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00:00This time, on Highway Through Hell...
00:08Slippin' and slidin'...
00:14Reliable...
00:16In the danger zone...
00:20Quiring...
00:22Works the hill...
00:26The closest to the road.
00:28And cutting loose...
00:30Holy crap, hold up.
00:3243 metric ton of wood on that truck.
00:38Anyone coming down from the summit to ask tell me what the roads are like?
00:42On BC's Coquihalla Highway...
00:46If it's all just flowing, it'll be fine.
00:48The first snows of winter...
00:50But when you get somebody that's, like, really nervous, then, yeah.
00:54Have drivers on edge.
00:56It's gonna be an accident waiting to happen.
01:02Those road temperatures from the summit all the way north are, like, minus two, minus three.
01:06Patrolling the hill.
01:08So it will be heavy, wet snow.
01:10Highways maintenance supervisor, Curtis Brown, prepares for a months-long fight.
01:17Once the snow picks up, don't be afraid to use the sand with the larger crushed rock in it.
01:23We've focused closely on being proactive about storms, making sure that our key pieces of equipment are out there ready.
01:31After last year's mild winter...
01:33Tonight we're forecasted to get up to 25 centimeters of snowfall.
01:39This year is expected to be different.
01:42Experts are predicting we will need particularly warm jackets this winter because it will likely be colder and wetter than usual.
01:50The most common reason why the highway closes is due to blockages.
01:56Al is here.
01:58Okay, he's at Zopkius.
02:00Sometimes your issues will snowball and it could turn into a nine-hour closure.
02:04You need tow trucks to pull trucks out of the way.
02:07At the Zopkius brake check, veteran tow operator Al Quiring armors up.
02:15Come on, baby.
02:17Can't control Mother Nature on the Coquihalla, that's for sure.
02:21The climate's changing.
02:23It seems like we're getting a lot of snow developing in a very short period of time.
02:27Al, how are you doing?
02:30Good.
02:31How's it going?
02:32I think it's going to be kind of a messy night.
02:35We haven't had a West Coast storm for a while.
02:37Yeah.
02:38Looks like it's building anyways.
02:40Each person's got a spot to keep, you know, an eye on their corner of the chaos.
02:45Well, I'll let you get ready.
02:47Thanks, Al.
02:48You bet.
02:49Appreciate it.
02:50All right, here we go.
02:59How's the highway to Cam?
03:03That's on the coast.
03:04Pretty rough.
03:06125 kilometers north.
03:10I got a feeling that was gonna be a long night.
03:13In merit, reliable towing is ready for the cold snap.
03:19We have geared up for winter, I think we have enough talented
03:23people to work the trucks that we have.
03:27I anticipate that it's going to be a very busy winter.
03:31Blasting off from the yard, a 35-ton record.
03:35We're going to head up Highway 5 here.
03:38Piloted by operator John Doggs.
03:41Sometimes it's not just the snow, sometimes it's cold enough,
03:44the road's icy.
03:46This is supposed to be the first major snowfall of the season,
03:50and the roads are starting to cool down.
03:53You guys will drive the speeds as if it's still summer and it's not.
04:0246 kilometres north of town.
04:11A semi-trailer headlong down a bank.
04:17Dangerously budding into the highway.
04:23Arriving on scene.
04:27John gets his first look.
04:31Alrighty.
04:32The trailer is sticking out in the granny lane a little bit.
04:35The wreck is the second of two crashes on the same stretch.
04:40There was a response from EMS on the first accident.
04:45And this guy came over the hill just a little bit too fast.
04:49Actually hit the back end of the ambulance.
04:52Put himself around and ended up jackknifed into the ditch.
04:56One accident just kind of caused a bit of a chain reaction.
05:00That's good, they're alright though.
05:03But before traffic can safely resume.
05:06It's pretty paved into the front bank here.
05:10John must clear his wreck.
05:12Hanging over the road.
05:14Trying to get this done as fast as possible
05:17to avoid causing any other wrecks on the same hill.
05:19Come on buddy, come on.
05:20Come on.
05:21Come on buddy, come on.
05:22I just want to know if the coke's late.
05:23There is some sort of blockage.
05:2430 minutes north of Merritt.
05:25I just want to know if the coke's late.
05:26There is some sort of blockage.
05:2730 minutes north of Merritt.
05:28A semi partially blocking the road.
05:31He is going a little steep.
05:34I'm sorry.
05:35Well, you'reett who I'm crying.
05:38Now it's about this Phil.
05:40No two, Jim Baver.
05:41Mhmm.
05:42If you just want to know if the coke's late.
05:43There is some sort of blockage.
