>>> THE ELEVATION IS ABOUT 5000 METERS.

WE'LL HEAD OUT AFTER EATING.

>> NO GOOD.

THE FUEL ISN'T RUNNING.

IT FROZE.

DON'T HEAT IT TOO MUCH.

>> IT'S FINE.

>> DON'T SET IT ON FIRE.

>> WOW, IT'S COVERED IN ICE.

STOP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> VALUED AT NEARLY $50 TRILLION, CHINA'S DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY IS THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

OVER 70% OF DOMESTIC SHIPPING IS HANDLED BY SOME 20 MILLION TRUCK DRIVERS.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC, OUR PAY KEEPS DROPPING.

>> THE STAGNATING CHINESE ECONOMY PUTS NEW PRESSURE ON THE DRIVERS.

>> THEY SAY WE ARE SUPPORTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, BUT WE CAN'T EVEN SUPPORT OUR OWN FAMILIES.

>> KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD.

>> A MISMATCHED TEAM OF A VETERAN AND ROOKIE DRIVER FIND THEIR BACKS AGAINST THE WALL.

>> HOW WILL WE GET THROUGH?

>> THEY LOOK FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES ON THE TIBETAN HIGHLANDS.

>> WHY AM I GOING?

FOR MONEY.

>> CHINA'S MOST DANGEROUS ROAD LIES AHEAD.

>> YOUR FAMILY MISSES YOU.

>> WILL THEIR JOURNEY AND IN FRUITION OR LEAD THEM ASTRAY?

>> I'VE WORKED HARD TO LEAD A GOOD LIFE.

>> I COULDN'T EVEN BE WITH MY FATHER WHEN HE DIED.

NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY, NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS.

>> THIS DISTRIBUTION CENTER IS LOCATED IN KUNMING, THE CAPITAL OF YUNNAN PROVINCE.

>> DRIVERS NOWADAYS CAN COOK AND CLEAN.

>> ZHANG IS FROM NORTHEAST CHINA.

HE HAS 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A TRUCK DRIVER.

>> I BOUGHT NEW SHOES FOR TWO DOLLARS.

>> 20 MILLION TRUCK DRIVERS ARE SAID TO BE WORKING IN CHINA.

MANY OF THEM ARE FREELANCERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY IN SEARCH OF WORK.

JUST THREE YEARS AGO, ZHANG TOOK OUT A LOAN FOR $78,000 TO REPLACE HIS TRUCK.

>> MY TRUCK IS MY MOBILE HOME.

I'M AT THE WHEEL DURING THE DAY, AND I SLEEP IN IT AT NIGHT.

THIS TRUCK AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER.

WE ARE LIKE FAMILY.

>> ZHANG COMES FROM A FARMING COMMUNITY.

HE STARTED WORKING AS A TRUCK DRIVER AT 19 YEARS OF AGE.

>> I MADE A LOT BACK THEN.

SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH WITH JUST A SMALL TRUCK.

>> UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, TRUCK DRIVING WAS A LUCRATIVE PROFESSION.

REWARDING JOBS WERE READILY AVAILABLE THROUGH NEGOTIATION WITH BROKERS.

>> HOW MUCH TO HANGZHOU?

>> THAT MUCH.

>> CAN YOU KEEP UP THE RATE?

>> $250 IS THE BEST I CAN DO, OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT FOR ME.

>> AS LONG AS YOU COULD DRIVE, YOU COULD BECOME A TRUCK DRIVER , NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE FROM.

ECONOMIC STAGNATION RESULTED IN LOW DEMAND FOR WORK.

INCREASED COMPETITION BROUGHT LOWER RATES.

THE ARRIVAL OF MOBILE APPS EXASPERATED THE SITUATION.

DRIVERS INCREASINGLY UPPERCUT EACH OTHER, FURTHER REDUCING RATES.

>> THERE'S NO PROFIT IN CHINA.

I CAN'T PAY MY BILLS OR SUPPORT MY FAMILY WITH JUST MY TRUCK.

MANY DRIVERS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN UP AND SOLD THEIR TRUCKS.

>> ZHANG ARRIVES IN MOHAN , A TOWN ALONG THE BORDER WITH LAOS.

EVERY DAY, SEVERAL THOUSAND TONS OF PRODUCE ARRIVED FROM LAOS AND OTHER PARTS OF ASIA BEFORE BEING SENT OUT THROUGHOUT CHINA.

