What is the Salary of an Ice Road Trucker
Since the History Channel’s reality show “Ice Road Truckers” debuted in June of 2007 there has been alot of buzz and many questions about the annual salaries of these truckers who seem to be the bravest of all truckers. And while there is no definite answer to that question the answer may be best answered as saying, “Ice road truckers get paid pretty well for risking their lives for three months every winter on some of North America’s deadliest roads.”
The majority of ice road truckers get paid on a scale. And it would make sense to say that different trucking companies have their own pay scales. In other words, no two trucking companies pay the same. On average every 6 tons of haul earns an ice road trucker $1,000. It is safe to say that many veteran ice road truckers can earn an entire year’s salary in just three months. This may be the greatest temptation for a truck driver who wants to take the risk of travelling North America's most hazardous roads.
While ice road truckers get paid well they to indeed risk their lives all winter long to earn their pay. They pay is good because the hauls are difficult and risky. Ice road truckers risk their lives driving on icy roads, up steep hills and around hair pin turns. Ice road truckers face the dangers of Mother Nature as well. White out conditions, avalanches and freezing to death are all dangers that ice road truckers may have to face.
The three month ice road season usually lasts from January to April. The ice has to be thick enough to support the weight of heavy hauls. Temperatures in the northern most part of the world in January and February can dip to 40 below or more. A truck breaking down is perhaps the biggest fear for an ice road trucker. Ice road truckers have to get out of their trucks to complete their own repairs in this fierce weather. At 40 below zero a person can die of exposure in a matter of minutes.
Most people were never aware that such a job existed before ice road truckers were documented on the History Channel. The first two seasons documented Canadian ice road truckers. The next few seasons focused on American ice road truckers who drive the Dalton Highway in Alaska. These truckers drive for Carlile trucking headquartered in Fairbanks.
Ice road truckers who drive for Carlile and are featured on the History Channel’s show compete each year in what is referred to as “The Dash for the Cash”. Truckers compete to see who can haul the most loads during the three month season.
Although there is no set pay for these brave truckers it is safe to say that these men and women (yes, there are women ice road truckers), deserve to be paid well for what they do.