05:44I just want to know what the coke's like.
05:46There is some sort of blockage.
05:5030 minutes north of Merritt.
05:52Single lane.
05:53A semi partially blocking the road.
05:57He was going a little fast for the conditions.
06:00Has reliable towing.
06:02He hit his brakes a little too hard and he lost control.
06:05In the danger zone.
06:07When you're in a spot like this,
06:08you definitely got to be watching what you're doing.
06:11You got to crawl through on the hammer lane side only.
06:16Cresting a hill into an active crash scene,
06:19the driver was unable to stop.
06:24Colliding with an ambulance.
06:27Before sweeping down the bank.
06:33Joining the scene with a reliable 50 ton.
06:36Slinging on the back there bud or what?
06:38Merritt manager, Lane Perry.
06:41We'll have you yanked that way while I pull the truck up this way.
06:45It's definitely going to be a challenge to get it up onto the road
06:49and at the same time sharing the road.
06:53Idiots man.
06:55Drivers in the live lane.
06:58I know man, there's going to be another one here.
07:01They aren't heeding the conditions.
07:03Oh, slickie-poo.
07:05Everything's pretty slicked up from the wind.
07:09You just want to make sure you keep your head on the swivel.
07:12Woo!
07:13These are not looking good.
07:18No one's picking it up there.
07:20125 kilometers south.
07:23Well, firing's under doing this thing.
07:25On Snowshed Hill, Al discovers a flatbed B train in a bad spot.
07:33I've encountered a few different things on the Snowshed Hill.
07:37Time out in the middle of the highway, y'all.
07:40He's just sitting in his truck waiting for the snow to stop.
07:44Rock slide Sasquatch attacks could be anything
07:46that closes the road, really.
07:49I wouldn't sleep anywhere near up here.
07:51Even a guy having a nap in the middle of it.
07:59It's kind of odd that somebody would
08:01just drive up that Smasher Hill
08:03and decide not only just to kind of block lanes,
08:06but hop in the butt and go to sleep, too.
08:09It's time to go.
08:10Top of the day.
08:12Use that rest area back at the last town
08:15and try again tomorrow.
08:17We're going to go up the hill, put it in gear.
08:19I'm hooked on already.
08:21I'm fast.
08:22We're ready to go.
08:23First, second, third, fourth.
08:25Pick up speed.
08:27We're not stopping anywhere
08:28until we're at the top of the hill.
08:29Follow me.
08:30Let's roll.
08:31Come on.
08:32Come on.
08:33Despite the rude awakening...
08:34Come on, baby.
08:35Al understands the grind of winter trucking.
08:37They want to go to sleep.
08:38They want to go to sleep.
08:39Follow me.
08:40Follow me.
08:41Follow me.
08:42Let's roll.
08:43Come on.
08:44Come on.
08:45Despite the rude awakening...
08:46Come on, baby.
08:47Al understands the grind of winter trucking.
08:50They want to go to sleep because they've been driving like this, having a hard time.
09:07Staying in a warm sleeper berth, cuddled up in a sleeping bag is way better than laying under a dripping truck putting chains on by far.
09:15But they just can't do that there.
09:26Cut loose at the top.
09:28The driver...
09:30Oh, I wouldn't pull off anywhere here.
09:33...remains eager for a place to snooze.
09:36Don't sleep up here, because anywhere you pull off here, there's going to be a foot and a half of snow.
09:41So, if you wake up in the morning, we might not see you.
09:45With a bit of practical advice...
09:47I'll get out of your way so you can go.
09:50Al sends him on his way.
09:52It's not like a hotel hospitality or anything, but it's looking after the motoring public.
09:57Right on.
09:58Well, you drive safe, driver. Have a good night.
10:02We got an accident here. It's lower down.
10:09An hour north.
10:12John and Lane rigged to a trailer.
10:15One on either side.
10:17Sticking out onto the highway.
10:20If you want to back right up.
10:23I'm always concerned that we're working next to a live lane.
10:30I'm more worried about the people that are coming down the road and could potentially crash into us.
10:36Good.
10:37With Lane's 50-ton acting as an anchor on the rear, John's 35-ton will drag the trailer up first, before swinging the tractor around onto the shoulder.
10:57All righty.
10:59Now for the fun part.
11:02Hopefully it'll come out better this way.
11:05Yeah.
11:06John starts pulling on the rear of the tractor.
11:13Woo-hoo!
11:14But with his wrecker in the air...
11:19Well far out of my there!
11:21...he risks swinging into moving traffic.
11:24Order line, if we spin again, we'll have to change it.
11:28That's right.