CHINA HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS INTO ITS ONE BELT, ONE ROAD ECONOMIC INITIATIVE IN RECENT YEARS.

MOHAN IS AN IMPORTANT KEY, AND JOBS ARE EASIER TO FIND HERE.

>> ZHANG LEAVES WITH ANOTHER DRIVER.

ALSO FROM NORTHEAST CHINA, LIU ONLY HAS TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING TRUCKS.

>> ZHANG'S ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.

HE TELLS ME THE ROUTES.

>> WHAT'S THIS?

>> ZHANG HAS BEEN MENTOR AND LIU FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> OUT OF ALL THE JOBS, WHY DID YOU BECOME A TRUCK DRIVER?

>> I'D RATHER NOT SAY.

>> TELL ME!

>> THERE WAS A BIG SCANDAL AT MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYER.

I COULD NEVER WORK IN THE SAME INDUSTRY AGAIN.

>> NERVOUSLY WORKED FOR AN OIL CONGLOMERATE MAKING $3500 A MONTH.

A SISTER COMPANY WAS FOUND TO HAVE EVADED $16 MILLION IN TAXES.

LIU'S COMPANY ALSO HAD HIS ASSETS CONFISCATED.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CRACKING DOWN ON FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY.

WITH CONTINUED ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY, CORPORATE BANKRUPTCIES HAVE BECOME COMMON.

MANY PEOPLE TURN TO TRUCKING AFTER LOSING THEIR JOBS.

>> FROM COMPANY EXECUTIVES TO GANGSTERS, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE BECOME TRUCKERS.

>> IT'S DOG EAT DOG.

MANY CAN'T HANDLE IT.

>> IN ORDER TO MAKE A PROFIT, TRUCK DRIVERS MUST TAKE ROUTES THAT NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO TAKE.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING GOING TO TIBET?

>> ZHANG CHOOSES A ROPE INTO LHASA, IN THE TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION.

THE ROAD TO TIBET PASSES THROUGH HIGHLANDS EXCEEDING ELEVATIONS OF 4000 METERS.

IT IS SAID TO BE THE DEADLIEST ROUTE IN CHINA.

>> YOU HAVE TO GO TO TIBET TO MAKE MONEY.

IT'S ROUGH ON TIRES AND SPRINGS.

YOU ARE ALSO RISKING LIFE AT THOSE HEIGHTS.

>> I GOT ONE JOB.

WHO'LL TAKE IT?

>> YOU GO FIRST.

>> THE ROAD TO TIBET IS PAVED WITH UNCERTAINTIES.

THEY TAKE BOTH THEIR TRUCKS, SO THEY CAN HELP EACH OTHER OUT IN TIMES OF NEED.

THEY'LL BE DELIVERING BANANAS.

LATER IN THE DAY, ZHANG RECEIVES HIS LOAD OF CARGO.

HE'LL MEET UP WITH LIU IN KUNMING.

IT IS 2800 KILOMETERS FROM MOHAN TO LHASA.

IF EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY, THEY'LL ARRIVE IN FIVE DAYS.

>> IT'S AS WARM AS THE SPRING HERE IN YUNNAN.

WILL ALREADY HAVE ICE AND SNOW.

IT'S LIKE SEEING ALL THE SEASONS OVER A FEW DAYS.

>> CHECK THE TIRES.

>> MANY OF THE ROADS IN TIBET ARE UNPAID.

THEIR TRUCKS WILL NEED TO BE INSPECTED IN KUNMING.

>> HEY!

>> THIS TIME, THE SHOP IS FREQUENTED BY ZHANG.

>> THEY ARE ALL WORN DOWN.

YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH THESE.

>> I THOUGHT THEY LOST.

>> NO WAY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THESE TWO?

WE ARE HEADED TO TIBET.

>> DID FIGHT THEY'D BE FINE FOR HIGHWAYS, BUT NOT FOR TIBET.

>> HOUSE THIS ONE?

>> NO GOOD.

THIS ONE, TOO.

THIS ONE DONE, TOO.

ONE TIRE COSTS $180.

THAT'S MORE THAN $2100 TOTAL FOR 12 TIRES.

>> THE TWO ARE LOW ON CASH.

IF THEY PAY FOR THE TIRES, THEY WON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR FUEL.

>> I HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK HAVING KNOWN YOU THIS LONG.

CAN WE PAY YOU AFTER WE GET BACK FROM TIBET?

