- 20 hours ago
Highway Thru Hell Season 14 Episode 2
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Short filmTranscript
00:00This time, on Highway Through Hell,
00:08Oh, slickie-doo.
00:11Slippin' and slidin'.
00:13Woo-hoo!
00:16Reliable.
00:17In the danger zone.
00:18Quick, quick!
00:19Before this guy gets hit.
00:20Quiring.
00:21Rock slides and Sasquatch attacks.
00:23Time to go!
00:24Works the hill.
00:25Could be anything that closes the road.
00:27Wow.
00:27And cuttin' loose.
00:30Oh crap, hold up.
00:31With auto.
00:3243 metric ton of wood on that truck.
00:38Anyone coming down from the summit there?
00:40Tell me what the roads are like.
00:43On BC's Coquihalla Highway.
00:45If 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.
01:00Those 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 month-long fight.
01:16Once 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.
01:30After 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.
01:57Al is here.
01:58Okay, he's at Zobkius.
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 Zobkius brake check, veteran tow operator Al Quiring armors up.
02:16Come on, baby.
02:17Can't control Mother Nature on the Cocahalla, that's for sure.
02:22Their climate's changing.
02:23It seems like we're getting a lot of snow developing in a very short period of time.
02:29Al, how are you doing?
02:31Good.
02:32How's it going?
02:33I think it's going to be kind of a messy night.
02:35We haven't had a West Coast storm for a while.
02:38Yeah.
02:39Looks like a building anyways.
02:41Each person's got a spot to keep, you know, an eye on their corner of the chaos.
02:46Well, I'll let you get ready.
02:48Thanks, Al.
02:48You bet.
02:49Appreciate it.
02:54All right, here we go.
03:01How's the highway to Cam?
03:03That's on the coast.
03:03It's pretty rough.
03:07125 kilometers north.
03:11I think I have a feeling that's going to be a long night.
03:14In Merritt, reliable towing is ready for the cold snap.
03:19We have geared up for winter.
03:21I think we have enough talented people to work the trucks that we have.
03:26I anticipate that it's going to be a very busy winter.
03:32Blasting off from the yard, a 35-ton record.
03:35We're going to head up Highway 5 here.
03:38Piloted by operator John Don.
03:41Sometimes it's not just the snow.
03:43Sometimes it's cold enough.
03:45The road's icy.
03:47This is supposed to be the first major snowfall of the season.
03:50And the roads are starting to cool down.
03:52You guys will drive the speeds as if it's still summer and it's not.
04:00That's a long line-up.
04:0246 kilometers north of town.
04:04That's what we're just trying to crawl through.
04:07A semi-trailer headlong down a bank.
04:14The whole ass engine of the trailer's up in the air.
04:17Dangerously budding into the highway.
04:21There's a snow truck there.
04:23Arriving on scene.
04:25Oh!
04:26John gets his first look.
04:30Alrighty.
04:31The trailer is sticking out in the granny lane a little bit.
04:34The wreck is the second of two crashes on the same stretch.
04:40There was a response from EMS on the first accident.
04:46And 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.
04:57One accident just kind of caused a bit of a chain reaction.
05:01That's good.
05:02You're alright though.
05:02But before traffic can safely resume.
05:06It's pretty caved into the front bank here.
05:09John must clear his wreck.
05:12Hanging over the road.
05:14Trying to get this done as fast as possible.
05:16To avoid buzzing any other wrecks on the same hill.
05:20Come on buddy, come on.
05:21I just want to know what the coke is like.
05:45There is some sort of blockage.
05:5030 minutes north of Merritt.
05:52Single lane.
05:54A 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.
06:06When you're in a spot like this, you definitely got to be watching what you're doing.
06:10You got to crawl through on the hammer lane side only.
06:14Cresting 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?
06:39Merritt manager Lane Perry.
06:40We'll have you yanked out 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.
06:54Idiots man.
06:56Drivers in the live lane.
06:58I know man, there's going to be another one here.
07:01Aren't heeding the conditions.
07:04A little slicky poo.
