The date is set for fans of heavy trucks and precise driving. This Thursday, January 15th at 9:10 pm, the 6ter channel kicks off the sixth season of its flagship program, "Les Reines de la Route" (Queens of the Road). For this new season, the production has made a major strategic shift by completely renewing its cast. Gone are the familiar faces of previous years; in their place is a total immersion with brand-new female drivers making their first appearance on camera. This choice breathes new life into the show, highlighting technical profiles and specialties often unknown to the general public, far removed from simple, linear highway journeys.
This year's theme is unequivocal: the brutal confrontation with the elements. While the road transport sector faces constant logistical challenges, these professionals must contend with particularly harsh winter weather. The focus is on regional trades, where local knowledge is paramount. We meet Valentine, who navigates the rugged terrain of the Beaufortain region with a milk tanker, and Marie, a specialist in logging, a discipline where the slightest mistake on a muddy track can prove fatal. Transporting logs remains one of the most perilous tasks in the profession due to the instability of the cargo's center of gravity.
The Alpine terrain takes center stage in this season, confirming that the mountains remain the ultimate test for truck drivers. Cindy and Clotilde tackle the transalpine passes heading towards Italy, a strategic route for European freight but a formidable one as soon as black ice appears on the tarmac. In the Savoyard ski resorts, Edwige demonstrates that waste management is a priority, maneuvering a 26-ton vehicle through congested and snow-covered urban areas. This technical precision is the recurring theme of the season, complemented by the contributions of Mylène, an expert in operating cranes on soft ground, and Honorine, who faces the harsh climate of Franche-Comté.
Beyond its spectacular nature, the show highlights a statistical reality: although women still only represent about 5% of truck drivers in France, their presence in specialized transport sectors is increasing every year. Clémence, operating in the mud and cold of the North, embodies this resilience. While this sixth season embraces a complete reinvention, rumors about season seven already suggest the return of some of the series' historical figures. For now, the mystery remains, as the network's communication is deliberately discreet to give full rein to this new generation of female drivers preparing to conquer winter.