When Steph from Ice Road Truckers first climbed into the cab of a massive rig in Season 10, the collective intake of breath from the audience was almost audible. She looked too young. She looked too small. Honestly, she looked like she’d get swallowed whole by the brutal Canadian winter. But television is rarely just about what you see on the surface, and Stephanie Custance’s story is a lot more complex than a "rookie makes good" montage.
Most people remember her as the 22-year-old single mom who Mark Kohaykewych hired at Polar Industries when he was basically desperate for drivers. It’s true. Mark was staring at a pile of loads and a shrinking window of frozen road. He took a gamble on a kid with less than a year of commercial driving experience.
The Reality of Steph from Ice Road Truckers on the Ice
Let’s be real for a second: the ice roads of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories are not a playground. We are talking about literal frozen lakes where the ice can crack under the weight of a 30-ton truck if you drive too fast or too slow. Steph Custance entered this world with a "shaky" performance on a practice course. That’s not a script—that was the actual risk Polar was taking.
She wasn't just some character cast for drama. She was a mother trying to provide for her five-year-old son, and the paycheck on the ice is one of the few ways a driver can make a year's worth of money in just two months. It’s high stakes. It’s terrifying.
🔗 Read more: Wouldn't You Like to Know Weatherboy: The Anatomy of the Internet’s Favorite Comeback
Breaking Down the Hammer Down Reputation
They called her "Hammer Down" Custance. It sounds like a marketing gimmick, right? Sorta. But it also reflected a specific type of grit. During her first crossing with veteran driver Todd Dewey, you could see the genuine fear. It’s one thing to drive a highway; it’s another to hear the ice groaning beneath your tires like a living thing.
Steph didn't just survive those two seasons (10 and 11); she actually earned the respect of guys who had been doing this since before she was born. Why? Because she didn't quit when the mechanical failures hit or when the whiteout conditions made the road disappear.
- Age at start: 22
- Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Seasons active: 10 and 11
- First solo season: Season 11
What Happened After the Cameras Stopped Rolling?
When Ice Road Truckers ended its run after Season 11 in 2017, the cast scattered. Some stayed in the spotlight, but Steph largely stepped back. You won’t find her in every tabloid, and she isn't chasing the "reality star" dragon like some people do.
She stayed in the trucking world for a while, appearing at trade shows like the Canadian Trucking Show and SEMA in Las Vegas. There were rumors about her net worth being around $800,000 back in 2021, but take those "celebrity net worth" sites with a massive grain of salt. Most of that likely came from a mix of show appearance fees and her actual work behind the wheel.
The truth is, Steph's life shifted toward normalcy. She’s a private person. She’s still a mom. She’s still in the Winnipeg area. While fans constantly ask if there will be a Season 12 or a reboot featuring her, the industry has moved on, and so has she.
The Misconception of the "TV Driver"
One thing that really bugs people in the trucking industry is the idea that the women on these shows are just "for TV." Look at Lisa Kelly or Maya Sieber. They faced the same criticism. Steph from Ice Road Truckers faced it even harder because of her lack of experience.
But here is the nuance: the show didn't hide her mistakes. It showed her struggling with the yard test. It showed her nerves. That transparency is actually what made her relatable. She wasn't a superhero; she was a person under immense pressure.
Why Steph's Legacy Still Matters in 2026
It has been nearly a decade since she debuted. Why do people still search for her?
It’s simple. She represented a shift. Before her, the ice roads were seen as the domain of the "old guard." Men like Alex Debogorski and Hugh Rowland defined the show. Then you have this young, tattooed single mother from Winnipeg who walks in and says, "I can do this too."
She opened the door for a younger generation to see trucking—not just ice road trucking, but the whole industry—as a viable path. Even if she isn't on our screens every Sunday night anymore, that impact is real.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Drivers
If you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of someone like Steph, or just want to keep up with the world she inhabited, here’s the ground truth:
- Check the credentials: If you're interested in heavy hauling, start with a reputable CDL school. Steph’s "rookie" status was a major plot point because it’s incredibly dangerous to go in without experience.
- Follow the real veterans: If you want updates on the IRT crew, Alex Debogorski is still active on social media and often shares updates on his former co-stars.
- Support local trucking: The industry is the backbone of the economy. If you liked Steph because she was a "hustler," remember that thousands of drivers are doing that same work without the cameras every day.
Steph Custance proved that you don't have to fit the stereotype to survive the world's most dangerous roads. She did her job, took care of her kid, and walked away when the time was right. That's about as "human" as it gets.
Next Steps for You:
Check out the official History Channel archives for Season 10 and 11 to see Steph's full progression from the yard test to her first solo run on the ice. If you are interested in the current state of the winter roads, look into the Manitoba Infrastructure reports, which provide real-time updates on the very routes she used to drive.