Powerful engines, harsh weather, and steep drop-offs are only a few of the elements that have defined Highway Thru Hell. The Canadian docuseries, which premiered in 2012, follows the daily operations of tow truckers working in British Columbia. A big part of the show takes place along the Coquihalla Highway, a 201-mile stretch of road that connects Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies.
As the Coquihalla rises into the mountains, temperatures dwindle and driving conditions worsen. During the winter months, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in North America. When snowstorms hit or ice forms on the road, vehicles risk sliding out of the lane and getting stuck in a ditch - or worse. Accidents can shut down traffic for hours and leave motorists stranded along the road in arctic temperatures. In critical situations like this, the rescue operators from Highway Thru Hell are called to the scene to clear out the road and open for traffic.
Throughout its seven seasons, Highway Thru Hell has managed to break both viewership records and stereotypes. The show has informed the public about how the tow-trucking industry works and the importance of what they do. A key factor in bringing the towers’ work to the screen is of course everything that takes place behind the scenes. Filming live rescue operations in hostile weather conditions requires both expertise and innovative thinking. To shed some light on how this is done, this list breaks down the tricks and techniques behind the making of Highway Thru Hell.
Here are 20 Details Behind The Making Of Highway Thru Hell.
20. Film Crews Are Always On Standby
Thanks to the icy Canadian winters, the cast of Highway Thru Hell usually have plenty of work on their hands. Nevertheless, the towing business can be unpredictable, and workers never know when they will be called out for a job. Tow truck operators are on call for all hours of the day, which means that the film crews that follow them have to be as well.
To make sure that they never miss out on anything, executive producer Mark Miller has divided his employees into two teams that cover 12-hour shifts. This way, the cameras are always rolling when something exciting is happening, and audiences get full insight into the life of a tow truck driver.
EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
Getting stuck on the highway in the middle of winter is no joke, and nobody knows this better than Jamie Davis’ team. The Highway Thru Hell star has explained that his trucks are always loaded with snacks and survival provisions before heading out on the road. When traffic shuts down or cars get snowed in, motorists may find themselves stuck on the road for anything from a few hours to a couple of days.
Davis also points out that his trucks always fill up on gasoline as often as possible. A car’s fuel tank is quickly drained when the heating system is running, so it is important to make sure that you do not run out of gas. If you are planning to drive through a mountain passage, Davis advises that you fill your tank as often as possible and pack a few blankets just in case.
18. Crew Members Sometimes Work Alone
Documentary series are usually interspersed by serene scenes where the cast winds down and opens up. As an audience member, you often wonder how filmmakers manage to capture intimate moments and get up-close and personal with someone they are filming.
On Highway Thru Hell, Leia Hutchings captures these sorts of shots by operating sound and camera on her own. Hutchings works as a so-called “one-man band;” a self-sufficient crew member that can hop along wherever she is needed. A one-man band is less of an intrusion into the cast’s lives, and can easily be sent along if production is in a hurry. If the cast of Highway Thru Hell has to rush off to a wreck, Hutchings does not need the help of any other crew members to capture what she needs for the show.
17. Filming Takes From Four To Six Months
For entertainment purposes, the team behind Highway Thru Hell are always looking to capture the most impressive towing missions. Most of the work that comes Jamie Davis’ way, however, involves smaller vehicles and does not necessarily make for riveting television.
To get a broad selection of material to work with, Highway Thru Hell shoots for the entire winter season. Usually, they are on location in British Colombia for four to six months each year. The summer, on the other hand, is a much more peaceful time for the show’s tow truck drivers. During the warmer months, the cast of Highway Thru Hell can focus on repairing their equipment and preparing for the next snowfall.
IT HURT JAMIE DAVIS’ BUSINESS
Starring in a docuseries can be a golden ticket for many small business owners, but the pendulum also swings the other way. When new competitors started popping up around town, Jamie Davis realized that there is a downside to reality fame. Due to more competition and a diminishing workload, Davis decided to branch out into Alberta during season three.
Davis has also admitted that the show’s publicity has had a direct impact on his assignments. In an interview with Truck News, Davis revealed that several companies have refrained from calling him because they do not want their wrecks ending up on television.
CAST MEMBER DRAMA
Highway Thru Hell makes an honest attempt at depicting the tow trucking industry, but they have still dabbled in some fanciful reality editing. In an interview with Automotive Retailer, the Quiring family lamented how they had been portrayed on the show.