07:05Everything's pretty slicked up from the wind.
07:07You just want to make sure you keep your head on this way.
07:12Woo!
07:13These smell working good.
07:18No one's fixing it up there.
07:20125 kilometers south.
07:23While firing's under doing this thing.
07:25On Snowshed Hill.
07:28Al discovers a flatbed B train in a bad spot.
07:33I've encountered a few different things on the Snowshed Hill.
07:36Time 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 slides, Sasquatch attacks.
07:46Could be anything that 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.
07:54It's kind of odd that somebody would just drive up that Smasher Hill and decide not only just to kind of block lanes, but 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 and try again tomorrow.
08:17We're going to go up the hill, put it in gear.
08:22I'm hooked on already.
08:24I'm fast.
08:25We're ready to go.
08:27First, second, third, fourth.
08:30Pick up speed.
08:32We're not stopping anywhere until we're at the top of the hill.
08:36Follow me.
08:39Let's roll.
08:40Despite the rude awakening.
08:59Come on, baby.
09:01Al understands the grind of winter trucking.
09:04They want to go to sleep because they've been driving like this, having a hard time.
09:07Staying in a warm sleep or berth, cuddled up in a sleeping bag is way better than laying under a dripping truck, putting chains on by far.
09:18But they just can't do that there.
09:27Cut loose at the top.
09:30The driver.
09:31Oh, I wouldn't pull off anywhere here.
09:34Remains eager for a place to snooze.
09:38Don't sleep up here.
09:39Because anywhere you pull off here, there's going to be a foot and a half of snow.
09:42So, yeah, you wake up in the morning, we might not see you.
09:46With a bit of practical advice.
09:49I'll get out of your way so you can go.
09:51Al sends him on his way.
09:54It's not like a hotel hospitality or anything, but it's looking after the motoring public.
10:00Right on.
10:01Well, you drive safe, driver.
10:02Have a good night.
10:03We've got an accident here.
10:09Pull it out.
10:12An hour north.
10:14John and Lane rigged to a trailer.
10:17Pull it on either side.
10:18Sticking out onto the highway.
10:22If you want to back right up.
10:26I'm always concerned that we're working next to a live lane.
10:31I'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.
10:54Well, far out of my there.
11:21He risks swinging into moving traffic.
11:26Order line.
11:26If we spin again, we'll have to change it.
11:29That's right.
11:31We got quite a bit of weight.
11:32We're pulling.
11:33The roadway is pretty slick at this point.
11:38It doesn't help that the landing gear is just being a big giant anchor right now for us.
11:46Restricted by a live lane.
11:48You can't turn the wrecker and take up the whole road to get full pulling power.
11:54You're limited to the little bit of space you have.
11:58They keep pulling the loaded semi.
12:01It's coming.
12:02It's just plowing the bank on its way up.
12:04But it's grounding out on the crest.
12:09Hey, hold the weight.
12:10So they pause to switch lines up.
12:19We're going to have to change again.
12:21So this one will end up being our truck line.
12:25We need to get this one off the road for public safety and safety of us.
12:29We don't want to be up on the road.
12:31With a quick re-rig to the front of the tractor.
12:39Yeah, I'll tighten up.
12:41They try again.
12:50Whoa, whoa!
12:51You're in great traffic.
12:53We've got to be quick so that traffic doesn't come down.
13:23the hill and hit us.
13:24Earlier tonight, unable to stop for an active crash scene,
13:30the semi hit an ambulance and went down the bank.
13:37Throw my stiff legs up quick.
13:38Quick, quick.
13:40Before this guy gets hit, we all get hit.
13:42Not wanting to become another casualty.
13:45We don't want to get hit.
13:47Pretty smooth?
13:48No, I'm going to back up.
13:50Hit.
13:50John backs away from the active lane.
14:03Oh, good.
14:03It's just a lot of snow and a lot of weight coming up this, uh, it'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.
14:20Okay.
14:21Just to pull the trailer down.
14:23And that'll kind of lift up on the fifth wheel plate and give that tractor some lift, too.
14:28Okay.