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY EITHER.

>> YOU CAN PAY LATER?

>> YES.

>> MY HEAD HURTS FROM ALL OF THESE IOU'S .

>> THESE ARE ALL IOU'S?

>> THE UNPAID DEBTS TOTALED $4200.

THE PAST YEAR HAS SEEN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS ASKING TO PAY LATER.

>> WE KEEP OUR PROMISES.

>> THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING.

I ONLY TRUST ZHANG.

YOU CAN GIVE YOUR MONEY TO ZHANG.

THAT OKAY?

>> OKAY?

>> I'LL HANDLE IT.

>> ZHANG SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR $2400 THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID WITHIN ONE MONTH.

>> THEY'VE HEADED 500 KILOMETERS NORTH SINCE DEPARTING KUNMING.

THE ROADS GROW NARROW AS THEY TRAVERSE AN AREA WHERE ACCIDENTS ARE COMMON.

>> IT ALWAYS TAKES MORE THAN AN HOUR TO GET THROUGH.

MIGHT BE A LANDSLIDE.

>> WITH THE CROWDED ROADS BLOCKING THEIR PATH, NEARLY FIVE HOURS HAS PASSED.

THEIR FATIGUE REACHES A PEAK.

THEIR LUCK WOULD GROW WORSE.

>> THE WHEEL IS SLIPPING.

IF I'M NOT CAREFUL, THE FRONT TIRE WILL TOTALLY SLIP IN.

>> BACK UP TO WHERE THERE IS MORE SPACE.

THEN, WE CAN GET THROUGH.

>> WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP EARLIER?

>> TO GET OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT, HE NEEDS TO MOVE THE TRUCK AHEAD, BUT THE ROAD IS TOO CROWDED TO MANAGE IT.

>> DON'T MOVE.

THE REAR TIRES WILL SLIP.

>> LIU REALIZES THE SITUATION AND COMES TO ASSIST.

>> THERE IS A TRUCK AHEAD THAT'S SLIPPING AND BLOCKING THE WAY.

IF YOU BACKUP, IT CAN GET LOOSE.

>> INFORMS THE DRIVERS AHEAD OF ZHANG ABOUT THE SITUATION , ASKING THEM TO MAKE SPACE.

AN HOUR PASSES INTO THE ACCIDENT .

FINALLY, THEY'VE SECURED ENOUGH ROOM TO MOVE.

>> I'LL PULL IT OUT, SO BACK UP.

THAT'S IT.

>> THEY ARE FREE FROM THE SLIPPAGE.

>> WE ARE GOOD.

>> IF THEY BACKUP 100 METERS MORE, THEY'LL REACH A WIDE AREA OF THE ROAD WHERE TRUCKS ON THE OTHER SIDE CAN PASS.

LIU CONTINUES TO GUIDE ZHANG ALONG THE ROAD.

>> THAT'LL DO IT.

COME ON THROUGH.

>> BY THE TIME THE TRAFFIC JAM DISPERSES, IT'S PAST MIDNIGHT.

>> WHAT AN ORDEAL.

LIU GOT US OUT OF IT.

HE'S USUALLY SLOW, BUT HE HELPED OUT THIS TIME.

>> YEAH, WE FINALLY STOPPED.

>> ZHANG PHONES HIS WIFE, GAO YANPING.

>> AFTER I PARKED, I STARTED FEELING HOMESICK.

THAT'S WHY I CALLED.

>> YOU MISS ME OR HOME?

>> BOTH.

>> YOUR MOTHER AND SON REALLY MISS YOU.

>> I KNOW.

>> ZHANG HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO HIS FAMILY FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

HIS HOME IS IN PROVINCE IN NORTHEASTERN CHINA.

>> TRUCKING USED TO BRING IN A DECENT AMOUNT.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET BY.

>> ZHANG'S ONLY SON , ZHANG HAOZHE, HAS BEEN ACCEPTED TO A UNIVERSITY.

ONCE HE BEGINS LIVING IN THE DORMS, TUITION AND DAILY EXPENSES WILL COST OVER 5000 TROUSERS DOLLARS A YEAR.

>> I WISH I COULD HAVE STUDIED, BUT WE WERE POOR.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT UNIVERSITIES.

>> HE'LL DO IT FOR YOUR SAKE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

STUDY LIKE I WISH I COULD HAVE.

>> THEIR LIVES SEEM TO BE GOING JUST AS HOPED, BUT THAT HAPPINESS WOULDN'T LAST.