11:30We got quite a bit of weight.
11:32We're pulling.
11:33The roadway is pretty slick at this point.
11:37It doesn't help that the landing gear is just being a big giant anchor right now for us.
11:45Restricted by a live lane.
11:48You can't turn the wrecker and take up the whole road to get full pulling power.
11:53You're limited to the little bit of space you have.
11:58They keep pulling the loaded semi.
12:00It's coming.
12:01It's just plowing the bank on its way up.
12:03But it's grounding out on the crest.
12:09Okay, hold the weight!
12:12So they pause to switch lines up.
12:15We're going to have to change again.
12:20So this one will end up being our truck line.
12:24We need to get this one off the road for public safety and safety of us.
12:28We don't want to be up on the road.
12:32With a quick re-rig to the front of the tractor...
12:34Okay, I'll tighten up.
12:36...they try again.
12:37Whoa!
12:38Whoa!
12:39You're in great traffic.
12:40What's going on off the road here?
12:41Uh, Lenny's blocked.
12:42Watch yourself.
12:43There's a wreck of work in there.
12:44On the Coquihalla, Reliable's uphill tractor pull...
12:51Whoa!
12:52Whoa!
12:53...is going sideways.
12:54You're in great traffic.
12:55Uh, Lenny's blocked.
12:56Uh, Lenny's blocked.
12:57What's going on off the road here?
12:58Uh, Lenny's blocked.
12:59Watch yourself.
13:00There's a wreck of work in there.
13:01On the Coquihalla, Reliable's uphill tractor pull...
13:08Whoa!
13:09Whoa!
13:10...is going sideways.
13:11You're in great traffic.
13:12Uh, Lenny's blocked.
13:13Front end flying over in the battle lane here.
13:14We've got to be quick so that traffic doesn't come down the hill and hit us.
13:23Earlier tonight, unable to stop for an active crash scene, the semi hit an ambulance then went down the bank.
13:36Throw my stiff legs up quick.
13:38Quick, quick.
13:39Before this guy gets hit, we all get hit.
13:41Not wanting to become another casualty...
13:44We don't want to get hit.
13:46Pretty smooth?
13:47No, I'm gonna back up.
13:49Hit.
13:50Hit.
13:51John backs away from the active lane.
14:02Hold it.
14:08It's just a lot of snow and a lot of weight coming up this, uh...
14:11It's pretty much a straight drop here.
14:14Pulling up a 40 degree slope.
14:17Yeah, I'd get a low line on this side.
14:19Okay.
14:20Just to pull the trailer down.
14:22And that'll kind of lift up on the fifth wheel plate and give that tractor some lift too.
14:27Okay.
14:28They need to counter the resistance on the front of the wreck.
14:32Go for it.
14:33With Lane's 50 ton levering down on the rear...
14:38Fighting us a little bit here on this thing.
14:45John gets the lift he needs on the tractor...
14:51Cab gave a good twist.
14:53Until he runs out of room.
14:54That's okay, though.
14:55Pull ahead, swing it the rest of the way, and...
14:56Okay.
14:57A quick reposition.
14:58Just watch yourself, Lane.
14:59I'm gonna swing it up.
15:00And the nose.
15:01It's coming up nice snow.
15:02Finally comes around.
15:03There we go.
15:04Oh, no.
15:05No.
15:06No.
15:07No.
15:08No.
15:09No.
15:10No.
15:11No.
15:12No.
15:13No.
15:14No.
15:15No.
15:16No.
15:17No.
15:18No.
15:19No.
15:20No.
15:21No.
15:22No.
15:23No.
15:24No.
15:25No.
15:26No.
15:27No.
15:28No.
15:29No.
15:30No.
15:31No.
15:32What?
15:33Touching down with a flashy finish...
15:35Battery cables.
15:38The wreck is back on the road...
15:41Fun, in a way, and rewarding.
15:44Because you get to see everything that you've done at the end of the day.
15:48For Lane and John, teamwork and quick thinking...
15:52All right.
15:53You got it.
15:55Made for a safe and speedy recovery.
15:58All righty, let's get this freaking thing out of here and go home.
16:02Thanks for coming out.
16:04We got her out.
16:05We're hooked up, and it's time to get this thing out of here and go home.
16:08With Reliable's wreck heading off the highway,
16:12it's clear sailing.
16:13the area is safe for the next recovery team.
16:17That's the number one goal, is to keep the public safe,
16:21open the roads, keep the commodities flowing.
16:23Oh, I love winter.
16:28What's going on, driver?
16:44400 kilometers northeast.
16:47I'm trying to figure out what the hold up is for Revelstoke.