14:28They need to counter the resistance on the front of the wreck.
14:33Go for it.
14:35With Lane's 50-ton levering down on the rear.
14:39Fighting us a little bit here on this thing.
14:50John gets the lift he needs on the tractor.
14:54Cab gave a good twist.
14:57Until he runs out of room.
15:01That's okay, though.
15:03Pull ahead, swing it the rest of the lane.
15:07Okay.
15:10A quick reposition.
15:16Just watch yourself, Lane.
15:17I'm going to swing it up.
15:21And the nose.
15:24It's coming up nice now.
15:26Finally comes around.
15:30There we go.
15:33Touching down with a flashy finish.
15:37Battery cables.
15:40The wreck is back on the road.
15:42Fun in a way and rewarding because you get to see everything that you've done at the end of the day.
15:49For Lane and John, teamwork and quick thinking.
15:53Okay, good on this side.
15:54You got it.
15:55Made for a safe and speedy recovery.
15:58Alrighty, 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.
16:09With Reliable's wreck heading off the highway.
16:12It's clear sailing.
16:14The area is safe for the next recovery team.
16:17That's the number one goal is to keep the public safe.
16:20Open the roads, keep the commodities flowing.
16:24Oh, I love winter.
16:25What's going on, driver?
16:26What's going on, driver?
16:28What's going on, driver?
16:30What's going on, driver?
16:31What's going on, driver?
16:32What's going on, driver?
16:34What's going on, driver?
16:44400 kilometers northeast.
16:47Driver, I want to hold up here.
16:49It's for Revelstoke.
16:51Lies Reliable's Revelstoke Division, Ben's Towing.
16:56One 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.
17:02Okay, Mike, you copy.
17:06Heading 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.
17:17Launches onto the TransCanada.
17:19A little bit wet, a little bit slushy.
17:22With heavy operator Mike Topperchat.
17:26It's a different kind of highway than anywhere else.
17:28A lot of people say that highways like the Coker, you see a lot of destruction there,
17:33a lot of crime and chaos, but 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.
17:44Linking BC to the rest of Canada through the Rockies and surrounding mountains,
17:51Highway 1 via Revelstoke is an essential trade route
17:55with no viable alternates in case of a shutdown.
17:59All your groceries, all your dry goods, all your mail, it'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.
18:19We're hitting snow already.
18:22At 4.30 a.m.
18:23When I see traffic coming, so that means the road's not, may not be entirely blocked.
18:30Uh, never mind, that's, uh, that looks kind of blocked to me.
18:36It's a bad situation.
18:38A 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.
18:49Highway authorities are anxious to 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 tweaked and everything.
19:11...reveals 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, and it's twisted his axles out of shape.
19:21I can get it straightened out and lay it open real quick.
19:23I'm just going to need to turn around.
19:29Aiming his winches...
19:30Can I borrow you? Just pull that out.
19:33...and enlisting the help of the highway's rep...
19:36I'm just going to throw a chain on there quick.
19:41...Mike rigs to the tow hook.
19:43Hoping for a quick pull-out.
19:51All right, let's rock and roll.
19:55You're a driver.
19:57Pop in.
20:04We'll see what it looks like when it gets out,
20:06as at least get traffic flushed.
20:07...as he starts straightening the jackknife.
20:12Oh, that's good.
20:18Oh, bitch.
20:20Mike hits a snag.
20:23There's some damage somewhere in the truck of the air system.
20:26In that situation, it locks up all his brakes.
20:28We're going to have to reinvent this a little bit,
20:34because it's not going to be what I want.
20:36He needs to quickly come up with a new plan.
20:40Definitely not get by this one.
20:44Driver's heading west, and the revenue is all pumped up.
20:47On Highway 1 near Revelstoke...
20:49They got truck jacked, thanks.
20:51...a total traffic shutdown.
20:55Oh, no.
20:56...as Mike from Ben's towing...
20:59...whole back in is destroyed.
21:01...scrambling to get wheels rolling.
21:04It'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-mounted components.
