Series synopsis
Heavy Rescue: 401 is a Canadian reality drama television series that premiered on Discovery on January 3, 2017. It ended on April 24, 2023. It stars Dave Pettitt.
A group of heavy recovery drivers work to keep traffic rolling on some of the busiest and most unforgiving roads on the planet, Ontario’s 400-series highways. When disaster strikes on these roads, the pressure is on to get them cleared and reopened.
Premise
A group of heavy recovery drivers work to keep traffic rolling on some of the busiest and most unforgiving roads on the planet, Ontario’s 400-series highways. When disaster strikes on these roads, the pressure is on to get them cleared and reopened.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Dave Pettitt as Narrator
Episodes
This series spans 7 seasons with 89 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 9 | January 3, 2017 | February 28, 2017 |
| Season 2 | 10 | January 2, 2018 | March 6, 2018 |
| Season 3 | 14 | January 8, 2019 | April 9, 2019 |
| Season 4 | 14 | January 7, 2020 | April 7, 2020 |
| Season 5 | 16 | January 5, 2021 | April 27, 2021 |
| Season 6 | 13 | January 24, 2022 | April 18, 2022 |
| Season 7 | 13 | January 23, 2023 | April 24, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
War Zone Rookie Sonny faces a 40-car pile-up that turns a major highway into a war zone; in the snow blet, a fierce storm triggers a triple-semi crash; the father-son team at Preferred Towing race to clear the road as weather blasts in. |
January 3, 2017 |
| 2 |
Shock and Awe A semi-truck crash shuts down a crucial border route, putting pressure on lead operator Kevin to reopen the road; rookie heavy rescue driver Sonny helps a trucker stuck on a dangerous stretch of highway; a tanker wreck causes commuter chaos in Toronto. |
January 10, 2017 |
| 3 |
All Around Us A courier truck rolls over; Mark finds himself in the middle of a crash zone on the 401 during a storm; and the crew are faced with an icy airbag job. |
January 17, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
It Only Takes A Second Sonny and the team from Steve's Towing fight to remove the wreckage of a dump truck embedded in an overpass on the 401; James Ireland faces a trailer threatening to cave in on his crew. |
January 2, 2018 |
| 2 |
This Is Chaos A freak storm unleashes a 100-car pileup east of Toronto, pushing Steve and Sonny to lead the recovery charge; Kevin fights a tough wreck after a trucker smashes into an orchard. |
January 9, 2018 |
| 3 |
Guardian Angel A massive multiple-semi crash in a tunnel forces the Coxon crew to clear a big mess in a tight space; Mark Haslett heads to the rescue when a woman is trapped on a dangerous stretch of the highway in Toronto. |
January 16, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
It's Now or Never and Pray For the Best Sonny deals with a jackknife during the first winter storm; John deals with a messy wreck under an overpass. |
January 8, 2019 |
| 2 |
One Twisted Mess Kevin orchestrates a team of heavy operators during a highway cleanup job; Garys crew is sent on a marathon recovery. |
January 15, 2019 |
| 3 | The 401 Is Calling | January 22, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
We're Jumping In After three decades on the highway, a major change forces Eric Godard to adapt to a new crew on a tough rollover; a vicious pre-winter storm pushes Sonny into urgent on-the-job training; a jet fuel spill shuts down the entire 401. |
January 7, 2020 |
| 2 |
Take A Deep Breath When a tanker bursts open east of Toronto, a young operator faces a toxic mess; Gary reacts fast when he spots a dangerous mistake on the road; a rookie takes the controls for his first heavy job. |
January 14, 2020 |
| 3 |
There's Always Fear Steves crew battles a fiery wreck in the heart of Toronto; the OPP takes to the air to keep the roads safe; when freezing rain ices up the highway around London, a newly-promoted rotator operator gets his first big test. |
January 21, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Big, Mean and Heavy A load of lumber spills across the 401 in the heart of Toronto, John Allen heads into the first storm of the season; after an injury on the job, Gary must lean on Collin for a heavy yet delicate recovery; Sonny makes a major change in his life. |
January 5, 2021 |
| 2 |
The Worst Place The OPP must manage a chaotic scene after a thirty-vehicle pileup shuts down the 401; Mitch sets a tight deadline in his first job as leader of the heavy crew; a semi smashes into a culvert, the Rosss try out their newest operator. |
January 12, 2021 |
| 3 |
Everything That Can Go Wrong Sonny and his new boss face their first heavy test, fighting a semi frozen hard into the mud; a double collision brings border traffic to a halt in Sarnia, forcing Gary and crew to wrangle a difficult load of cargo. |
January 19, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
When They Need Help, I'll Be There The first storm of the season forces OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt to take hands-on action; Collin leads the crew to recover a tanker with a highly toxic payload; the Ross crew faces a trailer on its head that demands a double roll to wrangle it upright. |
January 24, 2022 |
| 2 |
Wreck and a Half Bill Wright and his son need to become a tight team on a remote job; a city-based crew heads north to fight a demolished tractor-trailer in rugged terrain; Kevin feels the pressure when a load of steel smashes onto the highway right before rush hour. |
January 31, 2022 |
| 3 |
A Real Logjam Investigators race to find crucial evidence in the wake of a devastating crash; an unexpected malfunction puts Collin directly in the line of fire. |
February 7, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Oh Boy, What a Mess A double tanker loaded with gasoline smashes into a house; Duncan Cooper puts his new 50-ton rotator to the test; Gary and Collin bring their rookie crew to a bad collision blocking the road to the border. |
January 23, 2023 |
| 2 |
Snow Screws Everything Up Sgt. Kerry Schmidt fights to get stuck commuters moving; Austin Hutchinson is forced to battle a nasty wreck all on his own; Abrams' John Allen tackles a snowplow blocking a vital ramp. |
January 30, 2023 |
| 3 |
No Time Like the Present Sgt. Kerry Schmidt coordinates heavy tows and Sonny Subra must clear a ramp littered with semis; Herb's Towing takes on a B-train that slid right off the highway; Eric Goddard brings a brand-new heavy wrecker to recover a heavy trailer. |
February 6, 2023 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Discovery |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 3, 2017 |
| Last aired | April 24, 2023 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | canceled |
| Schedule | Monday at 22:00:00 |