According to the family, Discovery Channel fabricated drama between Al Quiring and Jamie Davis for the first season of the show. This portrayal landed the Quirings in hot water with some of their clients and made them a target for outraged fans. The Quirings have since then been shown in a more nuanced light on the series, but it remains clear that they did not agree with how they were initially presented.
THE SHOW CAME FROM A BREAK-DOWN
Show creator Neil Thomas first came into contact with Jamie Davis’ rescue operators when his moving truck broke down in the summer of 2010. The experience clearly left an impression, because co-creator Mark Miller and cameraman Kevin Mills went back the very next year to speak with Davis and propose their idea for a show.
Davis was initially a little reluctant to star on a reality series, but he saw the potential benefit the show could have on the reputation of the towing industry. Before appearing on the show, Davis was a spokesperson for the industry and never hesitated to voice his opinion to the media. His previous media exposure probably helped him understand the upsides to having a large audience and prepared him for a global stage.
THE SPINOFF SERIES
Based on the success of Highway Thru Hell, Mark Miller decided to expand the format by creating Heavy Rescue: 401. The spinoff series first aired in 2016 and will premiere its third season in the beginning of next year.
While Highway Thru Hell is based in the mountainous regions west of Vancouver, Heavy Rescue: 401 follows rescue workers in the Toronto area. In addition to local tow-trucking companies, the show also follows the work carried out by regional police and transportation officials. Heavy Rescue: 401 was an immediate hit with audiences and even beat its predecessor’s ratings.
15. Over A Thousand Hours Of Footage
Highway Thru Hell is far from finished when the cameras are switched off. Every day, story producers receive footage from the film crew that they have to sort through. Story producers are found on many reality TV productions and are responsible for stringing together a compelling and understandable narrative.
On Highway Thru Hell, Jason Keel is one of the people responsible for piecing the show together. In an online video, he shows viewers how he breaks stories down into hundreds of components that he sorts on his office wall. From this large collection of elements, Keel selects which parts end up on the final cut of the show.
14. The Crew Must Prepare For All Kinds Of Weather
Along the Coquihalla Highway the weather can change on a dime; within only a few minutes, temperatures drop, blizzards form and fog can seep in across the road. Because of the unstable weather conditions, the cast and crew of Highway Thru Hell have to be prepared for anything that Mother Nature might throw at them.
Director Tim Hardy says that he always brings along a pair of snowshoes and a reflective vest for when he has to work outside in hostile conditions. The crew also needs to dress for the occasion, and they are always seen wearing multiple layers and large winter jackets.
13. The Show Documents A Controversial Road
Docuseries have often come under fire for how they depict reality, so it is perhaps fitting that Highway Thru Hell documents an equally controversial road. The Coquihalla, which follows in the tracks of a 140-year-old cattle trail, was built to ease traffic and shorten distances in British Columbia. Construction of the road began in the early eighties, but was sped up when the 1986 Vancouver World Fair was approaching. This decision proved to be a costly one; the rushed construction ended up costing tax-payers two-thirds more than predicted.
Since that time, drivers have continued to air their frustrations about the highway. Last winter, for example, the road’s maintenance was questioned after a brutal accident. Public officials have promised to improve conditions, so next season of Highway Thru Hell might feature B.C.’s extensive maintenance overhaul.
THEY BREAK A TON OF GOPRO CAMERAS
Stormy winters do not only damage roads, they are also a major challenge for anyone who has to work outside with delicate recording equipment. In a behind-the-scenes video, Tim Hardy shows viewers the toll this has taken on his gear.
First, Hardy explains how he has had to cover his director’s camera with red tape because of water damages. He then goes on to show a box of GoPro cameras he carries along in the trunk. Hardy discloses that dozens of the small cameras go to waste each year during filming. Fortunately, quality GoPro cameras retail for much less than professional equipment, and it is probably an expense Highway Thru Hell is willing to pay to get the right footage.
11. Powerful Trucks Are Needed For The Job
The rescue operators on Highway Thru Hell often get called out to handle toppled over trucks or semi-trailers. To flip these vehicles back onto the road, operators need years of experience and some seriously powerful equipment. The most notorious towing truck on the show is without a doubt Adam Gazzola’s “Rescue 52.” Rescue 52 has the combined strength of eight standard tow trucks and sports a fixed 30-tonne crane. With the help of two 25 000-pound winches, the crane can extend for hundreds of meters.
