Ice Road Truckers' Maya Sieber's Advice For Those Aspiring To Join The Industry
Working as a long haul trucker is, naturally, an incredibly dangerous occupation. You're driving loads in subzero temperatures along dangerous roads in the middle of snowy conditions, with rare opportunities to take a break and a client waiting at the other end of the road for their order. Death lurks around every corner for the incautious, or those who are a little too light or heavy on their break pad at the wrong time.
It's a job that few would choose as a first-choice career. And yet, people from all around the globe continue to slide behind the wheel and take on the job, sometimes inspired by the shock and awe of History's "Ice Road Truckers." Maya Sieber, who was a cast member during the show's fifth season, had some interesting advice when an interviewer asked her what someone getting into the field should keep in mind. Her words are both inspiring and give quite a bird's eye view into how she sees herself as a trucker and human being.
Sieber says that perseverance is key
During a 2011 interview with Trucker's News, when asked what anyone joining the field should keep in mind: Seiber had one piece of advice for neophyte truckers — never quit. "Don't give up. Take your time. It's going to be hard starting out. You're going to feel alone, there's going to be a lot of setbacks sometimes. You really, in the beginning, you have everything being thrown at you at once," Sieber said. "Shifting, backing up, turning, cards, whatever it is, directions and seeing where you're going. Just don't give up. That's my piece of advice."
It's a dangerous industry even for an experienced trucker like Seiber. Per Trucks.com, the fatality rate for long-haul trucking in general shows it to be the seventh most dangerous profession in the America, behind such professions as roofing and jobs within the fishing and wildlife industries. And The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that deaths are only going up for those who drive trucks, with 843 fatalities reported all total in 2021. Even "Ice Road Truckers" itself has seen some onscreen accidents while filming.
Passion and determination have definitely shaped Sieber's career. She said she's always wanted to be a truck driver — since she was a five year old driving her dolls around in toy trucks, per a 2013 AOL interview. She'd only been driving professionally for a year when "Ice Road Truckers" came calling and made her a household name, allowing her to try her hand at modeling, among other hobbies. While she only appeared on the show for a single season, she definitely left behind a memorable onscreen legacy that will last for years to come.