Lisa Kelly and Darrell Ward both worked as drivers on the television show “Ice Road Truckers,” but they did not own or operate their own trucking company.
Lisa Kelly continues to work as a truck driver and has also appeared on other television shows, including “Deadliest Roads” and “The Ghost of Bigfoot.”
Darrell Ward tragically passed away in a plane crash in 2016. At the time of his death, he was not actively involved in the trucking industry but was still well-known for his time on “Ice Road Truckers.” His family and friends continue to honor his memory and legacy.
Lisa Kelly made history as the first female truck driver to brave the treacherous icy roads of Alaska and beyond on the popular reality show, Ice Road Truckers. In an industry dominated by men, Lisa Kelly had to work twice as hard to earn her place and prove her skills behind the wheel of big rigs.
Born in Michigan in 1980, Lisa moved with her family to Alaska at a young age. Despite her parents’ wishes for her to follow in their footsteps in the medical field, Lisa was passionate about driving trucks. She worked various driving jobs, including pizza delivery and school bus driving, to fund her truck driver training. After earning her commercial truck license in her early twenties, Lisa began working at Carlisle Transportation in Alaska, driving vans and eventually big trucks on the notorious Dalton Highway.
Lisa’s love for adrenaline-fueled activities, such as skydiving, snowboarding, and motocross racing, made her a natural fit for the dangerous job of hauling big loads along icy roads. In 2009, she was cast in season 3 of Ice Road Truckers, becoming the first female truck driver on the show. Her fan base grew over the years, and she also appeared on the show’s spin-off, The Deadliest Roads.
Lisa partnered with fellow trucker Darrell Ward to start a hauling company, but unfortunately, Ward passed away in a plane crash in 2016. Lisa has also made personal achievements, marrying her partner Travis Kelly and living with their horses, cats, and dogs in Wasilla, Alaska.
Despite the low pay for reality TV stars in the trucking industry, Lisa’s estimated net worth is over $500,000 as of mid-2020. Her journey in the unpredictable and hazardous trucking industry has been exhilarating and inspiring, proving that women can excel in any field they choose.