Like most of these shows, I suspect it's all scripted.  What really bugs me is they all have the same premise.  People risking their lives doing difficult work in the worst weather conditions that area has seen in the last 10,000 years, all the while they are arguing and screaming at each other.  Then add in that they are up against a deadline and work that normally would take two days will be accomplished in 1 hour and will be finished with 2 minutes to spare.

 I quit watching Ice Road Truckers and Deadliest Catch for that very reason, and never started with Axmen or Swamp Loggers.