The Dangers of Ice Road Trucking

Ice road trucking is ordinary commercial trucking that occurs in the far northern parts of the United States and in Canada. This involves driving over roads that are quite dangerous since they freeze over quite completely and get large amounts of snow. It also often involves driving over frozen lakes. These lakes freeze several feet thick during the winter and are thus used as transportation routes. They are prepared as much as that is possible for trucking and then truck drivers carrying various goods drive over them.

As one might imagine, there are a number of dangers inherent in ice road trucking. In fact, it is certainly the most dangerous type of commercial trucking, and a very dangerous job in a general sense. The advantages are that the season is short and the pay is very good - an ice road trucker can make from 40K to 100K in a single three month season. The following are some of the primary risks and dangers of ice road trucking.

• Skids

Naturally skids are quite common. Ice does not provide a lot of traction and trucks weigh a lot. A simple mistake in breaking can send a truck sliding long distances over the road or ice. They may end up either in the roadside ditch, overturned, or in worst cases, going over the edge of a precipice. Truckers attempt to prevent these occurrences by using very careful and purposeful braking techniques.

• Whiteout

Whiteouts occur when there is so much snow that a trucker can barely see the road ahead. The entire surroundings like a single white field. It would be nice if the trucker could stop and wait out the storm, but in most cases that is not even an option. Temperatures would fall presenting hypothermia risks, the goods would take too long to deliver, and if a trucker left the engine on they could run out of fuel. A trucker simply has to keep going through the whiteout to get to safer territory. Reflective markers on the sides of roads give some assistance, but it is still quite easy for a trucker to drive off the road during a whiteout if they aren't careful.

• Cracking Ice

When trucks are driving over frozen lakes, ice can crack under the vehicle, causing skids, overturns, accidents with other trucks, and even actual submergence in the cold winter water. This is, to say the least, a dangerous situation.

• Frostbite

Frostbite, or a less serious form of it called frost nip, can occur due to the cold temperatures of ice road trucking regions. As truckers get out to make adjustments or fuel up, they may forget how cold the air is and stay out too long or neglect to put on protective clothing. This can result in their getting frost nip of frost bite.

• Flying Rocks

Since ice road trucking takes place in extreme northern climates, the roads are often not as well kept up as in some other areas. Rocks may be on the surfaces of roads and these can be hit bit trucks and sent flying into the windshields of other oncoming trucks.

• Animals

Animals such as bears (even polar bears), moose, and deer are plentiful in these northern regions. While seeing them is one of the perks of the job, they can also be dangerous if they suddenly run into the path of a truck.

Ice road trucking is an exciting and well paid career, but it definitely has dangers associated with it. Driving hazards caused by weather conditions like snow, and ice can create accident situations if an ice road trucker is not careful. There are also simple hazards and risks involved with the regions themselves - its cold weather, its wildlife, and its roadways. Anyone interested in this career should definitely be encouraged to pursue it, but they should be aware of the associated risks as well.

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