal reuniting with an old friend.
Sky's my horse.
She's my Tennessee Walker.
Me and sky are soul mates.
We're meant to be together.
I bought her when she was six months old, and I got to name her, give her a registered name and everything, and I was actually the first one ever on her back ever.
Through a series of circumstances, she was sold back to the lady I originally bought her from, so that lady is saving her for me.
Back on Atigun pass, Greg is spun out and fired up.
I'm sure he's saying plenty right now.
Being a [Bleep.]
, and it's one of his Pissy [Bleep.]
Midol moments.
I knew that was coming.
"I'm gonna bag his ass on the pass!" Knows that I'm Getting a run at it.
Pulls the [Bleep.]
Out in front of me, then blocks the Road.
I really feel bad for Greg.
Ray [Bleep.]
My safety.
Now he's gonna pay the Price for it.
Up and over.
Now we're heading down the other side.
See if I can't have Ray's job for that.
That [Bleep.]
Dead.
Just a few Miles back, Jack Jessee is chained up, hauling 100 tons of volatile jet fuel.
I think I can.
I think I can.
And his last run up Atigun pass may be the most dangerous of the season.
Well, we're we're climbing Atigun.
With a tanker heading back South, this hill is just bad, 'cause these things are notoriously tail-heavy.
I can't believe this thing's still moving, and I haven't spun out yet.
The melting road is so slick, any extra power will send the truck spinning out of control and could push Jack and 8,000 gallons of jet fuel over the edge.
If I touch the throttle, I'm gonna spin out Literally.
Feet are not touching throttle.
It's just idling up the hill.
But his 100-ton, tail-heavy load soon runs out of momentum.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
I don't think so either, damn it.
top, Jack has no choice but to hit the gas and take his chances.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
The only way to regain traction is to steer into the fresh snow On the wrong side of the road.
On Atigun pass, Jack Jessee's rig is spinning out of control.
Okay.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
I got the truck here to trade sides with me.
I made it! Check engine light's on, but I made it.
Wow, that was that was rather exciting.
On his way down the pass, Ray finds Jack on the radio.
Well, Greg tried putting a big pass on me in Atigun pass.
I chained up.
He didn't.
So he came up right on my ass, and he's like, "I got to get around you! I got to get around you! "I'm coming! I'm coming!" And he tried getting around me.
There wasn't much room.
He got back there, and then he spun out.
So what, did you spin him out right behind you? Oh, yeah.
That's funny.
I think Ray's just pretty hungry for some loads.
You know, he came up here for one thing and one thing only, and that was to work.
I think he's got that job taken care of, and I know he's got a lot more to learn about the road, but he's learning.
Yeah, it's a bunch of games with them guys.
It's a lot of games, you know, and it gets a little a little reckless sometimes it seems like.
Well, he should have chained up for it.
I'm sure he's [Bleep.]
Pissed.
I am absolutely irate.
That [Bleep.]
Ray just pulled Is ridiculous.
He just did everything in his power right there to screw me over.
You know, most things don't get to me, but when it's someone else's stupidity that puts my life in jeopardy, puts my livelihood in jeopardy, I got no time for that bull crap.
It won't surprise me if that stupid little stunt cost Ray his job, especially after stuffing his truck in a ditch.
Alex Debogorski is nearly finished with his 16th and final load.
Yeah, this is my last run of the season.
I'm gonna take this load, and I'll leave it in Coldfoot.
This is gonna top off my paycheck.
It's got some metal on it.
It's got pipe just to make me feel at home, since I hauled so much pipe this year.
It's got a pickup on there.
It's got some lumber on there.
There's some parts for doors and building material, and that's sort of a oddball.
It's kind of like somebody's breakfast, this load.
I'm sort of out of the race for the load count.
He'll end the year well behind his rival, Hugh.
So, you know, I always like to beat Hugh, but so far, that hasn't been working out real good.
As long as I'm taller than him, I got him beat already.
This year, Alex's dash for the cash took a backseat to helping people in need.
Well, I was busy leading an exciting life this winter.
Just when you think you know what to expect, bada-boom, bada-bang this road surprises you.
It looks like somebody's hitchhiking up here.
Whether it was a stranger on the side of the road Can you take me to the Yukon river bridge? Yeah, get in.
Or a fellow trucker Ray he's in there pretty good.
Stuck in a ditch A good time will be had by all.
Alex always made time to lend a hand.
Thanks, Alex.
You're very welcome.
Appreciate it.
But one scene has stuck with him.
There's a truck upside down in the ditch.
I'm gonna have a look at you right away.
Well, we got to keep you warm, anyway.
That's good for you.
You know that, eh? You know, I don't really even know what happened.
You don't really know what happened? No, I remember coming out of that rig there.
That's about it.
Here.
With Alex's help, the bloody victim made it to the hospital But one mystery remained.
There's a third like I say, a third fellow a third guy.
He was walking on the road when I got here, but I don't know where he went.
He was going down that hill.
I just came from there, and I didn't see anybody on the road.
I understand there's some tracks going out into the woods beside the truck too.
I'm worried about this third guy, wherever he went.
They want to be sure here, because, I'll be honest with you, there's a number of other people that were here very shortly afterwards, and they're not telling me the same story, so about this third guy.
But there's lots of traffic around, so Either you saw him, or you didn't, so Well, I'm sure there's another person wandering around in the road.
Okay.
All right.
I'm pretty sure there was a third fellow that wandered off, got a ride, disappeared, fell in the ditch, goodness knows.
Before Alex heads home for the season, he's gonna look for some answers about the missing third man.
I'll bet money that there was three guys.
But the thing that bothers me is I never really looked at the other guy, you know, or it didn't register.