21:12Oftentimes, they can break the air lines and electrical lines
21:14that supply the trailer.
21:18Yeah, that's a bit right there.
21:20He discovers the problem.
21:23Yeah, you broke an air line.
21:25It's full 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 right 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
21:48and into the river and into the watershed.
21:50But with authorities breathing down his neck...
21:54What's the hold-up?
21:56...and 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.
22:04Mike 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.
22:13They're going to be coming hot on us.
22:15We need to have the road open.
22:16In addition to a second winch line,
22:21he runs an airline to the trailer.
22:24We can release the brakes on the trailer,
22:26and that'll help us out.
22:31That's better.
22:35Hitting the sticks.
22:36There we go.
22:37This time, the wheels roll.
22:41Our first goal is to get the wreck straightened out.
22:46Get at least a lane open
22:47so we can get traffic flowing in some sense.
22:48A few more feet.
22:55That's enough.
22:56And the westbound lane is wide open.
23:00That's about as good as that's going to get.
23:05Traffic control...
23:07...releases the waiting drivers.
23:11You're getting to go.
23:13Watch the 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.
23:40And Mike seals the leak on the fuel tank.
23:43We're going to contain the diesel as much as we can.
23:50That's all we want right there.
23:53With the kingpin released.
23:55Okay, pin's pulled.
23:56Landing gear's down.
23:59Good stuff.
24:03The unit is disconnected.
24:07Okay, we'll get these wound up.
24:08We'll get you to turn this around.
24:09Liam.
24:13We'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.
24:24Any better, it'd be textbook.
24:34Liam's going to tow the tractor into town.
24:36Yeah, you're good to go.
24:37And I'll see you back in the yard.
24:39And 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.
24:48The 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.
25:04Good times are good times, right?
25:05Highways is happy.
25:06We got it done quick.
25:07I'm happy that highways is happy.
25:09Thank you for being out here.
25:10There's supposed to be another storm rolling in.
25:18400 kilometers southwest.
25:21I can't get anybody awake around here, so just send me that call.
25:26At his yard in Hope,
25:28Jamie Davis takes a much-needed break from the office.
25:32I carry a lot on my shoulders.
25:35I deal with the maintenance.
25:37I dispatch the long-haul trucks.
25:38I deal with accountants.
25:41It does sometimes become quite a bit.
25:46With 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.
26:03...to come to the aid of a valued customer.
26:05It is actually brutally tough on this hill.
26:10Today's environment is ultra-competitive.
26:13For me, it was important always to have customers that you dealt with for a long time...
26:18...people that know you, and they would phone you back.
26:23Hey.
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...
26:32There's a recall on the idlers.
26:35Oh, good to get out of here, Bob.
26:38He's going to take it into the shop so we can close her up and get it fixed properly.
26:44Not roadside.
26:45Despite the incoming storm...
26:49These are my favorite little lift straps.
26:51They're real good.
26:53Securing the truck for transport is not to be rushed.
26:58We used to use chain all the time.
27:00But when you put the chains on, it's too hard to get them to be 100% tight.
27:04They're always coming loose, and...
27:06I actually like this the best.
27:09That'll get us up the hill.
27:10It 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.
27:20The final step is Jamie's least favorite.
27:24Nobody likes pulling shafts, but that's got an automatic transmission in it,
27:27and 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...
27:37Oh, watch out!
27:40Okay, I'll get under there and start.
27:43He crawls between the wheels, now blind to approaching drivers.
27:49You know, you're doing 110 or 120, whatever it is.
27:52And 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.
28:01Slow down.
28:06That storm's supposed to come in here, no business.
28:08On the coquihalla.
28:15It wouldn't make any sense for that guy to slow down at all, would it?
28:19Jamie hurries to detach a drive shaft.
28:24It fucks me, man.
28:25They don't get it.
28:26And get out of harm's way.
28:29It's best being on the hill.
28:30They just don't get it.
28:34You know, they call it the smasher for a reason.
28:36You're going to move as quick as you can, efficiently as you can.
28:39Pick that thing up, get the shaft out of it, air it up, and let's get off the road.