16:51Lies Reliable's Revelstoke Division, Ben's Towing.
16:55One of the things of having several different locations throughout BC
16:59is to be able to provide the best service we can to our customers.
17:04Hey, Mike, you copy?
17:05Heading out from home base.
17:08You can check on last, too, if anybody's seen a breakdown out there.
17:12A 50-ton heavy...
17:14Winter's here.
17:17...launches onto the Trans-Canada.
17:19A little bit wet, a little bit slushy.
17:21With heavy operator, Mike Topperchak.
17:26It's a different kind of highway than anywhere else.
17:28A lot of people say that, you know, highways like the Coker,
17:31you see a lot of destruction there, a lot of chaos,
17:34but there's nothing like what you see on this highway.
17:39If you're prepared, it can be a lot of fun.
17:41If you're not prepared, it can turn bad very quickly.
17:43Linking BC to the rest of Canada
17:47through the Rockies and surrounding mountains,
17:51Highway 1 via Revelstoke is an essential trade route
17:55with no viable alternate in case of a shutdown.
18:01All your groceries, all your dry goods, all your mail,
18:04it's all running on this corridor.
18:06Any of the nearest detours add nearly 12 hours to your trip.
18:09So this is the route, and there's no other option.
18:12When this road's closed, everything is stopped.
18:15And it stays stopped until we open it.
18:19Oh yeah, we're getting snow already.
18:21At 4.30 a.m.
18:24I see traffic coming, so that means the road's not,
18:27may not be entirely blocked.
18:30Uh, never mind.
18:31It looks kind of blocked to me.
18:36It's a bad situation.
18:37A jackknifed semi has the vital corridor completely cut off.
18:46This is an ASAP job.
18:47This is as fast as we can get it done, the better.
18:53Loading with, uh, electronics.
18:56Highway authorities are anxious
18:57to clear the growing backlog of motorists.
19:01Let's go, let's go, let's go.
19:04But, a quick investigation.
19:07Everything in the back end is done.
19:08It's, the axle's tweaking everything.
19:11Reveals the tractor won't be an easy move.
19:15Wouldn't be surprised if they rode it off.
19:16This one in particular has had a bit of a rough ride.
19:19And it's twisted his axle's out of shape.
19:21I can get it straightened out and lay it open real quick.
19:23I'm just gonna need to turn around.
19:24Aiming his winches.
19:31Can I borrow you to just pull that out?
19:33And enlisting the help of the highway's rep.
19:36I'm just gonna throw a chain on there quick.
19:41Mike rigs to the tow hook.
19:46That guy.
19:49Hoping for a quick pullout.
19:52All right, let's rock and roll.
19:55You're a driver.
19:56Hop in.
20:04We'll see what it looks like when it gets out.
20:06Let's at least get traffic flushed.
20:08As he starts straightening the jackknife.
20:12Oh, that's good.
20:18Oh, bitch.
20:19Mike hits a snag.
20:21There's some damage somewhere in the truck of the air system.
20:26In that situation, it locks up all his brakes.
20:28And with traffic building in both directions.
20:32We're gonna have to reinvent this a little bit,
20:34because it's not gonna do what I want.
20:35He needs to quickly come up with a new plan.
20:39Yeah, if they don't get by this one.
20:44Drivers heading west into Revy is all bummed up.
20:47On Highway 1 near Revelstoke.
20:50They got truck jackknifed.
20:51A total traffic shutdown.
20:55For those.
20:56As Mike from Ben's towing.
20:59Whole back end is destroyed.
21:01Scrambling to get wheels rolling.
21:03It's a matter of finding where to put air in to release his brakes.
21:06When trucks jackknife, typically when they make contact with the cab,
21:10they'll break the cab mounting components.
21:12Oftentimes they can break the air lines and electrical lines
21:14that supply the trailer.
21:15Yeah, that's it right there.
21:20He discovers the problem.
21:23Yeah, you broke an air line.
21:25Full of fuel and it's leaking.
21:27But air isn't the only thing pouring out.
21:31Of course it is.
21:33No such thing as a simple jackknife.
21:35Hey, I need a tractor out east.
21:37Right away, please.
21:38And grab the plug-in dyke and bring it with you.
21:40Mike puts an urgent call to home base for a repair kit.
21:44ASAP, please.
21:46If it's not contained, that's going to eventually leach down
21:47and into the river and into the watershed.
21:50But with authorities breathing down his neck.
21:54What's the holdup?
21:55And the vital corridor still blocked.
22:00Okay, I'm going to see if I can muscle this thing out,
22:02but I don't know if it's going to cooperate with me.
