Let me say this right now: I grew up in New Jersey. This said, you should be aware that schools are closed for even a few inches of snow. People from New Jersey simply can’t drive in the snow. I don’t know if it’s just a mentality, or the fact that you are probably supposed to go below the speed limit or what, but we can’t do it, at least, not well. So I have a lot of respect for people who can, especially if they are driving on the most dangerous road in the United States.
The cast of Ice Road Truckers: Season Three are doing just that as they travel the Dalton Highway in Alaska for Carlile Transportation. Show veterans Hugh “The Polar Bear” Rowland and Alex Debogorski are joined by several newcomers, including the show’s first female driver, resident hottie and tomboy Lisa Kelly. George Spears, a long-time driver who intends to retire at the end of the season also stars, along with Jack Jessee, Carey Hall and the youngest of the bunch, Tim Freeman Jr.
I’ll admit, even though I respect the profession, I wasn’t really all that into the show. The concept is original and all, and the dangers have their appeal. Avalanches, whiteouts, and rough terrain are definitely scary and provide a certain sense of foreboding, but even the high number of accidents that have occurred on the Dalton Highway didn’t make this interesting enough to hold my attention.
This season’s premise is that Carlile Transportation has to drive 2000 truckloads of materials over 600 miles to Prudoe Bay, the center of the Alaskan oil industry. The problem is that they have only three months to do this, as it must be done before the snow melts.
What bothers me most about the show is the way the drivers feel they have to prove themselves. They are constantly competing to get the most runs in, which clearly means making the most money. However, the way they act as though the bragging rights are worth risking their lives is crazy. Look, you made it there alive, give yourself a pat on the back. Yeah, there’s not much else to do on the roads, but seriously, do you people have to be so freaking annoying about it? This Alpha male mentality is worse than New Moon.
Also, maybe this is just me, but with the creepy music and green lighting at night, I kept waiting for a ghost to pop out from somewhere or for one of the drivers to pass the Grim Reaper on the highway. Luckily, that didn’t happen, and to be honest, nothing else really happens either. Ooh, scary roads, but everyone makes it out alive and there aren’t even really any close calls. Very disappointing.
The voiceover is also pretty lame, and I kind of wish they’d gotten Morgan Freeman to do it. Scratch that, I wish I had just watched March of the Penguins again. Not only is it shorter, but surprisingly, it’s more exciting.
DVD Bonus Features
Apparently, season 2 was loaded with bonus features, so it’s a bit of a surprise that the only bonus feature here is additional footage, unless you consider closed captioning a bonus feature. It would have been nice to have seen some of the original webisodes from the History Channel’s website on this disc, though.
"Ice Road Truckers: Season 3" is on sale December 15, 2009 and is rated NR. Reality. Directed by N/A. Starring Hugh Rowland, Alex Debogorski, Thom Beers, Rick Yemm, Drew Sherwood, Lisa Kelly, Jack Jesse.
