Ice Road Truckers is filmed Dalton Highway in Alaska and Northwest Territories of Canada. The truckers are sent to test their driving skills.
The reality television series follows truck drivers’ activities on ice roads. While operating trucks, they encounter frozen lakes and rivers while struggling in the isolated area.
The truckers who risked their lives in the solid snow-covered ground are Alex Debogorski, Hugh Rowland, Lisa Kelly, Darrell Ward, and more.
There are 11 seasons of the reality show, which run from 2007 to 2017 on History Channel.
After the season four finale, Thoms Beers and Tom Cotcher narrated the spinoff series IRT: Deadliest Roads.
Where was Ice Road Truckers Filmed?
Ice Road Truckers was filmed in remote territories in Canada and Alaska. Filming locations like Yellowknife and Dempster Highway in Yukon were commonly used.
The drivers have been sent to remote locations over frozen lakes in Alaska and Canadian Territories.
The first season was shot in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. However, for season 2, they changed the location to Inuvik, Canada, per New York Post.
The site added they also filmed on various ice roads in the remote zone like Tukyouaktuk and Frozen Artic seas to mine oil instead of mineral. The production team wrapped shooting on April 2008.
Other Northwest Territories featured in the show include BHP-Ekati, De Beers-Snap Lake, Diavik, Lockhart Lake Rest Stop, Yellowknife, and Dempster Highway.
While shooting in Alaska, USA, the divers were sent to Dalton Highway, Deadhorse, Fairbanks, and Prudhoe Bay.
Some seasons were shot on the Dempster Highway in Yukon, Canada. In season 7, they shot in the isolated area around Manitoba, Canada.
Meanwhile, Ice Road Truckers spinoff series IRT: Deadliest Roads was shot in the Himalayas and western-central South America.
Season one was shot entirely in the Himalayas, where the drivers faced risky mountains to the worse road.
In season one of IRT: Deadliest Roads, the show showed the treacherous mountain roads in India.
The driver Rick Yemm, Lisa Kelly, and Alex Debogorski test their driving skills on the narrow mountain path from Delhi to Shimla. They also traveled to the construction site Karchan and Kuppa.
The drivers also carried supplies in the bad weather over the Rohtang pass to Keylong.
In season two, the six North American drivers worked in pair in the South American country Bolivia.
How Much Do Ice Road Truckers Make Per Episode?
Ice Road Truckers make $3000 to $5000 per episode. The cast member earns an average salary of $40,000.
It has been reported that they are not paid enough to risk their lives.
According to former worker John Lawrence, the original productions usually have a limited budget for the show. As a result, they don’t spend too much on the cast members.
They only paid normal eye striker salaries to the cast members.
In the United States, ice road truckers acquired an average of $30.01 an hour, per Ziprecuiter.
If they are part of the unions, they get paid according to their contract. However, their salary increased after gaining more experience on the road.
On the other hand, the veterans and team truckers earn $70,000 per year.
The earning also depend on Cargo, as one trucker can make $250,000 per year if the trucker transports valuable merchandise.
They earn $40k for 3-4 months for the winter ice road season. With the money, they can live the other 8-9 months or go out and make plenty more.
Also, one of the prominent cast of Ice Road Truckers, Alex Debogorski, was involved in a side job while he was off filming.
On December 1, 2011, he published his book King of the Road: True Tales from a Legendary Ice Road Trucker.
The book Paperback costs $16.95, while hardcover costs $24.95 on Amazon. This means Alex makes decent money besides his appearance on the show.
Ice Road Truckers Cast, Where Are They Now?
Ice Road Truckers cast Lisa and Maya are now riding trucks while Alex participates in the truck show. One of the truckers, Darrell Ward, passed away in 2016.
Alex Debogorski
Alex Debogorski Ice Road Truckers, now lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
He is a truck driver from Brownvale, Alberta. He has appeared in 100 episodes of The Ice Road Trucker and the first season of IRT: Deadliest Roads.
After the show, he looks forward to being on some truck shows and events.
He is active in raising funds or entertaining a group. One can book Alex for the upcoming event at emjmarketing.com or call him at 1-855-396-6830.
On January 16, 2022, he debuted on ‘Tale Lights with Alex Debogorski’ on Incradio Live, where he talked with the host Tom Kelley and Shelley Johnson about his life as a truck driver.
On January 29, 2023, he celebrated his 50th anniversary with his wife, Lousie Debogorski. The couple married in 1972 at the Flamingo Motel in Fairview and have 11 children.
What Happened To Darrell Ward On Ice Road Truckers?
Ice Road Truckers Darrell Ward passed away on August 28, 2016.
In 2012, the truck driver appeared in season 6 of Ice Road Truckers, and until his demise, he was part of the show.
While he was heading to shoot the pilot for a documentary-style show, his plane crashed in Montana, per Deadline.
It has been reported he was traveling with pilot Mark Melotz in a Cessna 182 Skylane.
But while approaching landing near Rock Creek, Montana, the incident happened and caused the ‘death’ of Darrell and Mark.
Lisa Kelly
Ice Road Trucker Lisa Kelly now lives in Wasilla, Alaska. She still rides in the remote part of Alaska.
With the season change, she prepared her truck for the challenges of muddy spring driving.
While not riding trucks, she spent all her time at the barn, washing and braiding manes and tails.
Besides this, she handles a business and updates her viewers about operating business expenses on her youtube videos.
She was also involved in the artwork and even tried native Alaskan art style to draw the baby horse.
This March, she tried snow biking for the first time.
Meanwhile, the American Trucker is enjoying her life camping, riding, mini carting, and mini shaving.
Maya Sieber
Maya Sieber is riding a truck and appearing on truck show nowadays. She even shot the music video with Ice Road Truckers.
She is a truck driver and TV personality who appeared on Ice Road Truckers season 5.
After seven years, she finally squeezed in a professional photoshoot for the music video.
On August 26, 2019, she announced 4 Ice Road Truckers, Lisa Kelly, Carey Hall, Reno Ward, and herself shooting a music video with Australian Rock and Country singer Jayne Denham called ‘Black’ Coffee and White Lines.
The video has reached over 55,000 views across all platforms in eight weeks.
Besides this, she participated in The Bunk Motorsports and placed 2nd Peterbilt Class at The Buck Motorsports Park & Entertainment Complex.
The same year, she also partook in the 2nd Annual Gear Jammer Show in Brimfield, MA, and helped raise money for the Doug Flutiejir Foundation.
Gear Jammer Magazine featured her beloved #34 Stephen Pyskaty.
The truck driver also became the brand ambassador of RoadWorks Manufacturing. Her #34 truck has placed at the PKY Truck Beauty Contest and finished 3rd in the working bobtail.
She even appeared on the truck show and brought her truck to Berube’s customer appreciation in Bow, NH.
Some FAQs
Is Ice Road Truckers real?
Yes, Ice Road Truckers is real, as the cast member Maya Sieber said the show was definitely not staged.
Why was Ice Road Truckers canceled?
Ice Road Truckers didn’t overwhelm TV ratings as usual, so it got canceled and replaced by other truck shows.