Gazzola’s truck is not the show’s only gem; for the show’s first seasons, viewers were also treated to a vehicle known as “the Rotator.” As its name suggests, the Rotator was equipped with a rotating crane that could lift up to 75 tons. Unfortunately, the truck left the show when Davis had to downsize his fleet.
10. Filming On Location Is Free
Film and television productions that want to shoot on location have to plan and prepare thoroughly. They need the right equipment for the area and the project, the crew needs a place to sleep, and they have to plan how and when they can move around freely to film. On top of this, they need to have all their papers in order; a production crew needs the right insurance and permits for working on a certain terrain.
There is, however, a light at the end of the tunnel for the producers of Highway Thru Hell. After all of their extensive planning, filming in British Columbia comes free of charge. Anyone wishing to film a major production in the area needs to secure a permit from the local government, but applying for a permit is cost-free, and there are no additional charges.
THE FILM CREW ARE MINOR CELEBRITIES
Having a good relationship with your subjects is the alpha and omega of any kind of documentary film-making. For shows like Highway Thru Hell, which follows its cast in highly stressful situations and operates on public roads, this is all the more important.
Thanks to the first season’s success, the film crew working along the Coquihalla have become popular among local truck drivers and rescue workers. According to Hardy, the workers they have met along the road finally warmed to them after they saw the finished product. Perhaps initially a little skeptical, they came to embrace the crew’s presence when they understood the nature of the show and its intention.
7. Crews Are Out Of Contact For Days
The film crews that work on Highway Thru Hell follow the action and often end up working in remote locations for days. Sometimes, these days are spent in areas that do not even have cell-phone reception. Crews that work under these kinds of rugged conditions have to be independent and self-driven. They also have to know how to survive in spartan and rough terrains.
When they get stuck in unreachable places, the crews thankfully have a two-way pager they can use to keep in touch with each other and communicate with home base. Nevertheless, technology can fail, so they have to be prepared to rough it out on their own.
6. Dangerous Shots Are Captured In Ingenious Ways
Anyone who has watched Highway Thru Hell will be familiar with the unusual camera angles that often capture the towing operations. Specialty camera operator Dalyn Forsythe has revealed some of the tricks behind nailing these shots. Forsythe explains that the crew attaches GoPro-cameras in different spots to get unique perspectives of the action, which also explains how so many of these cameras get wrecked.
He also let viewers in on how the show films snow accumulation over time. Using a regular car battery and an inverter, Forsythe can leave a camera taping outside in the snow for over 24-hours.
JEREMY DAVIS’ STRUGGLES
Only a few years after Davis expanded his operations into Alberta, the industrious trucker had to withdraw. A downturn in the economy proved to have devastating effects on Davis’ business and he was forced to go back to basics.
On the fifth season of Highway Thru Hell, viewers followed Davis’ struggle to keep his business going. Although the transition was emotionally taxing for the show’s star, it also gave him a new sense of purpose. Davis realized that he prefers driving trucks to managing people, and in the end, the need to downsize might have been a blessing in disguise.
9. The Show Has Boosted The Local Economy
In an age where small towns are often losing out to the big cities, productions like Highway Thru Hell help revitalize rural economies. Since filming of the show started, the village of Hope has seen a number of businesses pop up to accommodate the town’s growing needs. The small town, which rests on the entrance to the Coquihalla Highway, is home to the production crew in the winter months. In addition to attracting new visitors to the area, Highway Through Hell has also hired local residents to work on the show.
Hope residents are not the only ones who have profited from the show’s success. Miller explains that the show never could have been made if it were not for funding from the CMF and Canadian tax credits. The Canadian’s have gotten a healthy return on their investment, as the show’s international success has brought in domestic revenues.
1. The Show Has A Familiar Voice
An essential part of Highway Thru Hell is the show’s off-screen narration. The narrative voice sets the tone for the show and explains in clear terms what the rescue crew is doing. Fans of animated TV shows may already be familiar with the voice-actor who narrates Highway Thru Hell; Dave Pettitt is the man behind the recognizable timbre - a voice talent mostly known for his extensive work in anime.
Pettitt has previously worked on both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT. Most recently, he also lent his voice to the newest animated version of My Little Pony.
Do you have any trivia to share about Highway Thru Hell? Let us know in the comments!
