Heavy Rescue: 401

Heavy Rescue: 401 focuses on a group of heavy recovery drivers working to keep traffic rolling on some of the busiest and most unforgiving roads on the planet. Up to 400,000 vehicles travel Ontario's 400-series highways every day. The section of the 401 through Toronto is the busiest stretch of highway in the world. Highway 402 near Sarnia is an important link to the US Midwest, plagued by blinding lake effect snow squalls. These routes are lifelines for the nation's industrial heartland and for thousands upon thousands of commuters. When disaster strikes on these roads, the pressure is on to get them cleared and reopened. Police and the Ministry of Transport depend on Southern Ontario's heavy recovery operators. To keep closures to a minimum, crews often work just inches from open lanes and speeding traffic.
Rookie driver Sonny fights to earn his place in this highly competitive and highly dangerous world while he and his wife build a life in their new country. But with the intense competition, can he make it in Heavy Rescue? Will veteran operator John Allen be able to hold on to his spot at the head of the pack when the winter serves up some of the toughest jobs of his career? James Ireland works an hour north of Toronto in one of the province's worst snow belts. But he also must be ready to head south on a moment's notice when his company needs him on any major recovery down in the city. When intense storms whip up to the west, does Gary Vandenheuval trust his young son to stay safe working in the blinding whiteouts of Highway 402? But Heavy Rescue: 401 goes far beyond recoveries. We follow the Ontario Provincial Police doing on-the-spot accident reconstructions to solve the mysteries behind the wrecks. We get an inside look the Ministry of Transport's massive control centre. We ride along with maintenance crews, clearing snow from 18 lanes of highway with military precision. With the stakes so high, every minute counts. And every job is vital. Heavy Rescue: 401 is a series about men and women facing incredible stakes in a fast-paced, relentless environment. Jobs and lives depend on these highways. And it's up to Heavy Rescue to keep them open. (Discovery Networks)