A new reality show about chasing down stolen and/or missing trucks and loads is set to premier this week.  Big Rig Bounty Hunters follows six teams of truck recovery experts who spend their days tracking down stolen rigs.
At this stage, it’s hard to tell the kind of light this show will cast on the trucking industry. Â One thing is for sure; if it’s like all the other reality shows out there, it will be full of played-up drama.
Big Rig Bounty Hunters premiers on Thursday, February 14, at 10/9c on the History Channel.
According to the show’s description:
Every year, thousands of trucks carrying valuable cargo across America go missing. These big rigs have to be hunted down and hauled in or the trucking companies pay the price. Vital to our nation’s economy, the United States depends on these trucks to deliver the goods. In Big Rig Bounty Hunters, HISTORY tracks five groups of colorful characters along a perilous competition to retrieve the missing loads while facing a ticking clock and life-threatening duty. A day in the life of a truck hunter is never easy, but the dollar signs keep these truckers hunting.
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Meet the truck hunters
Animal and Steve:
Animal is a Vietnam veteran. Â After the war, Animal began driving log trucks and pipes up to the Alaskan Pipeline. Â Animal is also a trained ballet dancer.
Steve and Animal met in the 60s and developed a friendship.  Steve also served in the Vietnam War. And like Animal, Steve began driving a truck after the war was finished.
Eric and Rob:
Eric is a 20-year veteran driver who owned his own fleet of flatbeds. Eric has 8 children and recovering trucks is now the family business. Â Eric’s 20-year-old son Rob now works at his side, in the family business.
Jaxon:
Jaxon is the lone wolf. Â He started driving trucks as a teen. He got into truck recovery when he was working for a company that was always complaining about lost trucks and loads. Â He now recovers trucks full time.
John and Gene:
John comes from a family of truckers and drove a truck for almost 20 years. Â John and Gene are brothers-in-law.
Gene says his experience as a former cop gives him the upper hand when tracking down trucks and diffusing potentially explosive encounters.
Korchenko and Marshall:
Korchenko is a former professional wrestler.  When he was in between gigs, Korchenko spent his time driving trucks.
Marshall’s dad was a truck driver. Â Marshall spent 13 years driving a truck and working as in instructor. Â He has over a million miles under his belt.
Shawn and Vince:
Shawn spent 20 years in and out of jail. In 1998, he got his CDL and began working for his father. Â The lure of excitement drew him into truck recovery.
Vince also spent some time behind bars. Â Vince joined Shawn in truck bounty hunting when his job with the union ended.