SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - C.J. Jairath is following his dream to become an ice road trucker. The 35-year-old East Indian man has moved to Yellowknife from the U.S. and met with reality television star Alex Debogorski on Monday to seek advice on how to get into his line of work.

C.J. Jairath stands beside ice road trucker Alex Debogorski, whom he sought for some advice as he too wants to drive a rig. The two met at Hot Shots Pub and Grill on Monday. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

"This has been passion for me for many years," said Jairath.

"Then the Ice Roads Truckers (TV show) came out, I got hooked on it and I've been following it since the first season."

Jairath was previously living on the east coast of the U.S. working for a computer company. He lost his job during the recession but saw it as a sign. He has never driven a semi-trailer truck before but he wants to give it a shot now.

"It's the whole feeling of having the open road in front of you," he said. "I've been cooped up behind an office desk in a cubicle for too long."

He said instead of getting down about losing his job he took it as a "blessing in disguise."

"I said, 'now it's time to take charge of your life,'" he said.

Following his passion, Jairath relocated to Yellowknife two months ago. On Monday he finally met his idol, Debogorski.

"It's like surreal," said Jairath. "I don't even know what to talk about or what to say."

Debogorski said the Ice Road Truckers TV show has created an army of people across the globe who are all hoping to get into the long haul driving business. His advice to people who approach him claiming they want to become an ice road trucker is to have a backup plan.

"I tell them get an education and get a degree first," said Debogorski.

"There is enough dumb truckers out there already, might as well have some education that you can fall back on."

But this isn't a problem for Jairath, who is originally from India where he got his degree in economics at the University of the Punjab. Coincidently, Debogorski's new show Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads takes place in India where drivers weave through the treacherous highway system of the Himalayas.

"With your credentials you can always get a job with the government," Debogorski told Jairath.

"That's a good thing you have a profession, you know you go drive a truck and if you don't like it then you can go back."

Jairath is travelling to Calgary at the end of the week where he will attempt to obtain a first class licence and begin the process of becoming an ice road trucker.

"The moment I get that I'm going to jump into the first ride I get," said Jairath.

"Then take it one step at a time."

- please see related story on page A16

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