28:44Go get my remote.
28:46Oh, I got it right here.
28:47Extending his wheel lift to roll the truck backward.
28:52Perfect.
28:54He aligns the drive shaft to remove the final bolt.
28:58Then chains it up for safe transport.
29:13Hey, guys, we're good there.
29:15The dirty work's done, and now it's driving.
29:17All 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.
29:35And then we're going to tow the truck down to the repair shop.
29:39We really value that old-time, old-school relationship with a customer who knows you,
29:44who's going to phone you, he's loyal to you.
29:47That's a good feeling to have.
29:49It really is.
29:50There you go.
29:51There's a guy with the phone in.
30:09How's the weather?
30:11500 kilometers north.
30:14It says shift in the weather, and I can't find that gear.
30:17It was just really icy last night.
30:24An auto-towing 50-tonne lumbers down Highway 97.
30:30It's really separate.
30:32With Rob Barber on duty.
30:34The first little bit of winter driving, it usually takes a couple snowfalls to feel comfortable.
30:41Just a little bit too much speed.
30:43Plans go sideways pretty fast.
30:45We're just pulling up the accident scene now.
30:51Just ahead.
30:55A lumber bee train that lost the road.
30:58Holy crap.
30:59We've got to get that off the highway.
31:05It's down in front of the truck.
31:06It's way behind the truck.
31:08Some of his wood really went a long ways.
31:11They're up!
31:11Joining the scene with his 12-ton folding knuckle boom crane.
31:17Today I'm the clean-up guy.
31:19Rob Jobs Specialist, Alan Frisby.
31:23When he gets into predicaments, it's me.
31:26He'll give a call, and we'll come out and help him out.
31:29We'll start retrieving the lumber so Rob can get his truck full out of there.
31:32Wow.
31:34There is like 43 metric ton of wood on that truck.
31:39But before they can get to the bee train,
31:42We can't roll it over with the wood on it.
31:45They'll have to release its load of lumber.
31:48So that we can try to get at it a little bit better and roll the truck over.
31:54In the world of heavy recovery,
31:56Let's watch your feet.
31:57Cutting straps
31:58has proven
32:01to be dangerous business.
32:07That's it.
32:08Oh.
32:11You got the sphincter tight?
32:14Having cut his share of straps over the years,
32:18Rob has innovated.
32:22I think it's a painter's stick,
32:24and then it's got a hook system.
32:26You can just hook the strap,
32:27and it just slices to it,
32:29so you can be far enough away from it
32:31that it shouldn't get you.
32:35A lot less chance of ever getting hurt.
32:38There he is.
32:38He's just going to come in right there.
32:44They now need to transfer the wood off-site.
32:47In the bin, yeah.
32:49Okay.
32:50Let's hit the ground, boys.
32:52So they brought in some extra hands.
32:56Four o'clock staff knew it's going to start snowing pretty quickly, they said.
32:58To help beat the clock.
33:01We have a snowstorm on our way,
33:03so we've quickly got to get this done.
33:05Because if we get a dump of snow,
33:07we'll have to dig everything out in the morning.
33:11We'll try to get as much done as before the snow comes.
33:13500 kilometers south.
33:22Uh, Nixon's still in rain.
33:24Back down on the coke.
33:26The weather should die, though, quick.
33:30An afternoon dump of wet snow.
33:34There's a truck broke down on the side of the road.
33:37As a big rig carrying sea cans stranded.
33:40It's icy, slushy on top, slippery.
33:44I guess we have too heavy load.
33:46We lost traction up the hill.
33:48Chain gave up.
33:49So we need a tow-wick truck.
33:54Still working the hill since last night's storm.
33:59Al swoops in for the rescue.
34:02Some of these trucks only put chains on one axle,
34:05and they get most of the way up the hill.
34:06They start spinning, and sparks, smoke,
34:11the smell of burnt concrete.
34:14There are a lot of broken chains.
34:17Back up a bit.
34:18You get off those chains.
34:19They've got it all wrapped up in the wheels,
34:22and they're like this.