That's what bothers me.
You know, when I get back to town, if I get the opportunity, I'd be interested in checking.
Well, this is it My last load of the season.
I'm dropping it off here in Coldfoot.
Jack Jessee is southbound, carrying an explosive load of jet fuel.
We're gonna drop in the roller coaster.
The thing with roller coaster here is go.
You try to slingshot yourself up.
The roller coaster is definitely one you don't want to be missing gears on.
You just don't.
Oh, [Bleep.]
Me! Coming up, the final showdown between Ray and Greg.
Crybaby.
Chain up, next [Bleep.]
Time.
And one trucker may be out of work.
I don't think Lane's gonna be very happy.
of Fairbanks, Jack's nearly home with his final run of the season.
But the haul road isn't finished with him yet.
What in? Oh, no.
We got a hole in the damn tire.
There's a hole right there.
This is gonna slow me down, but If I had wrecked at roller coaster, it'd have been like a little nuclear explosion, I bet.
Just poof! Gone.
"Where'd Jack go?" "I don't know.
" But there's a barbecue at the bottom of roller coaster, people.
"Stop in.
" Gosh.
How big is this thing? Come on.
There we go.
Come on.
Come on.
Holy gosh.
Where in the world what did that come off of? Good gosh.
I don't know how that got in the tire, but I wished it never had and give me all this grief.
All right.
Thank gosh it's warm today.
I'd hate to do this in 30 below.
Coldfoot Greg pulls in to call the boss about Ray's reckless driving.
Well, gonna go in here and call Lane, tell him about Ray's little, uh, [Bleep.]
-Up, I guess you'd call it purposely spinning me out like that is.
So let the people that need to deal with it deal with it, so I don't and get fired.
I don't think Lane's gonna be very happy.
Hey, boss.
Hey.
You want the bad news? What's the bad news? Ray decided to block the Road so I couldn't come around.
Ray and, uh, Greg were both coming back from Prudhoe.
I think they had oversized loads.
Greg probably shouldn't have tried to pass him where he did.
Yeah.
Okay.
He made a bad decision.
He probably shouldn't have done this.
Um, probably makes me believe that that he's got a ways to go in his decision-making ability.
Greg, I got to go.
I got to catch someone here real quick.
Okay.
Bye.
Kind of explain the situation briefly.
And the one thing he pointed out was that an oversized load shouldn't be trying to pass another oversized load on the pass.
I caused the insane situation.
My job may be in jeopardy because I went ahead and tried to pass him.
Something that is most definitely Ray's fault could end up costing me my job.
He said that it sounded like Lane and myself would need to sit down and have a meeting.
I'm gonna have to see how that all works out.
Just a few Miles behind Greg, Lisa Kelly is motoring to Fairbanks on her last run of the season.
I got a little backhaul today.
It just gets me a little extra cash, so that's good.
Right now every little bit helps.
Before she heads home to buy back her horse, Lisa's got to spend a little of her hard-earned cash repaying an important debt.
Morning or afternoon or evening.
Hey, I need to get a, um, gift certificate for a steak dinner.
All right.
It'll be $15.
Okay.
Did he do something special for you? He did.
He pulled me out of the ditch.
Halfway through the season, Lisa ran her truck off the road.
Stop.
Oh, no.
And a passing d.
O.
T.
Plow driver stopped to pull her out.
When truckers do favors for other truckers and, like, pull you out of the ditch, you know, get them a gift certificate just to say thank you.
Thank you.
I'll just make sure he gets this.
This'll be posted right up here.
It's the first person I've ever bought something for.
Thank you, Lisa.
Have a great day.
Thanks.
You too.
See you.
See you.
Hugh "the polar bear" rowland is flying up the Dalton, hoping for one last backhaul to give him a share of the load-count crown.
Yeah, it doesn't matter what ice road I'm on or where I'm at.
When I when I'm done this season, I hope to be on top.
Like I said, I'd rather die with my boots on than live on my Knees.
This season, Hugh's been no stranger to speed.
Yee-ha! Come on, baby! But his hard-charging attitude didn't sit well with the Carlile brass.
See this trailer rubbed into the exit points of the heater.
I thought Hugh was an experienced trucker.
If whoever loaded it, it's on them.
You know what? This year, he doesn't have any respect.
He didn't come back with any respect for the road out of control.
He got had a couple issues with loads.
He was, uh, being a, you know, renegade out there and doing things that shouldn't be done.
Hugh rolls into the yard with load number 18.
Hell of a trip.
We had a pretty good one.
She was nice weather all the way in.
But he needs one more load to catch Ray.
And to do that, he'll need a paying backhaul right now.
Well Next I'm glad to see you're okay.
Alex looks for answers about the missing man.
There's been numerous, numerous people killed on that road.
I'm happy to be alive.
In Prudhoe bay, Hugh "the polar bear" rowland needs a backhaul to claim his but boss Lane Keator is in charge of the load assignments and he and Hugh haven't seen eye to eye all season.
He came back a different person, a different driver.
You know, it takes several years to learn that road and to be considered a veteran.
And as far as I'm concerned, he went right back to rookie status.
I'm not a reckless driver.
I never have been.
I don't abuse the truck.
I don't abuse the roads.
I don't abuse the laws.
But the boss has the final word.
Well Thanks.
Later.
Hugh's out there sometimes overpromoting his ability.
And it's gonna bite him.
And in this case, it was, uh it wasn't good for him in the long run.
I get to run the way I like to run.
I'm a little more aggressive driver 'cause I'm only up here for the 60 days.
So I drive a little different than most of them.
Hugh leaves Prudhoe bay empty-handed no load, no money, and possibly no job.
