Ice Road Truckers Are Never Supposed To Break One Ironclad Rule
Cold weather is rarely fun. Dropping temperatures can quickly lead to serious injuries and even death, which is one reason why it's so important to know what to do if you get hypothermia. It's not always easy to get warm again once you initially cool down, which is why you may want to know how to keep houses and vehicles warm if you're going to be in them on cold days or nights. You'll also want to know how to keep your RV warm on chilly nights if you're planning on traveling in northern areas during winter.
On History's "Ice Road Truckers," the drivers face some very cold temperatures, well into the negatives many days. Because of these extreme temperatures, there are some rules a little different from the standard driving guidelines, including one ironclad rule.
So, what is the rule? Those on "Ice Road Truckers" and any other truckers dealing with freezing temperatures shouldn't ever turn off their trucks unless they're done driving or they absolutely have no other choice. This rule is essential to keeping the drivers safe, and in helping them deliver their products on time.
Why the rule is important
Cold causes problems with many more modern inventions, like the constant struggle to keep your phone battery from dying in cold weather. While vehicles can handle most cold weather, once it gets below freezing, there are issues. Some diesel vehicles don't work well in the cold. In an interview with Dakota News Now, Cesar Rodriguez, a semi driver of over 40 years explained why. "Diesel gels when it gets cold, and if it has any kind of moisture, it will clog the cross-over line between the tanks. So then it stops fueling."
Generally, anything below freezing is where you start seeing problems with diesel vehicles like those used on "Ice Road Truckers." There are ways to prevent such issues, such as specific anti-gelling products and additives. Some trucking companies even require certain additives to keep the truck healthier and prevent the diesel from freezing when a trucker stops. However, with ice trucking, temperatures can easily drop below -37 degrees Fahrenheit, and these fuel inclusions aren't always enough to help. That's why it's standard practice to keep the truck on at all times.
Have any Ice Road Truckers drivers ever broken the rule?
By turning off a truck, even to make simple repairs, you risk the fuel cooling enough to cause problems, which is what happened to Lisa Kelly on "Ice Road Truckers" when she had to stop her vehicle because it was malfunctioning between Garden Hill to Winnipeg during a drive on Season 10, Episode 3 of the show, titled "Breakdown."
Her engine started to struggle on the road, and she pulled over and turned off the engine so that she could check all of the fluids safely and accurately. Unfortunately, while she was checking the fluids, her truck cooled down too much. It ended up struggling to turn back on once she was finished.
Normally, this would mean it's all over and she'd have to call someone to take her load and tow her back to the nearest town. However, Lisa was parked on a hill. She managed to use the weight of her vehicle to roll forward and push-start the truck. It worked, and she started her journey again, but most of the time, vehicles in cold temperatures aren't so lucky.