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If you think reality TV is just about following a group of kids’ misadventures in Essex, then think again – over the last ten years there has been a series of great reality TV shows which have brought the life of hauliers and haulage companies to the small screen. Shows like Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers, Supertruckers and Ice Road Truckers have allowed British TV viewers to see for the first time the challenges and obstacles which you might face every day. Whether you want to recommend these to friends who don’t quite ‘get’ what the job entails, or you just want to feel the camaraderie of seeing fellow truckers and haulage companies up on screen, here are a few reality TV shows worth checking out. Supertruckers For a great, down-to-earth reality show about UK trucking, Supertruckers on Quest is a really great watch. Following the drivers and logistics staff of Metcalfe Farms – one of many haulage companies delivering large loads across the UK – this documentary-style reality show taps in to the banter, competitiveness and comradeship of the truckers. Ice Road Truckers For a more extreme look at trucking against the elements you can’t beat the drama and tension of Ice Road Truckers on History. This US show followers a group of drivers responsible for delivering freight to locations across America’s frozen north. From dangerous ice on the road or massive dumps of snow, the drivers are constantly fighting the elements to get their shipments to their destination. Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers While it may no longer be aired on UK TV, this immensely popular show about one of the UK’s most famous haulage companies is still available on DVD and YouTube. Following the staff of Stobart Group, this reality TV programme gives a fascinating insight into the day-to-day lives of those working in the UK logistics industry. Shipping Wars and Shipping Wars UK For a more light-hearted look at the trials and tribulations which the average haulage driver faces every day, check out the specialist deliveries undertaken in Shipping Wars and Shipping Wars UK. Drivers bid for highly challenging delivery jobs that many companies choose to decline, such as man-sized cakes and priceless vintage cars. In the game show-like format, the delivery is then rated, taking in to consideration client feedback and extra costs for fuel, labour, and late-delivery penalties, making it a gripping watch as you wait to see who’s ‘won’. Big Rig This 2007 documentary feature film about trucking in the US is a really interesting insight into the way logistics work in America. Following the drivers on long-haul journeys across the States and interviewing them about how they feel about the job and its impact on their non-working life, this is a real quality production, well worth seeing. Next time you get home from a job and you’re tired and want to put your feet up in front of the TV, why not check out some of these great shows which actually give hardworking drivers like you the recognition you deserve. Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage companies with jobs in road transport and haulage work. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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