I would say, as long as I'm here, it'll be a long road before Hugh rowland ever makes it back to the Dalton.
Back in Fairbanks I'm just about pulling in the terminal here in Fairbanks, and as far as runs, we're done.
This is it.
Everything went good.
Ray Veilleux enters the Carlile yard to claim his title as the haul road king.
So I got more loads than anybody else.
How's that for rookie [Bleep.]
, huh? A few minutes later, Greg hauls in his final load.
I've got absolutely nothing to say to Ray right now.
Anything I say to Ray right this minute can possibly get me fired.
You realize we're having a pretty slow day.
Yeah, he just keeps avoiding me and stands off to the side out there.
Crybaby.
Chain up next [Bleep.]
Time.
He took a gamble, and he lost.
You know, you take you take a hit like that, you get out and chain up.
He's young.
He's cocky.
He does need a little bit of a you know, tweak his attitude a little bit.
Tweak the way he thinks.
Greg's a good driver.
He just has to remember that it takes time.
It's a marathon.
It's not a sprint.
I honestly don't think there's a true bitter end to a season.
The end's the end.
We keep going no matter what.
I'm gonna keep after it until I have to stop.
All season, Alex put his runs on hold to help people in need.
Well, I didn't know if I was ever gonna see you again.
Hey, thanks a lot.
I'm glad to see you're okay.
Before heading back to his family, he checks in on the victim of the truck wreck, hoping to get some answers about the missing man.
My worry when I stopped is that I couldn't handle it.
Dude, I wouldn't want to be there and have a guy die under me because I'm too stupid to know you know, because I don't know what to do.
Hey, thank you again.
I mean, for real.
Oh, you're welcome.
It looked bad.
It was it you know, I mean, you know, people don't like looking at people cut open.
They stitched it up really nice.
It looked a lot worse.
Oh, God.
Boy, it must've been just about an inch deep.
It was right to the chin bone.
It actually run all the way right to the chin bone all the way through.
I could stick my tongue through it.
Are you serious? Yeah.
That's bad.
Yeah.
There's been numerous, numerous people killed on that road.
I'm happy to be alive, for Sakes, you know, after that.
Garth is lucky to be alive.
And regarding the missing driver, he's got the answer Alex was looking for.
This is just recently.
The third man Alex saw leaving the scene evaded police.
Where is he at now? Prison.
But was eventually arrested.
Hey, God bless you.
Yeah, thanks a lot, man.
Hey, you're very welcome.
Thank you.
I appreciate it greatly.
No problem.
Well, the roads out here, they're some of the most dangerous roads you can drive on.
I have a lot of respect for all those guys that drive back and forth.
Alex is a good egg.
I like Alex.
I think the guys on the road like him.
He's always friendly.
Stop, help.
Stop and talk.
He enjoys life.
He likes taking his time and and getting there in one piece and doing it the right way.
You don't have to worry about him getting there and getting back.
With the mystery solved, Alex heads home to his family.
I called my wife, and she sounds like she's interested in seeing me again.
I'm sure that everybody will be happy to see me at least for a day or two.
Back on the road, Lisa Kelly rolls South out of Fairbanks Bound for home and one last important load to pick up.
Sky's my horse.
I finally saved enough money from working that I could actually purchase her back.
And so it's really cool to know that I've accomplished my goal.
She's mine.
By the end of the season, Lisa earned her place among Carlile's top drivers.
I got three really big things out of it.
I got push-trucking, and I got my horse, and I got possibilities now.
Lisa's coming along nicely.
Uh, you know, you never hear any problems with Lisa out there with drivers, getting along with people.
She just goes up and down the road, you know, lives in her truck.
She's a long ways from home.
A long ways from her family and all her pets.
And, you know, she does a great job out there.
Well, the day is here.
And I'm about to buy sky back.
And it means all that my hard work that I work for all season is finally going to pay off.
Lisa, I have your horse! Oh, boy.
Oh, boy.
Oh, boy.
Hi, baby.
Hi.
I'm so glad she's going to you.
She'll have a nice, happy, loving home.
You're fine.
Oops, don't step on me, girl.
She's your legs.
Pay attention to me.
Pay attention.
There she goes.
I'm glad to have you back.
We're gonna have so much fun.
I'm so excited, girlie girl.
Oops.
Back in Fairbanks, Jack Jessee may have given up the load-count crown, but he secured his reputation as one of the best drivers in the business.
Well, the season's finally over.
You work hard in this job for three, four months.
It's nice to take a break from it.
The fact that Jack didn't win the load count doesn't surprise me a whole lot.
Jack didn't have quite the easy year this year with the smaller loads.
I think I'm just gonna have a whole day on the couch Just not do anything.
At the Carlile yard, Ray Veilleux is clearing out his rig.
After four months on the road, he's headed home to his wife and kids as the load-count champion.
I'm excited for going home, that's for sure.
If you want it bad enough, if you have to have it bad enough, you'll do anything it takes to get it done.
Well, Ray had the most loads and won the load-count race.
The guy had some issues out there this year.
You know, at the end of the day, he was able to swing some loads.
Ray's always full of surprises.
And when Ray stops surprising me, I'll be worried.
I'm not a quitter.
I just keep going.
Ray the rookie came through with a one-load victory over the polar bear.
Jack and Lisa tied for third with 17 loads each.
Good samaritan Alex ended his season with 16, while Greg was last, with 11 loads.
Back on the Dalton, the last man on the road, Hugh "the polar bear" rowland motors for home with no apologies and no regrets.
Just hit everything head-on.
And if I get knocked out, I get back up, and I just head down and ass up.
And I just go for everything there is to go for.
Now, this is extreme trucking up here.
