Jamie Davis (Highway Thru Hell) Wiki Bio: Age, Net Worth, Wife, Kids, and Career Facts

Jamie Davis’s journey to prominence wasn’t shaped by television cameras but by decades spent in the punishing world of heavy rescue. A Canadian towing operator, entrepreneur, and reality TV figure, Davis built his reputation long before Highway Thru Hell showcased his work to global audiences. Renowned for tackling recoveries others avoided, he forged his career through grit, ingenuity, and steady leadership under pressure. When Discovery Channel introduced Highway Thru Hell in 2012, his relentless efforts on the Coquihalla Highway became the spine of the series—transforming daily struggles against wrecks, weather, and impossible odds into a worldwide phenomenon. From his first encounters with tow trucks to establishing one of Western Canada’s most recognized fleets, Davis’s story reveals the demanding realities of a trade—and the determined character of the man who brought it into the spotlight.

Early Life and Background

Jamie Davis was born on December 16, 1964, in Canada. From an early age, he was immersed in the towing world through his family. His father, who worked on tugboats, also ran a small scrap-car towing business on his days off. Jamie would ride along as a kid, standing on the passenger seat with his hands on the dash, watching his dad buy and sell cars, haul them to the scrapyard, and trade parts. One vivid memory from those days was the bullet hole in his father’s old tow truck windshield—Jamie would line his eye up to it while they drove, a small detail he a small detail he recalled on his own YouTube channel, Jamie Davis Towing Official.

His passion for heavy recovery took root when he was around 10 years old. While at school, he watched a massive 1967 Hayes truck with a Holmes 850 wrecker roll past the schoolyard, its sheer size and power sparking a lifelong fascination. That truck belonged to Davidson Truck & Tow, whose owner, Don Davidson, later became a mentor, giving Jamie and his brother Jason their first chances at real jobs in the trade.

The Davis family eventually ran Aldergrove Towing, founded in the late 1970s, where Jamie and his brothers cut their teeth in the business. From the start, they were in fierce competition with another well-known towing family—the Quirrings—establishing a rivalry that would later resurface in Highway Thru Hell. While his parents preferred keeping the business small with just three trucks, Jamie and his brother were eager to expand. That drive led them to invest in newer wreckers, moving beyond homebuilt equipment and laying the foundation for the more ambitious ventures that followed.

Jamie’s First Tow Truck

Jamie’s first tow truck was more than just a vehicle—it was the start of his independence in the towing world. As a teenager, he spotted a truck for sale that had been traded in by fellow towers Rob Porteous and Bob Kelly. On a test drive (with nothing more than a permit), he immediately put it to work, pulling a D6 Cat tractor out of a muddy blueberry field for just $85—barely covering his fuel and permit costs. Convinced of its potential, Jamie persuaded his father to buy the truck, and they paid it off in three installments, including a $1,500 paint job. Though it later became tangled in his parents’ divorce and was left partially restored, Jamie has held onto it for decades. Today, the old truck sits rusting, moss-covered, and even once home to a stray cat—yet it remains a sentimental relic of the moment he truly began building his career.

Looking back, Jamie has said that the trucks of his youth were “simple and reliable,” a lesson that shaped his approach to equipment for decades. In a February 2020 Mechanical Business feature, he pointed to Truck 47, a 1979 Holmes 500, as an example of rugged dependability that remains part of his fleet today—a physical reminder of those formative years and the values instilled in him by his family and early mentors.

Founding Jamie Davis Towing

Jamie Davis formally established Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto Ltd. in Hope, British Columbia, in 2007 after decades of experience in the trade. Having worked under Aldergrove Towing and Aggressive Auto Towing Ltd. with his brothers, Davis set out to create a company built on his philosophy of speed, safety, and efficiency.

The foundation of the company drew directly from his family’s earlier ventures. By the time he launched his own brand, Jamie had already spent years building a reputation as a capable operator who could handle high-stakes recoveries. His vision was to scale beyond the modest three-truck model his parents had favored and to pursue larger, more complex rescues.

Over the following years, Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto Ltd. grew into one of Western Canada’s most respected heavy-recovery operations, handling everything from roadside assistance to clearing multi-vehicle accidents in extreme conditions. His focus on innovation, professionalism, and customer service laid the groundwork for the company’s later fame through Highway Thru Hell.

Highway Thru Hell and Rise to Fame

Highway Thru Hell debuted on Discovery Channel on September 4, 2012, offering viewers a raw look into the world of heavy rescue on British Columbia’s Coquihalla Highway. The premiere became the most-watched series launch in Canadian Discovery history, establishing the show as a breakout success.

The series was created by Mark A. Miller, Kevin Mills, and Neil Thomas. The idea sparked in 2010 after Thomas’s moving truck broke down on Highway 5, leading to a chance encounter with one of Jamie’s drivers. Later that winter, cameraman Mills and executive producer Miller visited Davis’s yard in Hope, where the concept of a show about heavy recovery was pitched. At the time, the winter of 2010–2011 had been one of the busiest on record for Jamie’s company, making it the perfect backdrop for a documentary-style series.