>> MY FATHER GOT A HEAD WOUND IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

TREATMENT COST $25,000.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE BILLS, AND APART FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR.

>> BETWEEN THE LOAN FOR HIS TRUCK, HIS SONS TUITION AND HAS NOW DEPARTED FATHERS MEDICAL BILLS, ZHANG IS BURDENED BY $70,000 IN DEBTS.

HE'S BARELY ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS EACH MONTH.

>> THREE DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE LEAVING MOHAN .

THE TRUCK IS ALMOST OUT OF FUEL.

>> FILL IT UP?

>> HOW MUCH PER LITER?

>> $1.20.

>> THAT MUCH?

THAT'S AN ARM AND A LEG.

JUST A LITTLE IS FINE.

>> THE FUEL TANK HAS A CAPACITY OF 1400 LITERS WITH AN EXTRA SEVEN CENTS PER LEADER, HE WOULD WASTE $93 FEELING THE TANK.

THE MORE HE EATS INTO HIS PROPHETS, THE LESS HE'LL BE ABLE TO REPAY HIS LOANS AND SUPPORT HIS FAMILY.

ZHANG STOPPED THE TRUCK IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT.

HE HAS AN IDEA.

>> YOU ARE A DEALER?

>> YEAH.

I'LL FILL YOU HERE.

>> HE FOUND AN ILLEGAL DIESEL FUEL DEALER.

IN CHINA, THIS TYPE OF FUEL IS CALLED LITTLE OIL.

>> IT'S NOT -- IT BETTER NOT BE POOR QUALITY.

YOU'LL KNOW WHEN YOU START THE TRUCK.

>> THEY CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THEY OBTAIN FUEL BY SMUGGLING OUT OF REFINERIES OR FROM OVERSEAS.

IT'S AROUND 10% CHEAPER THAN LEGAL DIESEL.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER DEALER IN THE NEXT LOT OVER.

HIS FUEL STINKS.

NOBODY BUYS IT NOW.

>> EACH YEAR, $1.4 BILLION IN ILLEGAL FUEL IS CONFISCATED IN CHINA.

EVEN THAT IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

>> THAT GUY MAKES MORE THAN $100,000 A YEAR FROM XIAOYOU.

HE WAS BOASTING THAT HE BOUGHT A HOME FOR HIS KID.

HE PAID $110,000 IN CASH.

THE POLICE COLLUDE WITH IT AND TURNED A BLIND EYE.

WHAT A JOKE.

>> FILLING THE ENTIRE TANK COSTS $970.

HE'S ABLE TO SAVE $67 OFF THE NORMAL PRICE.

>> FOUR DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE LEAVING THE BORDER TOWN OF MOHAN .

AT LAST, ZHANG HAS REACHED THE TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION.

THE STRETCH IS KNOWN AS THE MOST DANGEROUS ROAD IN CHINA, HIGHWAY 318.

AT AN ELEVATION OF AROUND 4000 METERS, IT'S MARKED BY MANY STEEP ASCENTS AND DISSENTS.

>> HE TRAVELS ALONG THE HIGHEST SECTION OF THE ROAD, REACHING 5130 METERS.

WE ARE >> OXYGEN LEVELS AT 5000 METERS ARE ONLY HALF THAT OF NORMAL HEIGHTS.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS THREATENS TO BRING HEADACHES AND CHILLS.

>> SOMETHING HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME WHEN DRIVER CAME TO TIBET.

HE GOT TOO LOW ON OXYGEN WHILE SLEEPING AND DIED FROM IT.

>> ZHANG AVERAGES FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT.

HE CALCULATES THIS TO DELIVER HIS LOAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT JOB.

WE ARE >> WE ARE OFF.

>> THE TRUE JEDD DREAD OF HIGHWAY 318 IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

>> THIS IS THE SKY ROAD.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING SECTIONS OF THE HIGHWAY, NUJIANG 72 CURBS.

THE ROAD CONTAINS 72 CARBS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND SET AND DISSENTS OF 1500 METERS.

>> LOOK, THERE IS A FLIPPED TRUCK.

I'LL TAKE IT SLOW IN LOW GEAR.

>> ZHANG IS INTENSELY FOCUSED ON HIS BREAKING AND TURNING .

ONE MISTAKE COULD EASILY MEAN HIS DEATH.

>> HE MAKES IT THROUGH THE 72 CURBS, BUT HE ISN'T HOME FOR YET.