That's what you're hired on for.
On the final day of the season, the ice road is melting.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
You can make it.
Just when you think you know what to expect this road surprises you.
And the competition reaches a fever pitch.
Just let me around.
That.
They wanna bring it on, they can bring it on.
Rookie Ray has battled his way to the top of the load count.
I'm gonna get it.
I'm gonna go out there, and I'm gonna get it.
But the ice road veterans Hold on for the ride.
Aren't going down without a fight.
All my hard work that i worked for all season is finally going to pay off.
The throne is empty right now.
That's up for grabs, as far as I'm concerned.
Livin' on the edge These are the truckers who make their living On thin ice.
In Fairbanks, Alaska K.
F.
A.
R.
660 A.
M.
temperature's somewhere just north of 15 degrees.
Well, the ice road's getting melty, a little soft there.
You need to get your trips in right now, folks.
The final day of the season is heating up.
You can feel the warmth of the sun.
Things are melting in the afternoons already.
The road is more dangerous than ever.
The sun's starting to stay up a lot longer.
The road is getting a lot slicker.
And the truckers have one last chance to make a run at the load-count crown.
I've been fighting my whole life.
I had to fight for everything i got, and I ain't done yet.
So if they want to bring it on, they can bring it on.
Yeah, when I want something, i go after it.
But when I really need it or my family needs it, I mean, you ain't gonna stop me.
After his construction business back in Montana went under, rookie Ray Veilleux hit the ice road to support his wife and two kids.
If you're a responsible parent, husband, you're gonna do it.
You're gonna do what you gotta do to support your family and not lose what you got.
With his family counting on him, Ray never slowed down, fighting his way to the front of the pack with 18 loads.
Hugh "the polar bear" rowland is hot on his heels with 17 loads.
Jack Jessee and Lisa Kelly are tied with 16 loads each.
Alex Debogorski sits at 15, while Greg Boadwine is last, with just ten loads.
I'm gonna get it.
I'm gonna go out there, and I'm gonna get it.
Just one load behind Ray Hugh "the polar bear" rowland isn't backing down.
We'll be on the front for weight, pickup on the back.
I can just just [Bleep.]
Go.
Hugh's plan is to race north with this load of cable, then pull a turn-and-burn, hauling a second load back to Fairbanks to even the score with Ray and claim his share of the load-count crown.
Well, I had a pretty lucky season this year.
I mean, I beat most of the storms.
I never had any breakdowns.
Took my truck in for regular service.
I had a pretty lucky season.
I like I said, I got a golden horseshoe up my ass, and it worked out real well for me.
Hugh dodged a few bullets this season, but with no time to spare, any trouble today means the polar bear will have to settle for second place.
This road is empty right now.
That's up for grabs, as far as I'm concerned.
I can fill that vacancy.
While Hugh races north, rookie Ray is headed back to Fairbanks Hoping this final run will lock up the load-count crown.
I'm heading South here.
My load is two big tanks that they put cement powder in.
I don't usually take heavy loads southbound.
We don't get that lucky to have any.
I was like, "wow, there's a good-bye present.
" Ray's first season on the ice road got off to a rocky start.
Shoot! We're stuck.
Damn it! It's stuck! Enough's enough.
Two months in Ice cut, southbound.
Ray's season nearly ended in disaster.
Hey, we crashed.
I'm in the ditch.
But since the accident, Ray has played it safe, and his hard work has paid off.
So I got more loads than anybody else.
I'm pretty proud of myself, especially for being a rookie.
Just a few Miles back, second-year driver Greg is hauling the same load as Ray.
We've got a pair of oversized concrete tanks.
Should be sitting about ten-six wide.
At the start of the season, Greg talked a big game.
Jack Jessee, the haul road ace, is out ahead.
We need to have him behind us and keep him behind us for the duration of the ice road season.
But bad luck and bad decisions quickly knocked Greg out of the race.
Now I'm back at the shop with too many problems with that truck to take it out again.
It's Don't even want to talk about it.
But I'm still pretty irritated.
I could have still been on top of the load count if I wanted to fly and beat the crap out of myself and my truck, but not interested in doing that.
I really don't care what the load count is.
It's got almost no bearing on me.
With no chance to get back into the competition, Greg's only got one goal for his final run of the season.
Gotta go catch Ray.
The last time the two former friends ran together, Ray chose to pull over instead of giving Greg the satisfaction of sacking or passing him on the road.
I'm gonna pull right the Over and let him go by.
What in the hell? Come on! Just get it going.
What is he thinking? Ray thinks he pulled into a driveway instead of into a ditch, so Good one.
One of those situations where, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Now, with nothing to lose, Greg is out for revenge.
I'm gonna lay in the shadows.
I'm gonna wait until I know i gotta wind up somewhere.
Gonna track him down and get him on a hill.
20 Miles behind Ray and Greg We're climbing ice cut.
It's pretty slick.
Jack Jessee has spent his season hauling the heaviest and most dangerous loads on the road, and his final run is no exception.
You know, this jet fuel is extremely volatile.
It has a low flash point.
If this stuff gets too hot, it can just go up for the heck of it.
If this load were to go into a ditch and get a hole punched in it, you're.
At the beginning of the season, Jack Jessee was the odds-on favorite to win the dash for the cash.
It's all about Jack Jessee.
He's the ace of the haul road.
That's all there is to it.
Long, heavy hauls knocked Jack out of the load-count race.
When you're pulling the oversized stuff, hazardous loads, you can't get in a hurry.
But the defending champ isn't going home empty-handed.
You know, I didn't get as many loads in as some others out there.
But the ones I did do paid me better.
Uh, you know, you get compensated for hazardous loads.
