Alfred Duncan
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2016.
Alfred 'Alf' James Duncan (Dodgy) was born in March, 1944 in Salford, England. He says he had five children, two wives and too many partners. After finishing school in 1959, Alf completed an apprenticeship as an Electrician and started driving trucks when he was just 19. Although the legal driving age was 21, Alf had told the boss he was 21 and licenced to drive. This was how he was nicknamed Dodgy!
The first trucks Dodgy drove were Leyland, Ford Trader and Seddon, carrying loads between England and Scotland. Once he could 'legally' drive, Alf moved onto McKelvies Heavy Haulage where he operated a 75-foot rear steer trailer which was the first of it's kind.
In 1970, Alf moved to Australia, first job being with Roy McDonald Transport carrying for General Motors. His next job, in 1972, was with WJ George driving a Diamond Reo and later a Fiat. In 1978 Alf purchased his first truck, an Autocar, for $8,000. He used it to do Sydney deliveries and on weekends he relocated houses for Fred Lanstrom. His widest load at this time was 32.6 feet, which took three full weekends to complete the move from Belmore to Narellan.
In 1981 Alf decided to upgrade and purchased the Shell Truck of the Month, 'Morning Glory', a White Freightliner powered by a 335 Cummins. He later traded this for a White Road Commander which became famous when used in the TV Commercial for AAMI Insurance knocking a car door off! This was followed a V8 Powered 142 Scania (ex IPEC). A marriage separation saw the departure of the Scania. Starting from scratch, Alf purchased a Flintstone Mack with son Craig and subbied for Trend Transport, carting steel up to eight metres wide from Sydney to Adelaide for the Collins Class submarines.
In 1998 Alf started with Shaw's Darwin Transport, driving road trains. In 2005, Alf became Manager of Shaw's Depot at Kununurra. By 2012 the call of the highway got Alf back behind the wheel again carting Sydney Perth Darwin - Sydney. In 2016 Alf is still running around the block in a truck.
Alf says he will only consider retirement when he reaches 75 years of age or when he can't dodge the medical anymore!