>> AWAITING HIM ARE THE SHEER CLIFF FACES OF NUJIANG VALLEY.

>> THE HUGE ROCKFACE YAWNING BEFORE HIM IS KNOWN AS THE MOUTH OF THE TIGER.

>> THE MOUTH OF THE TIGER IS THE WORST.

IT USED TO BE FOUR METERS HIGH.

SO MANY TRUCKS OF SCRIPTED.

IT'S 4.2 METERS NOW.

>>, ON.

>> OH MAN.

THAT WAS CLOSE.

>> YOU CAN SEE PILGRIMS.

>> PILGRIMS OF TIBET BUDDHISM CAN BE SEEN ALONG THE WAY.

IT IS 400 KILOMETERS MORE TO.

>> THIS IS MOUNTAIN.

IT'S THE LAST ONE BEFORE LHASA , WITH A HIGH ELEVATION.

AFTER DESCENDING, WE REACH THE EXPRESSWAY.

>> WHAT A SIGHT.

>> IT REACHES THE HEAVENS.

NAMCHA BARWA, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN CHINA.

IT'S GOT AN ELEVATION OF 7782 METERS.

IT'S RARE TO SEE A GOOD VIEW.

THE SUN IS ABOUT TO RISE.

LIU LIKES THE SEAFOOD FLAVORED NOODLES.

WE'LL GET GOING AFTER WE EAT.

>> THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS -5 DEGREES CELSIUS.

THERE DIESEL FUEL HAS FROZEN WITHIN THE FILTER.

>> THE FUEL ISN'T RUNNING.

>> NOT THERE.

JUST HEAT THE FILTER.

IT'S TOO COLD.

IF WE CAN'T WARM ENOUGH, WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE THE FILTER OUT.

>> I'LL WARM IT MORE.

>> NOT TOO MUCH.

>> IT'S FINE.

DON'T GET THE OPEN FLAME NEAR THE FUEL.

>> WOW, IT'S COVERED IN ICE.

>> WHAT THE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

EXTINGUISHER!

WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THE FUEL?

>> PUT IT OUT?

>> ARE YOU JOKING?

DON'T MESS WITH IT.

IT'S RUINED.

MAN.

THE WHOLE TRUCK COULD'VE GONE UP.

OF ALL TIMES.

I'LL HAVE TO BUY A NEW FILTER.

>> WITHOUT ONE, THE FUEL SUPPLY WON'T BE SMOOTH.

>> IT SEEMS ALL RIGHT.

>> NO, IT NEEDS THE FILTER TO LET THE FUEL COME UP.

>> THEIR ONLY CHOICE IS TO PRESS ON WITHOUT A FILTER FOR THE TIME BEING.

>> DON'T LET IT NEAR THE FUEL.

>> I KNOW.

>> THE FUEL IS FINALLY FLOWING.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE HE SET IT ON FIRE.

OUR NOODLES ARE COLD.

LIU, WE'RE TAKING OFF AS SOON AS WE EAT.

>> WHY ARE YOU NICE TO HIM AFTER HE MADE A MISTAKE LIKE THAT?

>> I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANGRY AT HIM.

IF HE GOT SICK UP HERE, IT PUT ME IN AN EVEN WORSE SITUATION.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH FOR ME.

>> OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, LIU'S MISTAKES HAVE BEEN A THORN IN ZHANG'S SIDE.

>> WHAT CAN YOU DO?

>> ZHANG FINDS IT IN HIMSELF NOT TO LEAVE HIS PARTNER.

>> REPAYING DUTY IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

WHEN I HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN, LIU HELPED ME OUT.

>> WHEN HE MET LIU, ZHANG WAS SHORT THE $1300 FOR HIS TRUCK INSPECTION AND COULDN'T ASK FOR HELP FROM HIS RELATIVES.

DESPITE JUST MEETING EACH OTHER, LIU WAS HAPPY TO LEND HIM THE MONEY.

>> I OWE LIU FOR THAT.

THAT'S WHY I'M HELPING HIM NOW.

I'M THE ONE WHO PREPARES THE CARGO.

SOMETIMES IT DOES FEEL EXHAUSTING.

>> ♪ >> SIX DAYS AND 2800 KILOMETERS SINCE LEAVING MOHAN , THEY ARRIVED IN LHASA.

>> WE FINALLY MADE IT HERE.

>> THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE, I WAS AMAZED BY THE PALACE.

MOST PEOPLE NEVER COME TO TIBET EVEN ONCE IN THEIR LIVES.

>> AS CHINA'S LARGEST CITY, A POPULATION OF 870,000.

THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED WELCOMING 20 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR.

IN ORDER TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TIBET , OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS INVESTED $43 BILLION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ARE SLATED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE FUTURE.

LHASA'S ELEVATION IS 33 700 -- 3700 METERS.

EVEN MILD EXERCISE BRINGS SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

>> WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, I KEPT GETTING NOSEBLEEDS.

UNLOADING THE CARGO, IT'S HARD TO BREATHE.

>> IT SURE HASN'T BEEN AN EASY DRIVE.

>> FOR THE SIX DAY DRIVE, ZHANG IS PAID $2700, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE TYPICAL RATE WITHIN CHINA.

HOWEVER, DEDUCTING THE COSTS SUCH AS TIRES AND FUEL PUTS THEM INTO THE RED.

AT THIS RATE, THERE'S NO TELLING HOW MANY YEARS YOU'LL NEED TO REPAY HIS DEBTS.

ZHANG IS FACED WITH A HARD DECISION.

>> I'VE BEEN THINKING.

WORKING WITH LIU BRINGS DOWN MY EARNINGS A LOT.

I HAVE TO LOOK FOR NOT JUST MY CARGO, BUT LIU'S, AS WELL.

IT TAKES TIME TO SEEK IT OUT AND I END UP LOSING MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

IF I BREAK THINGS OFF, I'M NOT SURE HOW HE'LL GET BY.

>> CHEERS.

LET'S ENJOY THIS.

>> WE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO TIBET TOGETHER.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

>> I'M REALLY THANKFUL.

I KNOW IT ISN'T EASY LOOKING AFTER ROOKIE LIKE ME.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW I FELT THESE PAST TWO YEARS?

I FELT THAT I NEED TO REPAY THE KINDNESS SHOWN TO ME.

I WAS IN A HARD PLACE WHEN I COULDN'T GET THE TRUCK INSPECTION.

>> I JUST COULDN'T LEAVE YOU HANGING.

>> WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?

>> A GOOD PERSON.

>> THAT'S IT?

>> SHOULD I THANK YOU AND CRY?

>> I DON'T WANT THANKS.

>> THEN WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

>> WHAT I WANT IS.

>> I ALREADY KNOW.

>> WHAT?

>> YOU WANT TO SPLIT UP?

>> I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND.

I'M SO TIRED, LIU.

LET ME ASK ONE THING OF YOU.

WHETHER I'M HERE OR NOT, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS YOURSELF.

THAT'S HOW I FELT THESE TWO YEARS.

>> I WON'T LET YOU DOWN.

I'LL DO BETTER.

>> BUT WHAT?

>> I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ALONE.

LET'S STICK TOGETHER.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEAVE, I CAN'T STOP YOU.

>> IN THE END, ZHANG CAN'T BRING HIMSELF TO END THEIR PARTNERSHIP.

>> NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE.

>> DON'T GET SO DOWN.

NOBODY'S PERFECT.

>> GET LOST!

WHEN MY DAD DIED FROM CANCER, I COULDN'T EVEN BE WITH HIM.

LIU , EVERYONE LOOKS DOWN ON ME.

EVEN IN A DREAM, I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

I HAVEN'T SPENT THE NEW YEAR WITH MY FAMILY IN FIVE YEARS!

>> ♪ CAUGHT IN THE RAIN, I HAVE LOST MY WAY HOME ♪ I WAS WRONG TO BELIEVE I HAD A HOME IN A FOREIGN LAND.

>> ZHANG IS DRIVING ALONE.

HE DECIDED TO TRY TRUCKING WITHOUT LIU FOR THE TIME BEING.

>> TRUCKING ISN'T EASY, BUT I PLAN TO KEEP IT UP.

TO DRIVE MY OWN TRUCK, THAT'S THE ONLY DREAM I HAVE.

I'VE GOT NO REGRETS.

EVEN IF I COULD DO IT ALL AGAIN, I'D STILL BE A TRUCK DRIVER.

>> AS THE CHINESE ECONOMY LOSES STEAM, TRUCKS ARE DRIVEN INTO INTENSE COMPETITION.

THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL SEEMS DOWN TO CONTINUE FOR THE LONG HAUL.

>> ♪ ♪