You get compensated for oversized loads.
So, all in all, you know, it's been a really good season.
Last year, I didn't do any pushing, and this year I did.
One of them took five whole days.
If I hadn't have done that, i probably would have got a couple extra loads in there.
But the year's not over until the last load reaches the Fairbanks yard.
And up ahead, a d.
O.
T.
Plow in the ditch is a grim reminder of just how dangerous the melting ice road has become.
The job they do and as close to the edge as they get, it just happens.
It happens to everybody.
There's really not much you can do.
It's just hold on for the ride.
We're coming to the end of the ice road season here.
You gotta be extra careful.
That was a pretty slick curve right there.
That'll catch you by surprise.
That one area's no joke, though.
It's a pretty serious area.
Jack's final run of the season will be one of his most dangerous, and the haul road ace isn't taking any chances.
I gotta put chains on to go up Atigun.
This road has a mind of its own.
You gotta have enough knowledge and experience to handle it.
It may not get you the first time or the second time you don't pay attention.
But if you if you don't give it respect, that road will get you.
20 Miles up the road We had a hard time just getting here.
I've been spinning for the last freakin' two Miles here, trying to get up these little hills, so Rookie Ray is approaching Atigun pass.
I think what I've learned, you know, I mean, doing this this winter, is you don't want any problems, no misery just to be safe, so I'm gonna chain up right here.
Yeah, they said there's good dirt on the road, but I ain't taking any chances.
Like, before, I think I would have tried to take this load up Atigun without chains on.
You just chain up.
You lose a little bit of time, but it's safe.
Just behind, Greg decides not to chain up.
Definitely want to pass him.
Shouldn't have any problem holding a little better speed than he is.
Hopefully we can keep this push going by just motoring right over it and not having to chain up.
There's not really gonna be a possibility to stop.
I'm just gonna keep going.
Just not getting any choice.
All right, we finally see him.
Time to go get him.
Coming up, a showdown on the pass I ain't gonna let you have it that easy.
Just let me around.
That.
You started a war now.
On Atigun pass, Greg tracked down his rival, Ray.
Catching up on Ray pretty quick here.
I guess Ray decided to go ahead and chain.
Might be a little nervous about his little motor there, so I'm just gonna sit right here and wait for it.
Now he's stopped.
Greg will wait until Ray gets back on the road, setting up a chance to sack, or pass, him while climbing the hill.
Now he's stopped.
Time to go get him.
Ray.
He's literally driving through the middle of the road Really bad call with an oversized load, in general, much less in front of me.
Coming around.
I ain't gonna let you have it that easy.
Just let me around.
That.
You started a war now.
I would have never made it.
Even with my chains on, I'm spinning.
Greg's hitting it without chains.
Ray's best bet is to stay in the center of the road, where fresh snow provides the most traction.
I ain't gonna slide backwards 'cause because of games.
I'm not doing it.
Well, right now I'm not chained up.
Ray has chains on.
And now he's taking his sweet-ass time in the middle of the road.
He's putting me in danger doing it.
I have to keep speed built.
He's got room to get over.
He's gonna get me spun out because he's not moving over.
Ray, you're about to spin me out.
I've spun out on that pass before being behind people.
You know, happens to everybody.
I got more speed.
You need to just let me around.
That.
I'm gonna get pissed.
Think I'm [Bleep.]
Moving over? I'm already spinning with my chains on.
This is [Bleep.]
Now.
Call it what you want.
Go bitch what you want.
It's like, "dude, you should have chained up.
" Bottom line.
Ray.
It's all games, man.
It's all freakin' games.
I'm going 10 Miles an hour.
Now I'm gonna have to end up having to drop a gear because he's [Bleep.]
Blocking the road.
This is [Bleep.]
Bull.
Ray, you're about to spin me out.
Coming over the slipperiest part right here, this pipe cross.
I'm getting into position now.
Took a gambleot getting your chains on.
Don't take it for granted.
It'll come up and bite you.
Well, my rear end is hoppin'.
Burnt out.
Burnt out.
Sorry.
Should have chained up.
That son of a.
That.
He's chaining up.
That's too bad.
He knew I didn't chain.
Now, thanks to Ray's Stupidity, I'm stuck on the side of the [Bleep.]
Hill, chaining up.
It pays to chain up.
That's for sure.
Is what he is.
Prudhoe bay, Lisa Kelly's looking to cash in one last time with a paid backhaul on her final trip South.
Hey, trina.
Hey, how's it going, Lisa? Good.
How are you? Good.
Have you got anything going back to Fairbanks? We have deck flats, or we have flat two crates.
Which one pays, like, the most backhaul? Probably the trucks.
Okay.
That cool? That's cool.
Awesome.
Okay.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Have a good day.
Thanks.
Lisa's 17th load will leave her short of the title, but her season's been a success.
I think if I went back in time and knew what the season was gonna be like, even though I think it's been very hard, I think I'd do it again.
On her first run of the year, a massive car hauler was more than Lisa could handle.
Um Was more than Lisa could handle.
Me and Ryan are swapping loads right now.
And as one of the only women on the road, Lisa heard more than her share of trash talk on the radio.
I knew it.
I knew they're talking.
I had to try to make sure that I was hauling the heavier stuff, because every time I get a light load, I got teased by the guys.
But a successful run as a heavy-haul pusher I'm there, locked in and hooked up.
Very nice job.
Earned Lisa a place among Carlile's top dogs.
So much fun.
It's unbelievable.
They pay me to do this.
Now, as the season comes to a close, Lisa's looking for a few extra dollars to help her reach one final goal reuniting with an old friend.
Sky's my horse.
She's my Tennessee Walker.
