Ice Road Truckers: Who is Lisa Kelly?
As Sky HISTORY’s Ice Road Truckers returns for its 12th season, we welcome back haulier Lisa Kelly. How did she become the show’s biggest star?
Image: Lisa Kelly | Ice Road Truckers
Transporting heavy loads over frozen lakes is one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. The sub-zero temperatures are quite something to contend with, and you have to drive at just the right speed to avoid cracking the ice.
If you’ve regularly watched the hit reality series Ice Road Truckers, you will have seen the perilous nature of the job for yourself. It makes it all the easier to admire the bravery of the on-screen truckers, including Lisa Kelly, who first appeared on the show in 2009.
Now she’s back for the long-awaited 12th season. So, what makes her popular with the fans, and what has she been up to since Sky HISTORY’s Ice Road Truckers last aired in 2017?
Lisa Kelly’s background
Lisa Kelly was born in Grand Rapids - a major city in the US state of Michigan - on 8th December 1980. However, growing up, Lisa was hardly a city girl. In fact, her family moved to an Alaskan farm when she was just six years old.
In a March 2025 episode of The Roadshow with Tony Justice and Friends, Lisa admitted to being a ‘biker chick’ before trucks came calling. While working for a pizza company, Lisa found that she enjoyed how the job kept her on the road rather than in one static place.
How Lisa Kelly joined Ice Road Truckers
Of course, Alaska is famous - even notorious - for its cold climate. So, Lisa inevitably had to learn how to traverse some rather unique terrain. ‘I drive in Alaska, so everything’s an ice road at some point. It kind of just comes with the territory.’
When Lisa was initially contacted about the Ice Road Truckers opportunity, she was trucking part-time for Carlile Transportation. Executives at the TV production company Original Productions were enticed by the idea of having a female driver on the show.
Lisa Kelly’s most memorable moments
The first two seasons of Ice Road Truckers felt very male-centric, but when Lisa arrived in the third season, it shook up the game. She is now one of only two Ice Road Truckers long-timers - the other being Todd Dewey - to return for the 12th season.
In the early 2010s, Lisa became a big fan-favourite for not only her lovable quirkiness but also her tenacity in the face of tough obstacles. Here’s a quick trip down memory lane (or should that be ‘memory ice road’?)…
Lisa gets a little help from her friend
With many challenges Lisa had to surmount on Ice Road Truckers, she had the trusty Darrell Ward by her side. The two even co-founded a trucking company together.
In the eighth season episode ‘World’s End’, we see a great example of their teamwork in action. Lisa is driving a rig over a frozen river when the ice starts to crack beneath her. Some of her wheels sink, but Darrell comes to the rescue by using a loader to get them back onto safer ground.
Tragically, a plane crash claimed Darrell’s life in August 2016, making the 10th season of Ice Road Truckers his last.
Lisa gets a nasty shock crossing a lake
Lisa once again finds herself on thin ice (both literally and figuratively) in the ninth season episode ‘New Cold Blood’. This time, though, the frozen surface is that of a lake rather than a river.
Lisa passes a large sign reading: ‘MAX SPEED 10km/h, NO STOPPING ON ICE’. She heeds the warning, but keeps one door of her truck open in case she has to make a quick getaway. She does exactly that after thinking the vehicle is going to fall through, but it turns out to be a false alarm.
Lisa Kelly’s life since Ice Road Truckers went on hiatus
On Ice Road Truckers, Lisa has undertaken many trips for haulage companies, including Carlile and Polar Industries. However, since the show’s original run ended in 2017, she has bought her own truck.
Lisa is currently based in the Alaskan city of Fairbanks. She enthused to Tony Justice: ‘I just exclusively drive the haul road back and forth. That’s what I do. And we’re heavy every single time.’ She has also had a go at breeding horses, specifically Gypsy Vanners.
The 12th season of Ice Road Truckers starts airing from 1st January on Sky HISTORY and HISTORY Play.
Lisa Kelly is far from the only star you can expect to soon see on new adventures. Who else will be popping up? You can be among the first to find out by subscribing to the Sky HISTORY Newsletter.