Davis initially hesitated to open his business to cameras, concerned that the program might trivialize the dangers of towing. According to Thunderbird Entertainment, he agreed only after being reassured that the series would focus on the real risks, teamwork, and urgency of heavy rescue, rather than manufactured drama.

An interesting behind-the-scenes detail surfaced in 2015 when the official Jamie Davis Towing Facebook page revealed that it was actually Jamie’s team who came up with the name Highway Thru Hell. In a post credited to Sherry Davis, they explained that Discovery had asked them for suggestions. Their first idea was to use AC/DC’s song “Highway to Hell” as the theme, but licensing costs were too high—so they “twiked” the name into Highway Thru Hell instead.

By its second season, the show was being broadcast internationally on outlets such as The Weather Channel and National Geographic, reaching audiences in North America, Europe, and Australia. The exposure not only boosted his company’s visibility—with calls coming from across Canada and the U.S.—but also elevated awareness of the hazards and skill involved in heavy recovery work.

Davis became known for his steady leadership and calm under pressure, with his motto—“When the big rigs go down, we get them up”—embodying the show’s spirit. Over time, Highway Thru Hell evolved beyond entertainment, helping to highlight industry safety standards and even coinciding with a documented reduction in accidents along the Coquihalla. The program underscored how television storytelling could bring real-world awareness and change to a demanding industry.

Major Recoveries on Highway Thru Hell

Over the years, Jamie Davis has been at the center of some of the most intense and technically demanding recoveries featured on Highway Thru Hell. These high-stakes incidents not only showcase his skill but also highlight the teamwork and problem-solving that have defined his career.

One memorable case involved a fully loaded semi that veered off the road and became wedged against a rock face. With only a few feet of clearance, Davis’s crew had to improvise a delicate rigging solution to avoid causing thousands of dollars in extra damage. Using spreader bars and precise line adjustments, they managed to lift the 40,000-pound trailer free without destroying its frame—a tense but ultimately successful recovery.

In another incident, a snowstorm left an empty tractor-trailer frozen solid in a snowbank. What began as a straightforward pullout quickly turned into a battle against ice and mechanics. Davis and his team were forced to separate the tractor and trailer, carefully maneuvering the fragile landing gear before reattaching the units. A task that should have been quick proved to be far more complex, underlining the unpredictability of winter highway work.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous recoveries came when a semi overturned across both lanes of traffic, shutting down the highway. The wreck threatened to split apart as multiple wreckers pulled in sync, all while worsening weather bore down on the crew. Through precise coordination and calculated risk-taking, Davis’s team managed to clear the wreckage and reopen the road, preventing further chaos for stranded motorists.

Jamie also demonstrated the value of his flagship 75-ton Rotator during a recovery in Northern Alberta. The job involved a massive top-heavy bucket truck worth nearly half a million dollars, deeply embedded in snow. With synchronized winching, re-rigging, and constant adjustments, Davis and his operators were able to extract the vehicle without major damage. It was a high-pressure test of both machine and crew, and a reminder of why Davis has become one of the most respected figures in heavy rescue.

These recoveries—and many others documented on the show—reflect Jamie Davis’s reputation for making tough calls under pressure, balancing the risks of costly equipment damage with the need to keep vital highways open.

Business Expansion

Following the success of Highway Thru Hell, Jamie Davis confronted a changing reality in his industry. A 2016 Truck West feature titled “A Changing Landscape” revealed how increased safety enforcement and better-equipped highways reduced accidents on the Coquihalla by 36%, cutting deeply into the need for heavy-duty recovery. During the show’s early seasons, his crew was tackling wrecks almost every 12 hours in winter; by 2016, that number had dropped to just four or five per season.

Davis explained that while recovering big rigs helped cover the costs of expensive rotators, the high overhead meant these missions rarely turned a profit. As he put it, the revenue was often “touch-and-go,” and with costs so high, the financial rewards were slim. This reality pushed the company to shift toward long-haul towing, particularly cross-border hauls from the U.S. into Canada, while reducing emphasis on local heavy recovery.

A 2018 behind-the-scenes feature on The Safe Driver blog added perspective, noting that a single rotator can cost over $400,000, underscoring the enormous financial pressures behind Davis’s operations.

As noted in a 2025 Quesnel Observer article, Davis later expanded beyond Hope with branches in Golden, Chilliwack, and Surrey, diversifying into heavy recovery, long-haul towing, traffic control, and emergency services. Today, Jamie Davis Towing is known for its innovation in recovery techniques and its role in training future operators.

Personal Life

Jamie Davis is married to Sherry (Louise) Davis, his longtime partner in both family and business. In interviews, Jamie has credited Sherry with “keeping the business side together” while he focused on operations. Sherry has also played a role in the company’s public image, occasionally sharing updates and anecdotes on the official Jamie Davis Towing social media pages.