34:24You're all right.
34:27Good chains.
34:29The last, yeah, cheap chains,
34:30they'll get you through the scale,
34:31but they won't get you up the hill.
34:32But with no chains on the driver's tires.
34:37What do you got for weight?
34:38My load is about 130,000 pounds.
34:41It's heavy.
34:42It's very heavy.
34:44And 60-plus tons on the hook.
34:49Yeah, and then as soon as you can,
34:50start shifting gears.
34:52As soon as you can.
34:54We want to go up the hill.
34:56Floor barrels open.
34:57The tow will put Al's 50-ton heavy to the test.
35:09Start picking up speed.
35:13Breaking a truck up there during a snowstorm is, uh,
35:16it's not good.
35:18But when things let go,
35:20you got no control.
35:21Everything's gonna boom.
35:22Heavy load here.
35:28On Snowshed Hill.
35:31Gotta pedal the clutch.
35:32Pedal the throttle.
35:34A super heavy tow.
35:35A little bit of hopeful.
35:37As Al pushing Big Green to its upper limit.
35:41Pucker factor on the seat sometimes.
35:44Hauling a container load in excess of 130,000 pounds.
35:49One bad shift could sap their momentum.
35:55We're gonna actually start picking up gears
35:56because the two of us are starting to work together
35:59to get efficient traction to make it up that hill.
36:04Looks like you're getting hurt.
36:06You got me and you're getting hurt.
36:11Cruising through the final stretch,
36:14Big Green has the B-train's driver to thank.
36:17I did not like a pro.
36:22People don't want to shift
36:23because they think as soon as they shift,
36:24they'll power out, but I got...
36:26No, that's what I was...
36:27I need to do it for.
36:28Yeah, that was awesome.
36:31Jason Wright.
36:32He made it up, didn't he?
36:34After 14 hours on the coke...
36:37You bet.
36:39Al's shift is done.
36:41You know, here's a helping hand.
36:43Let's get to the top of the hill.
36:45Have yourself a safe trip to wherever you're going.
36:47Well, I've been doing that for years out there,
36:50and that's what I think will carry my family's business
36:52for more generations to come.
36:58I want to be done by dark
36:59because we got more snow coming.
37:02Outside Quenelle, Team Otto...
37:04I don't know if that'll come apart or not.
37:06Here we are, the caribou rotator.
37:08...and Alan Frisbee...
37:10Okay, perfect.
37:12We'll make it look beautiful.
37:13...are making light work of a heavy lumber offload.
37:18Each bundle, I'm going to get 3,000 to 4,000 pounds at the most.
37:22So I got about 6,000 pounds there, maybe eight.
37:26Come out of there like nothing.
37:28I hope.
37:30My crane is a folding knuckle boom.
37:32It's a 12-ton.
37:32We get into areas that are a little more challenging.
37:37Heads up.
37:42Watch that side.
37:43Don't slide on you.
37:46It's a high-value load.
37:49All fur, premium wood.
37:51That can still be salvaged.
37:54It's really nice wood.
37:55It should be worth about $120,000
37:57for the quality of wood that's on the truck today.
38:03They're done.
38:04Cool.
38:07With enough lumber out of the way,
38:10the next challenge is to land the wreck.
38:14We'll roll it back onto its wheels again,
38:16and then he'll drag it away.
38:17I'll rig up my lines,
38:19and I'll attach a couple chains.
38:22Where am I tagging on to?
38:24With two lines from the 50-ton to the tractor,
38:28and Alan's crane rigged to the trailer's midpoint,
38:32they'll roll the unit onto its wheels.
38:36Snow incoming.
38:38But with a snowstorm about to hit...
38:41Let's get her.
38:42...the team pushes to get the recovery done fast.
38:45Let's go!
38:47I got a call for a road pudger.
38:48We don't want to be taken forever
38:52because time is money.
38:55Stopping traffic.
38:57Rob moves in.
39:00Are you confident you're not going to hit your truck?
39:04As long as you don't slide, it will be good.
39:06There's barely nine feet between the wreck and the crane truck.