Me and sky are soul mates.
We're meant to be together.
I bought her when she was six months old, and I got to name her, give her a registered name and everything, and I was actually the first one ever on her back ever.
Through a series of circumstances, she was sold back to the lady I originally bought her from, so that lady is saving her for me.
Back on Atigun pass, Greg is spun out and fired up.
I'm sure he's saying plenty right now.
Being a [Bleep.]
, and it's one of his Pissy [Bleep.]
Midol moments.
I knew that was coming.
"I'm gonna bag his ass on the pass!" Knows that I'm Getting a run at it.
Pulls the [Bleep.]
Out in front of me, then blocks the Road.
I really feel bad for Greg.
Ray [Bleep.]
My safety.
Now he's gonna pay the Price for it.
Up and over.
Now we're heading down the other side.
See if I can't have Ray's job for that.
That [Bleep.]
Dead.
Just a few Miles back, Jack Jessee is chained up, hauling 100 tons of volatile jet fuel.
I think I can.
I think I can.
And his last run up Atigun pass may be the most dangerous of the season.
Well, we're we're climbing Atigun.
With a tanker heading back South, this hill is just bad, 'cause these things are notoriously tail-heavy.
I can't believe this thing's still moving, and I haven't spun out yet.
The melting road is so slick, any extra power will send the truck spinning out of control and could push Jack and 8,000 gallons of jet fuel over the edge.
If I touch the throttle, I'm gonna spin out Literally.
Feet are not touching throttle.
It's just idling up the hill.
But his 100-ton, tail-heavy load soon runs out of momentum.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
I don't think so either, damn it.
top, Jack has no choice but to hit the gas and take his chances.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
The only way to regain traction is to steer into the fresh snow On the wrong side of the road.
On Atigun pass, Jack Jessee's rig is spinning out of control.
Okay.
We're spinning.
We're spinning.
I got the truck here to trade sides with me.
I made it! Check engine light's on, but I made it.
Wow, that was that was rather exciting.
On his way down the pass, Ray finds Jack on the radio.
Well, Greg tried putting a big pass on me in Atigun pass.
I chained up.
He didn't.
So he came up right on my ass, and he's like, "I got to get around you! I got to get around you! "I'm coming! I'm coming!" And he tried getting around me.
There wasn't much room.
He got back there, and then he spun out.
So what, did you spin him out right behind you? Oh, yeah.
That's funny.
I think Ray's just pretty hungry for some loads.
You know, he came up here for one thing and one thing only, and that was to work.
I think he's got that job taken care of, and I know he's got a lot more to learn about the road, but he's learning.
Yeah, it's a bunch of games with them guys.
It's a lot of games, you know, and it gets a little a little reckless sometimes it seems like.
Well, he should have chained up for it.
I'm sure he's [Bleep.]
Pissed.
I am absolutely irate.
That [Bleep.]
Ray just pulled Is ridiculous.
He just did everything in his power right there to screw me over.
You know, most things don't get to me, but when it's someone else's stupidity that puts my life in jeopardy, puts my livelihood in jeopardy, I got no time for that bull crap.
It won't surprise me if that stupid little stunt cost Ray his job, especially after stuffing his truck in a ditch.
Alex Debogorski is nearly finished with his 16th and final load.
Yeah, this is my last run of the season.
I'm gonna take this load, and I'll leave it in Coldfoot.
This is gonna top off my paycheck.
It's got some metal on it.
It's got pipe just to make me feel at home, since I hauled so much pipe this year.
It's got a pickup on there.
It's got some lumber on there.
There's some parts for doors and building material, and that's sort of a oddball.
It's kind of like somebody's breakfast, this load.
I'm sort of out of the race for the load count.
He'll end the year well behind his rival, Hugh.
So, you know, I always like to beat Hugh, but so far, that hasn't been working out real good.
As long as I'm taller than him, I got him beat already.
This year, Alex's dash for the cash took a backseat to helping people in need.
Well, I was busy leading an exciting life this winter.
Just when you think you know what to expect, bada-boom, bada-bang this road surprises you.
It looks like somebody's hitchhiking up here.
Whether it was a stranger on the side of the road Can you take me to the Yukon river bridge? Yeah, get in.
Or a fellow trucker Ray he's in there pretty good.
Stuck in a ditch A good time will be had by all.
Alex always made time to lend a hand.
Thanks, Alex.
You're very welcome.
Appreciate it.
But one scene has stuck with him.
There's a truck upside down in the ditch.
I'm gonna have a look at you right away.
Well, we got to keep you warm, anyway.
That's good for you.
You know that, eh? You know, I don't really even know what happened.
You don't really know what happened? No, I remember coming out of that rig there.
That's about it.
Here.
With Alex's help, the bloody victim made it to the hospital But one mystery remained.
There's a third like I say, a third fellow a third guy.
He was walking on the road when I got here, but I don't know where he went.
He was going down that hill.
I just came from there, and I didn't see anybody on the road.
I understand there's some tracks going out into the woods beside the truck too.
I'm worried about this third guy, wherever he went.
They want to be sure here, because, I'll be honest with you, there's a number of other people that were here very shortly afterwards, and they're not telling me the same story, so about this third guy.
But there's lots of traffic around, so Either you saw him, or you didn't, so Well, I'm sure there's another person wandering around in the road.
Okay.
All right.
I'm pretty sure there was a third fellow that wandered off, got a ride, disappeared, fell in the ditch, goodness knows.
Before Alex heads home for the season, he's gonna look for some answers about the missing third man.
I'll bet money that there was three guys.
But the thing that bothers me is I never really looked at the other guy, you know, or it didn't register.
That's what bothers me.
