Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada,
is a family owned and operated pilot truck business. Founded by Dave and Karen Felker. Having been in the construction business for years in the far north, the company is able to supply trucks on a 24/7 basis along with other needs for the transportation industry.
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Having lived up in the north for years they have traveled most every road in the territories, including the winter roads which contain some of the worst northern weather imaginable. All of their trucks are fully equipped and ready to roll & handle what ever emergencies may come up. Their drivers have a vast amount of experience in the north country's transportation industry, as they all have spent their entire lives in the area.
(Click on photos to enlarge)
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The life blood of the Canadian Northwest Territories, is the exploration for oil & minerals, (diamonds). To service these locations year round by truck, requires the services of the PILOT CARS. |
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These oil rigs need to be serviced year round, whether exploratory, being moved, or in full production. Getting the convoys in and out safely is the job of the pilot car system, scouting out all the dangers of the chosen route, and guiding traffic around them safely.
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The prime time for transporting in the north country is in the winter when the lakes, and muskeg are frozen over in the extreme cold. The use of the ice roads are far more practical and economical for transporting material than the only other alternate form of travel, to fly the material in by AIR at exorbitant costs. |
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These photos show the size and scope of the trucks that work the oil rigs, whether in moving and setting them up or just bringing in supplies. Even with their massif size, they still have to chain up at times to get the job done. |
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This next group of photos show that even in the best of conditions, problems will arise.
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There are times that you just need extra help on grades. |
A group of random photos from 2 different trips.
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This job is not all sit and drive. You have to be able to chain up and off, often. You have to be able to change tires, do repairs all at -20/-40 below zero F. (-40 is the same in F. as in C.) |
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The fact that it snows after dark is no reason to hold up production. Transportation time in the north is critical. Warnings of oncoming traffic by the scouting pilot car gives his followers instructions to move over and wait in the single lane road, to give other oversize loads the chance to pass in safety.
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Spring thaw, when all heavy transporting comes to a halt.
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Cleaned up, rested up, now time to move out again. There are bridges to be built.
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The same frozen lakes and rivers that were driven across just a short time ago, now have to be crossed by ferry boat. The weather is not always tourist poster perfect, at times heavy fog and other bad elements can add spice to some of their trips. |
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In all kinds of weather, roads or no roads, the pilot car is there to assist in the movement of oversize loads, to guide them safely to their destination.
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Summer again draws to a close, and preparation for the next season's winter roads has started. Winddancer took on the contract to post the winter road signs to Norman Wells. (Photos below) |
The photos (below) show how they barley crossed with the quads. You can see by these that there are washouts at the end of every bridge. After freeze up they just fill and pack them with snow. Their portable ramps are 6 ft long, so when they say 20 km going onto the bridge, you want to believe them, it's really hard on front axles.
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This was the scene last winter when a truck went off the road at Whitesands River. The driver hit a rut which actually was a wash out about 3 feet wide. He was very lucky that the truck did not go over completely and roll into the ravine. The photo above right is the same spot where the truck went over the previous winter. If you were there in person to see the road you would understand why his truck ended up where it did. |
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Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada
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