22:05Mike needs to get things moving.
22:08We've got a lot of pressure on these morning wrecks.
22:10All the trucks are gearing up for the day.
22:12They're going to be coming hot on us.
22:14We need to have the road open.
22:18In addition to a second winch line,
22:21he runs an airline to the trailer.
22:24We can release the brakes in the trailer,
22:26and that'll help us out.
22:31That's better.
22:32Hitting the sticks.
22:36There we go.
22:38This time, the wheels roll.
22:41Our first goal is to get the wreck straightened out.
22:45Get at least a lane open so we can get traffic flowing in some sense.
22:48A few more feet.
22:54That should be enough.
22:56And the westbound lane is wide open.
22:59That's what as good as that's going to get.
23:05Traffic control.
23:07Sending.
23:09Releases the waiting drivers.
23:11We're getting to go.
23:13Watch it back.
23:14We're just dealing with mop-up stage here now.
23:20It is what it is at this point.
23:21There's going to be cleanup no matter what you do.
23:23As soon as you crash like that, that's the end of it.
23:25As day breaks...
23:27Morning!
23:29Emergency supplies arrive to contain the spill.
23:32Each side is 155 gallons.
23:35So let's assume anywhere from 100 to 150 gallons leaked out.
23:38We're going to put some floor dry down.
23:39And Mike seals the leak on the fuel tank.
23:43Contain the diesel as much as we can.
23:50That's what we want right there.
23:53With the kingpin released.
23:55Okay, pins pulled.
23:56Landing gear's down.
23:58Got stuff.
24:02The unit is disconnected.
24:04Okay, we'll get these wound up.
24:08We'll get you to turn this around.
24:12We're going to need a hold here in a minute.
24:14I've got to get around the trailer.
24:15And Liam's got to get up the road to turn around.
24:20The axles have been twisted on the truck.
24:22We can't tow it as a combination to a safe spot.
24:32Any better, it'd be textbook.
24:33Liam's going to tow the tractor into town.
24:36Yeah, you're good to go.
24:37And I'll see you back at the earth.
24:38And I'm going to take the trailer.
24:4390 minutes since Mike's arrival.
24:46Okay, I'm going to clear out going the other way.
24:49The crucial leg through the Rockies has been restored.
24:54The roadways in B.C. are a vital link to our overall economy in Canada.
25:00So our job is to clear the road as quickly as possible.
25:03Good times are good times, right?
25:05Highways is happy.
25:06We got it done quick.
25:06I'm happy that highways is happy.
25:09Thank you for being out here.
25:15There's supposed to be another storm rolling in.
25:17I can't get anybody awake around here, so just send me that call.
25:25At his yard in Hope, Jamie Davis takes a much-needed break from the office.
25:31I carry a lot on my shoulders.
25:34I deal with the maintenance.
25:36I dispatch the long-haul trucks.
25:39I deal with accountants.
25:41It does sometimes become quite a bit.
25:43With another storm just hours away.
25:49We go up the cork all the time.
25:51There's always guys breaking down on the hill.
25:54Jamie and his 25-ton wrecker, Lucy, have a short window.
25:59A lot of snow on top, but not down below.
26:03To come to the aid of a valued customer.
26:07It is actually brutally tough on this hill.
26:09Today's environment is ultra-competitive.
26:13For me, it was important always to have customers that you dealt with for a long time,
26:18people that know you, and they would phone you back.
26:22Hey.
26:24What's this look like?
26:25I can move my fan or my fan belt all around.
26:31I've heard that there's a recall on the idlers.
26:37He's going to take it into the shop.
26:38So we can close her up and get it fixed properly.
26:44Not roadside.
26:47Despite the incoming storm.
26:49These are my favorite little lift straps.
26:51They're real good.
26:52Securing the truck for transport is not to be rushed.
26:57We used to use chain all the time.
27:00When you put the chains on, it's too hard to get them to be 100% tight.
27:03They're always coming loose.
27:06I actually like this the best.
27:08That'll get us up the hill.
27:11It could be catastrophic if a truck wasn't tied off properly or came off.
27:17I'm just going to get the tools to get ready to take the shaft out.
27:19The final step is Jamie's least favorite.
27:23Nobody likes pulling shafts, but that's got an automatic transmission in it and you can't even pull that by feet.
27:29They don't lubricate and you can do a lot of damage.
27:33With motorists speeding by just inches away.
27:36He crawls between the wheels, now blind to approaching drivers.
27:48You know, you're doing 110 or 120, whatever it is.
27:51And easy for somebody to just not be paying attention for that one iota of a minute.
27:58That's how those accidents happen a lot of times.