The couple resides in Hope, B.C., where family is deeply woven into the business. Their children—James Jr., Alexis, Briana, and Brandon—have all been involved at different points, reflecting the generational nature of the enterprise. His mother‑in‑law, Cheryl Hettervig, has also supported the company, making it truly family-centered.

Family life has occasionally intersected with the series. Brandon Davis returned in Season 10 (2021), working with a crew in Golden, B.C. More recently, in Season 13 (2023), Jamie’s daughters Briana and Alexis appeared on the show as they learned hands-on recovery, underscoring the continuity of family involvement in the business.

Net Worth

While exact figures aren’t publicly disclosed, Jamie Davis’s wealth comes from multiple sources:

• Revenue from Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto Ltd.
• Earnings from Highway Thru Hell
• Equipment investments, including million-dollar rotators and heavy recovery rigs

Based on industry estimates and business interviews, Jamie Davis’s net worth is likely between $2 million and $3 million (as of 2025).

Jamie Davis Q&A (from his Official YouTube Channel, 2020)

Back in 2020, Jamie Davis took time to answer fan questions in a series of Q&A videos on his official YouTube channel (Jamie Davis Towing Official). Here are the highlights:

Q1. What’s the greatest feeling job you’ve ever done?

A: The best feeling job for me is the freedom of going on a long haul. I really enjoy getting on the road—whether it’s a trip to Saskatchewan, Los Angeles, or wherever we’re called. That sense of freedom is what I value most.

Q2. If you could do it all again, what would you do differently knowing what you know now?

A: I’d probably set up in a bigger city. Running a towing business in a small town (4–5,000 people) is tough—limited business and lots of competition. A city would have offered more opportunities.

Q3. What’s the most dangerous close call you’ve ever had?

A: Driving the big wrecker through the Fraser Canyon after midnight, I hit ice going too fast and nearly lost control. The drop-off was over a thousand feet—if I’d gone through the barrier, I likely wouldn’t be here today.

Q4. What’s the one truck you wish you never sold, and why?

A: In 2008, I had a Peterbilt with a 75-ton rotator. I sold it due to an oil downturn and to ease payments, but I’ve always regretted letting it go—it was a great truck.

Q5. Do you still have Bruce’s truck?

A: Yes. We’ve been working on it for years. Other trucks needed work first, but Bruce’s truck is painted and nearly ready. It’s next in line to be finished.

Q6. HR150 is sitting at Zips—would you ever buy her back?

A: No, the HR150 at Zips has already been sold, so it’s not coming back.

Q7. What was your longest shift on the Coquihalla (Coq)?

A: Over 10 years ago, I worked extremely long shifts since there were so few tow trucks. Today, with DOT rules and e-logs, our operators usually work 10–12 hours. We don’t push longer than that anymore.

Q8. When are you going to have Bruce’s Peterbilt back to work?

A: It’s next after the current truck we’re finishing. The Peterbilt already has a new engine, transmission, and wrecker unit. Once hydraulic lines are replaced, it’ll be back soon.

Q9. What’s the oddest thing you’ve found recovering a vehicle?

A: The strangest was when one of my guys found $60,000 in cash inside an impounded car. The police seized it, suspecting proceeds of crime. Definitely one of the oddest recoveries we’ve had.

Q10. What’s the scariest rescue you’ve ever been part of?

A: The scariest jobs are when we’re working on high-volume roads right after an accident, with fast traffic coming around a corner and no traffic control in place yet. You’re dodging cars while trying to deal with the crash—those are the scariest moments.

Q11. What’s the longest recovery job you’ve done?

A: A tractor-trailer that went about a thousand feet down. The job took over seven days and cost more than $107,000 to complete. That’s the longest, most drawn-out recovery we’ve been part of.

Q12. Has anyone from the show been ill with COVID-19?

A: To my knowledge, nobody connected with the show or company has been sick. Back in January (before COVID became widespread), several of us got really sick and I ended up in the hospital for a few days. We suspect it might have been COVID, but we’ll never know for sure.

Q13. What’s it like running your own company?

A: Running a business isn’t easy. Many times I think about how much simpler it would be to just be an employee and not worry about everything a boss has to deal with. But that’s the reality of business—it’s challenging every day.

Q14. What’s your favorite spot around your home area?

A: Honestly, my favorite spot is my own place. I keep chickens, enjoy gardening, and spending time at home makes me happiest.

Q15. Will you ever buy another rotator?

A: It’s possible. Right now, our long-haul work has been steady, so we’ve focused on that instead of heavy recovery. Big wrecks don’t happen every day, and our heavy trucks often sit unused. We might buy a used rotator in the future, but for now we’re sticking with long-haul.

Quick Wiki Bio Facts

Fact	Details
Full Name	Jamie Davis
Birth Date	December 16, 1964
Birth Year	1964
Age	60 years old (as of 2025)
Birthplace	Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Profession	Towing Operator, Reality TV Star, Entrepreneur
Known For	Highway Thru Hell
Company	Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto Ltd.
Wife	Sherry (Louise) Davis
Children	Brandon, James Jr., Alexis, Briana
Net Worth (2025)	Estimated $2–3 million