You know, when I get back to town, if I get the opportunity, I'd be interested in checking.
Well, this is it My last load of the season.
I'm dropping it off here in Coldfoot.
Jack Jessee is southbound, carrying an explosive load of jet fuel.
We're gonna drop in the roller coaster.
The thing with roller coaster here is go.
You try to slingshot yourself up.
The roller coaster is definitely one you don't want to be missing gears on.
You just don't.
Oh, [Bleep.]
Me! Coming up, the final showdown between Ray and Greg.
Crybaby.
Chain up, next [Bleep.]
Time.
And one trucker may be out of work.
I don't think Lane's gonna be very happy.
of Fairbanks, Jack's nearly home with his final run of the season.
But the haul road isn't finished with him yet.
What in? Oh, no.
We got a hole in the damn tire.
There's a hole right there.
This is gonna slow me down, but If I had wrecked at roller coaster, it'd have been like a little nuclear explosion, I bet.
Just poof! Gone.
"Where'd Jack go?" "I don't know.
" But there's a barbecue at the bottom of roller coaster, people.
"Stop in.
" Gosh.
How big is this thing? Come on.
There we go.
Come on.
Come on.
Holy gosh.
Where in the world what did that come off of? Good gosh.
I don't know how that got in the tire, but I wished it never had and give me all this grief.
All right.
Thank gosh it's warm today.
I'd hate to do this in 30 below.
Coldfoot Greg pulls in to call the boss about Ray's reckless driving.
Well, gonna go in here and call Lane, tell him about Ray's little, uh, [Bleep.]
-Up, I guess you'd call it purposely spinning me out like that is.
So let the people that need to deal with it deal with it, so I don't and get fired.
I don't think Lane's gonna be very happy.
Hey, boss.
Hey.
You want the bad news? What's the bad news? Ray decided to block the Road so I couldn't come around.
Ray and, uh, Greg were both coming back from Prudhoe.
I think they had oversized loads.
Greg probably shouldn't have tried to pass him where he did.
Yeah.
Okay.
He made a bad decision.
He probably shouldn't have done this.
Um, probably makes me believe that that he's got a ways to go in his decision-making ability.
Greg, I got to go.
I got to catch someone here real quick.
Okay.
Bye.
Kind of explain the situation briefly.
And the one thing he pointed out was that an oversized load shouldn't be trying to pass another oversized load on the pass.
I caused the insane situation.
My job may be in jeopardy because I went ahead and tried to pass him.
Something that is most definitely Ray's fault could end up costing me my job.
He said that it sounded like Lane and myself would need to sit down and have a meeting.
I'm gonna have to see how that all works out.
Just a few Miles behind Greg, Lisa Kelly is motoring to Fairbanks on her last run of the season.
I got a little backhaul today.
It just gets me a little extra cash, so that's good.
Right now every little bit helps.
Before she heads home to buy back her horse, Lisa's got to spend a little of her hard-earned cash repaying an important debt.
Morning or afternoon or evening.
Hey, I need to get a, um, gift certificate for a steak dinner.
All right.
It'll be $15.
Okay.
Did he do something special for you? He did.
He pulled me out of the ditch.
Halfway through the season, Lisa ran her truck off the road.
Stop.
Oh, no.
And a passing d.
O.
T.
Plow driver stopped to pull her out.
When truckers do favors for other truckers and, like, pull you out of the ditch, you know, get them a gift certificate just to say thank you.
Thank you.
I'll just make sure he gets this.
This'll be posted right up here.
It's the first person I've ever bought something for.
Thank you, Lisa.
Have a great day.
Thanks.
You too.
See you.
See you.
Hugh "the polar bear" rowland is flying up the Dalton, hoping for one last backhaul to give him a share of the load-count crown.
Yeah, it doesn't matter what ice road I'm on or where I'm at.
When I when I'm done this season, I hope to be on top.
Like I said, I'd rather die with my boots on than live on my Knees.
This season, Hugh's been no stranger to speed.
Yee-ha! Come on, baby! But his hard-charging attitude didn't sit well with the Carlile brass.
See this trailer rubbed into the exit points of the heater.
I thought Hugh was an experienced trucker.
If whoever loaded it, it's on them.
You know what? This year, he doesn't have any respect.
He didn't come back with any respect for the road out of control.
He got had a couple issues with loads.
He was, uh, being a, you know, renegade out there and doing things that shouldn't be done.
Hugh rolls into the yard with load number 18.
Hell of a trip.
We had a pretty good one.
She was nice weather all the way in.
But he needs one more load to catch Ray.
And to do that, he'll need a paying backhaul right now.
Well Next I'm glad to see you're okay.
Alex looks for answers about the missing man.
There's been numerous, numerous people killed on that road.
I'm happy to be alive.
In Prudhoe bay, Hugh "the polar bear" rowland needs a backhaul to claim his but boss Lane Keator is in charge of the load assignments and he and Hugh haven't seen eye to eye all season.
He came back a different person, a different driver.
You know, it takes several years to learn that road and to be considered a veteran.
And as far as I'm concerned, he went right back to rookie status.
I'm not a reckless driver.
I never have been.
I don't abuse the truck.
I don't abuse the roads.
I don't abuse the laws.
But the boss has the final word.
Well Thanks.
Later.
Hugh's out there sometimes overpromoting his ability.
And it's gonna bite him.
And in this case, it was, uh it wasn't good for him in the long run.
I get to run the way I like to run.
I'm a little more aggressive driver 'cause I'm only up here for the 60 days.
So I drive a little different than most of them.
Hugh leaves Prudhoe bay empty-handed no load, no money, and possibly no job.