28:00Slow down.
28:06That storm's supposed to come in here a little bit.
28:08On the coquihalla.
28:11Oh.
28:12It wouldn't make any sense for that guy to slow down at all, would it?
28:17Jamie hurries to detach a drive shaft.
28:22It fucks me, man.
28:25They don't get it.
28:25And get out of harm's way.
28:28It's best being on the hill.
28:30They just don't get it.
28:33You know, they call it the smasher for a reason.
28:36You're going to move as quick as you can, efficiently as you can, pick that thing up, get the shaft out of it, air it up, and let's get off the road.
28:44We'll get my remote.
28:46Oh, I got it right here.
28:49Extending his wheel lift to roll the truck backward.
28:52Perfect.
28:54He aligns the drive shaft to remove the final bolt.
29:00Ah, here we go.
29:03I hate pulling shafts.
29:06They're so frickin' heavy.
29:09Then chains it up for safe transport.
29:13Hey, guys, we're good there.
29:14The dirty work's done, and now it's driving.
29:18All right, we're good to go.
29:20With his rig secured, Jamie's longtime customer...
29:26All right.
29:27...lifts off for safety ahead of the storm.
29:30We're going to pull him up to the top and find a safe place to separate the units, and then we're going to tow the truck down to the repair shop.
29:37We really value that old-time, old-school relationship with a customer who knows you.
29:43He's going to phone you.
29:45He's loyal to you.
29:47That's a good feeling to help.
29:48It really is.
29:49There you go.
29:50There's a guy with the phone in.
29:52There's a guy with the car.
29:53There's a guy with the car.
29:54He's going to kill you.
29:55He's going to kill you.
29:56He's going to kill you.
29:57And we're going to kill him.
30:00Hey, let's see how it's done.
30:03What's this?
30:06How's the weather?
30:10500 kilometers north.
30:13It said shift in the weather and I can't find that gear.
30:18In Quenelle, B.C.
30:20It was just really icy last night.
30:23An auto-towing 50-tonne lumbers down Highway 97.
30:29It's really slippery.
30:31With Rob Barber on duty.
30:34The first little bit of winter driving usually takes a couple of snowfalls to feel comfortable.
30:39Just a little bit too much speed.
30:42Plans go sideways pretty fast.
30:45We're just pulling up the accident scene now.
30:50Just ahead, a lumber bee train that lost the road.
30:58Holy crap.
31:01We gotta get that off the highway.
31:04It's down in front of the truck, it's way behind the truck.
31:07Some of his wood really went a long ways.
31:10Hey Rob!
31:11Joining the scene with his 12-tonne folding knuckle-boom crane.
31:16Today I'm the clean-up guy.
31:18Odd job specialist, Alan Frisby.
31:22When he gets into predicaments, it's me, he'll give a call and we'll come out and help him out.
31:28We'll start retrieving the lumber so Rob can get his truck full out of there.
31:32Wow.
31:33There is like 43 metric ton of wood on that truck.
31:38But before they can get to the bee train.
31:41We can't roll it over with the wood on it.
31:44They'll have to release its load of lumber.
31:47So that we can try to get at it a little bit better and roll the truck over.
31:51In the world of heavy recovery...
31:55Let's watch your feet.
31:56...cutting straps...
31:59...has proven...
32:00Holy...
32:02...to be dangerous business.
32:06That's it.
32:07That's all of them.
32:11You got the sphincter tight?
32:14Having cut his share of straps over the years...
32:18Rob has innovated.
32:21I think it's a painter's stick.
32:23And then it's got a hook system.
32:25You can just hook the strap and it just slices through it.
32:28So you can be far enough away from it that it shouldn't get you.
32:35A lot less chance of ever getting hurt.
32:37There he is.
32:40He's just gonna come in right there.
32:43They now need to transfer the wood off-site.
32:46In the bin, yeah.
32:48Okay.
32:49Let's hit the ground, boys.
32:52So they brought in some extra hands...
32:55Four o'clock staff knew it's gonna start snowing pretty quickly, they said.
32:58...to help beat the clock.
33:00We have a snowstorm on our way, so we've quickly gotta get this done.
33:04Because if we get a dump of snow, we'll have to dig everything out in the morning.
33:09We'll try to get as much done as before the snow comes.
33:19500 kilometers south.
33:21Make some snow and rain.
33:23Back down on the coke.
33:25The weather should die out quick.
33:27An afternoon dump of wet snow...
33:32There's a truck broke down on the side of the road.
33:36...as a big rig carrying sea cans stranded.
33:40It's icy, slushy on top, slippery.
33:43I guess we have too heavy load.
