Shots Fired at Gold Ore Trucks: When Hauling Turns into High-Risk

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction: This Ain’t Just Another Load

Imagine rolling down the Richardson Highway, minding your business, hauling heavy. You’re not running high-speed, just grinding out miles like any other trip. Then BAM — gunshots pierce the night.

That’s exactly what happened in Interior Alaska, where two separate shootings targeted ore-hauling trucks belonging to Black Gold Transport. Now, investigators are treating it as attempted murder — and every driver should be paying attention.

Because if this can happen hauling gold ore in Alaska… what’s stopping it from happening with your load next?

What Went Down?

On the night of November 21st, a truck hauling ore was fired on near Mile 339 of the Richardson Highway, close to Eielson Air Force Base. A white SUV is suspected to have pulled up and let shots ring out.

A few hours later, another Black Gold Transport truck was fired on, this time at the intersection of Steese Highway and Chena Hot Springs Road.

Both trucks were transporting gold ore from the Manh Choh mine to the Fort Knox mill — a 240-mile haul that just got way more dangerous.

Thankfully, no one was injured, but this ain’t a scare — it’s war on wheels.

Now there’s a $10,000 reward being offered by both the mining and trucking companies for any info that leads to arrest.

You think your load is just freight? Some people see it as a payday. Others see it as a protest. Either way — your windshield is now a front row seat to something deeper.

Why This Ain’t Just Alaska’s Problem

Let’s get one thing clear: this ain’t just about gold ore or Alaska. This is about how trucking intersects with money, politics, protest, and perception.

High-value loads = high risk. Think not just ore, but pharmaceuticals, electronics, even livestock.

Public resistance to trucking routes can boil over. Some locals in Alaska have pushed back on ore haul routes before — not saying they pulled the trigger, but frustration’s been simmering.

Driver safety procedures now have to evolve. This isn’t “what if?” anymore. It’s “what’s next?”

Whether you’re hauling out of Fairbanks, Atlanta, or Bakersfield — you gotta ask: If I became a target, would I even see it coming?

Industry Response

Black Gold Transport and Kinross Alaska (the mining partner) wasted no time dropping that $10K reward. Law enforcement’s investigating this as attempted murder, not just vandalism or intimidation.

Meanwhile, other mining and bulk-haul companies are:

Reviewing driver security protocols

Considering convoy models for certain runs

Talking about camera systems and live dash feeds

Security ain’t just a border issue anymore. It’s a freight lane reality.

Trucker Talk: What This Means for You

Drivers have sounded off:

“It’s wild we gotta worry about shooters and not just weather or traffic.”
“They didn’t even steal the ore. They just shot. That tells you something.”

So here’s what you do:

Stay alert on high-value loads — even if you think no one’s watching.

Know your route and flag problem areas ahead of time.

Keep dispatch informed if anything sketchy happens — weird tailing, lights, vehicles passing repeatedly.

Consider dashcams that can upload to the cloud, not just record.

And above all, don’t downplay threats. If your gut says something’s off, don’t ignore it.

Bottom Line: The Game Has Changed

This ain’t the old-school trucking of CB radios and coffee refills. Today, you’re moving freight through a world where what you carry makes you a target, and who’s angry at your route doesn’t need a reason.

If this can happen in a low-traffic part of Alaska with two trucks, it can happen anywhere.

So what are you doing about it?

💰

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That’s why more truckers are building side hustles that don’t require them to risk their life behind the wheel. If your career can be shot at, your income better come from more than one lane.

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Thanks for reading. Be safe out there, and keep your head on a swivel.
For more real advice and smart trucking talk, visit 👉 LifeAsATrucker.com