This fascinating series reveals the virtually unknown occupation of ice road trucking, one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. In the first of this week’s two episodes, a gigantic 17-truck convoy sets off to deliver supplies before the road melts away. Jay Westgard travels one of the toughest winter roads to a remote township by Great Bear Lake. And a confrontation with Hugh Rowland about the heating in his truck leads Rick Yemm to make a decision about his future.

Rising temperatures mean that the end of the ice-road season is just around the corner. The authorities are desperate to hit 10,000 loads this season and decide to make a final push by launching an unprecedented 17-strong convoy.

Bringing up the rear of the convoy is a truck pulling the largest load of the season – a 50-ton electrical switch unit that is desperately needed at the Diavik mine. If this massive object plunges through the ice, it will cause irreparable damage to the road and bring an abrupt end to the season.

The giant load manages to clear the ice, but as it approaches its destination, it has one last hurdle to clear – a steep hill. It takes the combined might of two trucks to haul the unit over the ridge and into the mine.

Elsewhere, Jay Westgard joins a convoy of six to deliver 655 drums of jet fuel to a remote town called Deline on the edge of Great Bear Lake. This 575-mile journey follows a tough single-track road over hills and across part of the lake. It is a route that even the most hardened truckers are reluctant to drive. “It’s a bad road,” says convoy leader Mike Kimble. “If you’re not prepared you can get in trouble on it.”

After some problems getting his truck down to an acceptable weight, Jay sets off in the convoy. The primitive road bounces his cabin up and down before the truckers are hit by a late winter storm and are forced to put chains on their tyres.

“This is probably the worst road that I’ve ever seen,” Jay remarks. “It’s rougher than I expected already and it’s supposed to get worse.” Further problems ensue when Jay’s fuel tank comes loose and leaks all over the road, forcing some emergency repair work.

As night falls, the convoy is treated to a spectacular glimpse of the northern lights. An exhausted Jay admits the aurora can be a distraction. “Often I hallucinate when I get tired,” he says. “I see monsters in front of me and all kinds of stuff.” After a few hours’ rest in their cabins, the truckers complete the journey to Deline and make a speedy turnaround. The ice could melt at any time and they are desperate to get back before the road closes.

Meanwhile, Rick Yemm is determined to confront Hugh about the lack of heating in his truck. Rick is angry that Hugh, who is also his boss during the off-season, does not want to shell out for repairs on the rig. But Hugh slams Rick’s needy attitude. “Everything he’s got to whine about, I’ve been there and I’ve done it,” he says. “Suck it up, get on with it, fix it.”

After a stormy phone conversation, a disgruntled Rick decides to hand in his notice without waiting for his paycheque. As he waits to hitch a ride back south, Rick reflects on his friendship with Hugh, which has withered on the ice road. “I’ll starve before I go back to work for him,” he swears. “This is not how you treat your right-hand man and your best friend.” Hugh has lost all three of the drivers who accompanied him to Yellowknife, but the ‘Polar Bear’ keeps on trucking – he has now pulled more loads than anybody else. “Three things you need to be an ice trucker,” he declares. “Balls, balls and balls!”

Wednesday 5th March at 8:00pm on five