Truck 101: Lisa Kelly, reality star of "Ice Road Truckers," gives a tour of a truck like the one she drives on the Dalton Highway.

Earlier this week, I met Lisa Kelly, one of the stars of The History Channel's reality show "Ice Road Truckers." I interviewed her at the Carlile Transportation Systems office near Ship Creek. She came through town on a short break from filming the show's fourth season along the Dalton Highway between Fairbanks and Deadhorse.

This upcoming season, she'll be among the youngest drivers and likely the only female main character on the show. The new season premieres at the end of May. Today the History Channel is playing a marathon so you can catch up.

Kelly, 29, grew up in Sterling. She drives a diesel tractor trailer with three axles, 10 wheels and a sleeper compartment on trips that can take between 12 hours and five days, depending on the weather.

She showed up to talk with me wearing an oversized sweatshirt and jeans with her husband Travis, a quiet guy in a baseball cap. When she's not driving and he's not working on the North Slope, she told me, they live in Wasilla with their miniature horse, Rocky. For most of the interview, she sat on Travis' lap.

Me: What made you want to be a truck driver?

LK: I was like, I want to be in a career by the time I'm 23, so what can I do? I don't want to be stuck in an office. ... I thought what can I do? I like big trucks. I'll try that, see if I like it. ... I got my (commercial driver's license) driving school bus.

Me: And then, you went from school bus to...

LK: Carlile. I pretty much went into the front desk and said, "Hi. I'm gonna work for you and I'm gonna drive a big truck someday. So, you want to take me on?" They were like, "Yeah, I guess so. We train."

Me: What do you like best about it?

LK : Everything. You name it. The more I do other stuff, the more I'm finding out I really, really like trucking. I always tell people my job is the best job in the world because I get to go to work in my pajamas and I get to listen to music all day and I got the best view. It's very free. I don't have to deal with people. If I don't feel like being social I turn the radios off.

Me: Give me your top five driving songs.

LK: "Halcyon And On and On" by Orbital, "Xpander" by DJ Sasha, "Beautiful Day" by U2, "Heaven" by Moby, and "Black & Gold" by Sam Sparro.

Me: What's it's like to be on national television?

LK: Stressful. ... You know you're supposed to be your own biggest criticizer? Well, all of a sudden, I'm not. I'm a lot more forgiving of myself of than the public is. They are watching every little move I make and every little mistake that I make. ... Some people are saying, like, 'They only picked her to be on TV because she's pretty.' And then they turn around and say 'She's not pretty at all, look at her crooked teeth.' And it's like, well, I'm not a super model, I'm a truck driver.

... It's funny how your friends forget. You have friend up there (on the road) and they know me for me. After they watch the show, they change their opinion.

Julia O’Malley / Anchorage Daily News Lisa Kelly with a truck similar to the one she drives on the History Channel reality show “Ice Road Truckers” at Carlile Transportation Systems in Anchorage on Tuesday, March 9.

Me: They watch the show and they think you are different than you are because the editing on show portrays you differently than you are?

LK: Yes... Like we all help each other up there ... I did a lot of stuff on my own truck, but the only thing they showed was where I didn't know and I got help. I'm portrayed as Little Miss Helpless. They didn't show all the other times I fixed my truck myself. This year (on the highway), they're like, 'I'm not going to help Lisa this year, she just plays helpless so all the guys will stop and help her.' And that's not true.

Me: The show promos call you a tomboy. Have you always been into the rough and rugged?

LK: Not always, I was a ballet dancer.

Me: You took ballet but you were also into motocross?

LK: I got into that as a senior in high school. I love horses, too. I got both sides. I'm not trying to be anything or fit anything. I just do what I like. If I like horses and dancing and motocross and trucks, whatever. I like painting my nails, I paint my nails.

... The stereotype they are trying to make me into on TV is a dumb blonde and I don't want to be that. ...The producers who ride with us, they are trying to get the audience to understand stuff ... and they are trying to get me to ask those stupid questions. And I don't want to be like that. They are like. 'Can I ask what this thing is?' And I'm like 'I know what this thing is.'

Me: Can you give me any hints about what happens next season?

LK: I don't think we're allowed to say what's going on. You'll have to watch it.