72 AUGUST 2019 ownerdriver.com.au
Above: Crossing a dry creek bed
near Warren, western NSW, in the
late 1990s
Right: Mentor, manager and
mates – Allan Stuckings and Mick
Dernedde
Below right: Eye-catching:
Hogan’s Heavy Haulage twin-steer
Kenworth T659
Bottom: Northern Territory in
Allan’s Cat-powered Kenworth, late
1990s
“Heavy haulage is a
different mindset.”
cars that help you,” he points out. “They’ll just say ‘It’s a bit
narrow on the left around the corner here’, so you’re aware
to move over a bit, and coming the other way the traffic
has already moved over for you so you can use a bit more
of the road.”Linehaul differences
Mick Dernedde is the yard manager at Rutherford, and still
occasionally drives when need be after learning the heavy
haulage ropes in no small part from Allan. “You could ring
him up and he would always know what to do,” says Mick of
his mentor and mate. “He’s always good for a yarn and good
advice whenever you need it.”
Mick says Allan has an unbelievable knowledge of bridge
heights, lane widths, power line heights and the best way to
get in and out of somewhere – and not just in the local area.
And of course he’s a whiz on load heights, widths, lengths
and weights.
Allan reckons there have been several times when law
enforcement officers have pulled him up eagerly expecting
to write up a fine, only to discover to their disappointment
that he’s been just under whatever limits were stipulated.
He adds that other officers are helpful and cooperative, and
returns a compliment to Mick, saying he’s uncannily accurate
on transit times.
Mick started with Hogan’s a decade ago after many years on
what he calls “nocturnal” east coast linehaul, always working
against the clock.
“Heavy haulage is a different mindset, just slowing
everything down,” Mick says.
“When you’re running up and down the highway in a
B-double there’s not as much thought that goes into what
you’re doing. When you’re wide and high your situational
awareness has to be much better.
“It’s more about taking your time in getting the job done
properly rather than making the time to keep a timeslot.
“It’s the old turtle mate – slow and steady wins the race.
That’s the trick, just mosey along and do your own thing.
“The more sympathetic you are to the truck, the less
problems you have,” he adds. For example slowing down
another 10km/h on a very hot day can save blowing the hard
working little low loader tyres.
Rather than screwing his truck and low loader around a cul-
de-sac on our short drive, Allan nosed into a driveway, then
backed out, saving wear and tear not only the tyres but the
axles and bearings as well.
Allan’s 79 going on 80 in August 2020, and reckons he’ll
retire (for a second time) before then. But Mick reckons they’ll
still be ringing ‘Stucko’, who’s always only too happy to help.
“The best part I’ve found over all of my years is if someone
asks me how I do something they will always remember it and
thank you ... They appreciate it.”