I would say, as long as I'm here, it'll be a long road before Hugh rowland ever makes it back to the Dalton.
Back in Fairbanks I'm just about pulling in the terminal here in Fairbanks, and as far as runs, we're done.
This is it.
Everything went good.
Ray Veilleux enters the Carlile yard to claim his title as the haul road king.
So I got more loads than anybody else.
How's that for rookie [Bleep.]
, huh? A few minutes later, Greg hauls in his final load.
I've got absolutely nothing to say to Ray right now.
Anything I say to Ray right this minute can possibly get me fired.
You realize we're having a pretty slow day.
Yeah, he just keeps avoiding me and stands off to the side out there.
Crybaby.
Chain up next [Bleep.]
Time.
He took a gamble, and he lost.
You know, you take you take a hit like that, you get out and chain up.
He's young.
He's cocky.
He does need a little bit of a you know, tweak his attitude a little bit.
Tweak the way he thinks.
Greg's a good driver.
He just has to remember that it takes time.
It's a marathon.
It's not a sprint.
I honestly don't think there's a true bitter end to a season.
The end's the end.
We keep going no matter what.
I'm gonna keep after it until I have to stop.
All season, Alex put his runs on hold to help people in need.
Well, I didn't know if I was ever gonna see you again.
Hey, thanks a lot.
I'm glad to see you're okay.
Before heading back to his family, he checks in on the victim of the truck wreck, hoping to get some answers about the missing man.
My worry when I stopped is that I couldn't handle it.
Dude, I wouldn't want to be there and have a guy die under me because I'm too stupid to know you know, because I don't know what to do.
Hey, thank you again.
I mean, for real.
Oh, you're welcome.
It looked bad.
It was it you know, I mean, you know, people don't like looking at people cut open.
They stitched it up really nice.
It looked a lot worse.
Oh, God.
Boy, it must've been just about an inch deep.
It was right to the chin bone.
It actually run all the way right to the chin bone all the way through.
I could stick my tongue through it.
Are you serious? Yeah.
That's bad.
Yeah.
There's been numerous, numerous people killed on that road.
I'm happy to be alive, for Sakes, you know, after that.
Garth is lucky to be alive.
And regarding the missing driver, he's got the answer Alex was looking for.
This is just recently.
The third man Alex saw leaving the scene evaded police.
Where is he at now? Prison.
But was eventually arrested.
Hey, God bless you.
Yeah, thanks a lot, man.
Hey, you're very welcome.
Thank you.
I appreciate it greatly.
No problem.
Well, the roads out here, they're some of the most dangerous roads you can drive on.
I have a lot of respect for all those guys that drive back and forth.
Alex is a good egg.
I like Alex.
I think the guys on the road like him.
He's always friendly.
Stop, help.
Stop and talk.
He enjoys life.
He likes taking his time and and getting there in one piece and doing it the right way.
You don't have to worry about him getting there and getting back.
With the mystery solved, Alex heads home to his family.
I called my wife, and she sounds like she's interested in seeing me again.
I'm sure that everybody will be happy to see me at least for a day or two.
Back on the road, Lisa Kelly rolls South out of Fairbanks Bound for home and one last important load to pick up.
Sky's my horse.
I finally saved enough money from working that I could actually purchase her back.
And so it's really cool to know that I've accomplished my goal.
She's mine.
By the end of the season, Lisa earned her place among Carlile's top drivers.
I got three really big things out of it.
I got push-trucking, and I got my horse, and I got possibilities now.
Lisa's coming along nicely.
Uh, you know, you never hear any problems with Lisa out there with drivers, getting along with people.
She just goes up and down the road, you know, lives in her truck.
She's a long ways from home.
A long ways from her family and all her pets.
And, you know, she does a great job out there.
Well, the day is here.
And I'm about to buy sky back.
And it means all that my hard work that I work for all season is finally going to pay off.
Lisa, I have your horse! Oh, boy.
Oh, boy.
Oh, boy.
Hi, baby.
Hi.
I'm so glad she's going to you.
She'll have a nice, happy, loving home.
You're fine.
Oops, don't step on me, girl.
She's your legs.
Pay attention to me.
Pay attention.
There she goes.
I'm glad to have you back.
We're gonna have so much fun.
I'm so excited, girlie girl.
Oops.
Back in Fairbanks, Jack Jessee may have given up the load-count crown, but he secured his reputation as one of the best drivers in the business.
Well, the season's finally over.
You work hard in this job for three, four months.
It's nice to take a break from it.
The fact that Jack didn't win the load count doesn't surprise me a whole lot.
Jack didn't have quite the easy year this year with the smaller loads.
I think I'm just gonna have a whole day on the couch Just not do anything.
At the Carlile yard, Ray Veilleux is clearing out his rig.
After four months on the road, he's headed home to his wife and kids as the load-count champion.
I'm excited for going home, that's for sure.
If you want it bad enough, if you have to have it bad enough, you'll do anything it takes to get it done.
Well, Ray had the most loads and won the load-count race.
The guy had some issues out there this year.
You know, at the end of the day, he was able to swing some loads.
Ray's always full of surprises.
And when Ray stops surprising me, I'll be worried.
I'm not a quitter.
I just keep going.
Ray the rookie came through with a one-load victory over the polar bear.
Jack and Lisa tied for third with 17 loads each.
Good samaritan Alex ended his season with 16, while Greg was last, with 11 loads.
Back on the Dalton, the last man on the road, Hugh "the polar bear" rowland motors for home with no apologies and no regrets.
Just hit everything head-on.
And if I get knocked out, I get back up, and I just head down and ass up.
And I just go for everything there is to go for.
Now, this is extreme trucking up here.
That's what you're hired on for.