33:45We lost traction up the hill.
33:46The chain gave up.
33:48So we need an atomic truck.
33:53Still working the hill since last night's storm.
33:56Al swoops in for the rescue.
34:01Some of these trucks only put chains on one axle and they get most of the way up the hill.
34:06They start spinning and...
34:09...sparks, smoke, the smell of burnt concrete.
34:12There are a lot of broken chains.
34:15Back up a bit and get off those chains.
34:18They've got it all wrapped up in the wheels and they're like this.
34:21Yeah, you're all right.
34:26Good chains will last you.
34:28Cheap chains will get you through the scale, but they won't get you up the hill.
34:33But with no chains on the driver's tires.
34:36What do you got for weight?
34:37My load is about 130,000 pounds.
34:40It's heavy.
34:41It's very heavy.
34:43And 60 plus tons on the hook.
34:48Yeah, and then as soon as you can, start shifting gears.
34:50As soon as you can.
34:53We want to go up the hill.
34:55Four barrels open.
35:02The tow will put Al's 50-ton heavy to the test.
35:07Start picking up speed.
35:12Breaking a truck up there during a snowstorm is...
35:15It's not good.
35:16But when things let go, you got no control.
35:20Everything's going boom.
35:25Heavy load here.
35:27On Snowshed Hill.
35:29Got to pedal the clutch.
35:31Pedal the throttle.
35:32A super heavy tow.
35:34A little bit of hopeful.
35:35As Al pushing Big Green to its upper limit.
35:40Pucker factor on the seat sometimes.
35:42Hauling a container load in excess of 130,000 pounds.
35:50One bad shift could sap their momentum.
35:53We're going to actually start picking up gears because the two
35:56of us are starting to work together to get efficient
35:59traction to make it up that hill.
36:02Looks like we've got everything bumping and we didn't grip.
36:10Cruising through the final stretch.
36:13Big Green has the B train's driver to thank.
36:16Did not like a pro.
36:17People don't want to shift because they think as soon as they
36:18shift they'll power out but I got...
36:19No, that's what I was...
36:20I need a little more...
36:21Yeah, that was awesome.
36:22Jason Wright.
36:23He made it up the hill.
36:24After 14 hours on the coke.
36:25You bet.
36:26Al's shift is done.
36:27You know, here's a helping hand.
36:28Let's get to the top of the hill.
36:29Have yourself a safe trip to wherever you're going.
36:30I've been doing that for years up there.
36:31And that's what I think will carry my family's business for
36:32more generations to come.
36:36I want to be done by dark.
36:37Yeah, it's awesome.
36:38Awesome.
36:39Jason Wright.
36:40You're awesome.
36:41Jason Wright.
36:42We made it up the hill.
36:43After 14 hours on the coke.
36:44You bet.
36:45Al's shift is done.
36:46You know, here's a helping hand.
36:47Let's get to the top of the hill.
36:48Have yourself a safe trip to wherever you're going.
36:49I've been doing that for years up there.
36:50And that's what I think will carry my family's business
36:52for more generations to come.
36:55I want to be done by dark.
36:58Because we got more snow coming.
37:00Outside Quinelle.
37:02Team Otto.
37:03I don't know if that'll come apart or not.
37:05Here we are, the caribou rotator.
37:07And Alan Frisbee.
37:09Okay.
37:10Perfect.
37:11We'll make it look beautiful.
37:12Are making light work of a heavy lumber offload.
37:16Each bundle, I'm going to guess 3,000 to 4,000 pounds at the
37:20most.
37:21So I got about 6,000 pounds there.
37:23Maybe eight.
37:24Come out of there like nothing.
37:26I hope.
37:27My crane is a folding knuckle boom.
37:31It's a 12 ton.
37:32We get into areas that are a little more challenging.
37:36Heads up.
37:37Watch that side.
37:42Don't slide on you.
37:44It's a high value load.
37:47All fur, premium wood.
37:50That can still be salvaged.
37:53It's really nice wood.
37:55It should be worth about 120,000 for the quality of wood that's on the truck today.
38:03They're done.
38:04Cool.
38:05With enough lumber out of the way, the next challenge is to land the wreck.
38:14Roll it back onto its wheels again and then he'll drag it away.
38:17I'll rig up my lines and I'll attach a couple chains.
38:21Where am I taking on to?
38:22With two lines from the 50 ton to the tractor and Alan's crane rigged to the trailer's midpoint,
38:32they'll roll the unit onto its wheels.
38:36Snow incoming.
38:37But with the snowstorm about to hit...
38:40Let's get her.
38:41...the team pushes to get the recovery done fast.