39:12It seems pretty tight.
39:14Here.
39:15It seems like it might be a little close to his truck
39:16when he rolls it over,
39:18but he feels he's got lots of room
39:19and he's pretty comfortable with that.
39:21With Alan on his handheld controls...
39:24Are we ready?
39:25Rob...
39:26Let me lead it.
39:27...makes his move.
39:29So that doesn't slam on the ground quite as hard,
39:31it's going to be unpolite.
39:33Keep her going.
39:38Come on.
39:39Oh, my.
39:43Outside Cornell.
39:45Oh, crampola.
39:47On Highway 97.
39:49It's going to slam on the ground.
39:51It's going to be unpolite.
39:52Otto's Lumber B-Train rollover.
39:55It's coming on its own now.
40:01Oh, my.
40:02It slams into place.
40:05Yeah, it was a good one.
40:07All right, it's done.
40:09It was tundra room.
40:11Put it up on the road for you.
40:15With a final tug sideways,
40:17the B-Train...
40:18He can now take it.
40:20...is back on solid ground.
40:22I just got to turn around now
40:24and hook onto it.
40:26Rob plans to roll it off the main drag
40:32to a safe pull-out.
40:34Yeah, we're going to haul it one piece.
40:38But a mechanic on site...
40:40We're at the bulkhead.
40:42Oh.
40:43...discovers...
40:43...the valve.
40:44...a showstopper.
40:48An air leak.
40:49When the guy rolled the trailer over,
40:51he broke a valve.
40:52If we can't fix his airline,
40:54we're going to have to cage all five axles
40:56to release all the brakes,
40:58which will take forever.
40:59I don't think I got a valve.
41:01I go look.
41:03The tickle trunk.
41:05We can be here a while
41:06if he doesn't have all the right things to do it.
41:11Kind of part of life, right?
41:12You try to keep enough crap
41:14that you can fix junk.
41:17I have a friend with an autorecker,
41:18and I try to collect junk from his place.
41:21It's unreal how much you use it.
41:24What are the chances of me actually having that guppler?
41:27Well, it's a good thing to do out of it.
41:30Rob's tickle trunk treasure...
41:33Oh, like it was meant to be.
41:35...saves the day.
41:36I think we're going to be golden.
41:38It's kind of nice when you have
41:39that little pile of extra brass goodies.
41:42Should be good.
41:42Hopefully, I'm going to go push the button,
41:44and we're not going to hear any air leaks.
41:48You're rolling.
41:49These wheels are turning.
41:52Hey.
41:53With the trailer's brakes released,
41:55impressive to watch.
41:56Rob and Alan pull off another win.
42:00Everything went smooth.
42:01Again, working with Rob.
42:03He's good at what he does.
42:04El's always awesome to work with.
42:06He relies on me.
42:07I rely on him.
42:10That's 85 feet for the truck
42:12and 38 feet for me.
42:15There we go.
42:16Headed for a safe space off the highway.
42:20Okay, I'm leaving the scene now.
42:21Rob is optimistic about Otto's road ahead.
42:29Today went really well.
42:31There was a lot of pieces there to clean up
42:32and get moved off the road.
42:35This winter, Otto, we're hoping for a good snowfall
42:38and some cold weather
42:39and not to blow any trucks up.
42:41I don't know.
42:43Look, you're here.
42:45We're awesome.
42:50Next time, on Highway Through Hell,
42:53a loaded lumber wreck...
42:56You actually can't see the truck.
42:57...has auto...
42:58What a mess, man.
43:00...grappling...
43:01...a bit of a funky smeller.
43:02That's amazing.
43:03...a messy manure tanker...
43:05Really starting to smell around here.
43:07...takes a turn for myrrh...
43:09Let the festivities begin.
43:11...and a mystery man...
43:13We've had a guy in front of the gate all day long...
43:16...at Jamie's door.
43:18Hello?
43:18Hello?
43:18Hello?
43:31Hello?
43:32Hello?
43:33Hello?
43:34Hello?
43:34Hello?
43:55Hello?
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