38:44Let's go!
38:46I got a call for a road closer.
38:49We don't want to be taking forever because time is money.
38:54Stopping traffic.
38:56Rob moves in.
38:59Are you confident he's not going to hit your truck?
39:03As long as you don't slide, it will be good.
39:07There's barely nine feet between the wreck and the crane truck.
39:12It seems pretty tight.
39:13Here.
39:14It seems like it might be a little close to his truck when he rolls it over,
39:17but he feels he's got lots of room and he's pretty comfortable with that.
39:20With Alan on his handheld controls...
39:23Are we ready?
39:24Rob...
39:25Let me lead it.
39:26...makes his move.
39:28So that doesn't slam on the ground quite as hard?
39:31It's going to be unpolite.
39:36Keep her going.
39:37Come on.
39:38Oh, my.
39:43Outside Quinelle.
39:44Oh, crapola.
39:46On Highway 97.
39:47It's going to slam on the ground.
39:49It's going to be unpolite.
39:51Otto's Lumber B train rollover.
39:54It's coming on its own now.
40:00Oh, my.
40:01Oh, my.
40:02Slams into place.
40:04Yeah, it was a good one.
40:06All right, it's done.
40:08It was tundra room.
40:10Put it up on the road for you.
40:14With a final tug sideways, the B train...
40:18He can now take it.
40:20...is back on solid ground.
40:22I just got to turn around now and hook onto it.
40:28Rob plans to roll it off the main drag to a safe pullout.
40:33Yeah, we're going to haul it one piece.
40:38But a mechanic on site...
40:40We got the bulkhead.
40:41Oh.
40:42...discovers...
40:43We hit the valve.
40:44...a showstopper.
40:46It's not an air leak.
40:48When the guy rolled the trailer over, he broke a valve.
40:51If we can't fix his airline, we're going to have to cage all five axles
40:55to release all the brakes, which will take forever.
40:58I don't think I got a valve.
41:00I go look in the tickle trunk.
41:05We can be here a while if he doesn't have all the right fittings to do it.
41:10It's kind of part of life, right?
41:12You try to keep enough crap that you can fix junk.
41:16I have a friend with an autorecker, and I try to collect junk from his place.
41:20It's unreal how much he use it.
41:24What are the chances of me actually having that coupler?
41:28Well, I think you have it.
41:30Rob's tickle trunk treasure...
41:32Oh, like it was meant to be.
41:34...saves the day.
41:36I think we're going to be golden.
41:37It's kind of nice when you have that little pile of extra brass goodies.
41:41Should be good.
41:42Hopefully, I'm going to go push the button, and we're not going to hear any air leaks.
41:47You're rolling.
41:48These wheels are turning.
41:51Hey.
41:52With the trailer's brakes released...
41:54Impressive to watch.
41:55Rob and Alan pull off another win.
41:59Everything went smooth.
42:00Again, working with Rob.
42:01He's good at what he does.
42:03Al's always awesome to work with.
42:05He relies on me.
42:06I rely on him.
42:09That's 85 feet for the truck and 38 feet for me.
42:14There we go.
42:15Headed for a safe space off the highway.
42:19Okay, I'm leaving the scene now.
42:22Rob is optimistic about Opto's road ahead.
42:26Yeah.
42:29Today went really well.
42:30There was a lot of pieces there to clean up and get moved off the road.
42:34This winter auto, we're hoping for a good snowfall and some cold weather.
42:39Not to blow any trucks up.
42:40Looks good here.
42:41We're awesome.
42:42Next time, on Highway Through Hell...
42:43A loaded lumber wreck...
42:44You actually can't see the truck.
42:45...has auto...
42:46What a mess, man.
42:47...grappling...
42:48Bit of a funky smeller.
42:49That's amazing.
42:50...a messy manure tanker...
42:51Really starting to smell around here.
42:52...takes a turn for myrrh.
42:53Let the festivities begin.
42:54...and a mystery man...
42:55We've had a guy in front of the gate all day long...
42:56...at Jamie's door.
42:57Hello?
42:58Hello?
42:59Hello?
43:00Hello?
43:01How are you talking about the car?
43:02How are you talking about the car?
43:03How are you talking about the car?
43:04What a mess, man?
43:05What a mess, man.
43:07Grappling...
43:08Bit of a funky smeller.
43:09That's amazing.
43:10A messy manure tanker...
43:11Really starting to smell around here.
43:13...takes a turn for myrrh...
43:14Let the festivities begin.
43:15...and a mystery man...
43:17We've had a guy in front of the gate all day long...
43:18...at Jamie's door.
43:19Hello?
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