When Larry Urick got his driver’s license in 1973, he went straight to work for his father, Peter Urick, driving crawlers, scrapers and trucks. The next year, his family purchased their first Mack truck, which started his life-long partnership with the company.
In 1965, Peter started his own construction and gravel hauling business in Saskatchewan. Larry was by his side and eventually took over the business, which evolved into Keelar Contracting Ltd. “We bought a Mack truck in 1974, and started hauling gravel. Things were slow back then, but we just kept going,” Larry said. Today, Larry works with his two sons to keep the business running strong. Larry takes pride in showing off family photos of his father and sons with a Mack truck in the background. He even met his wife of 44 years while driving a truck on a road construction crew.
Larry’s career started at the young age of seventeen. His family purchased their first Mack truck in 1974 and have owned 22 Macks since then. Redhead Equipment has been their local dealership since 1990, when they became the authorized Mack dealer in Saskatchewan. Over the last 50 years, Larry has seen every highway and knows almost every gravel pit in the province. His commitment to the business is evident in how he’s continued to carry the torch.
In 2006, his father passed away, but Larry and his sons Keegan and Logan continued to grow the business. Today, the company operates three trucks and trailers, with both of Larry’s sons actively involved. “The boys keep me motivated,” said Larry. “Logan’s been driving for 11 years, and Keegan has been a service tech at Redhead Equipment for over a decade. They’ve both carried on what my father and I started.”
Currently, the company gets most of their work from road construction crews like ASL Paving. Larry recalls that over the years he has seen a lot of change in the construction industry, with improvements and advancements to the equipment. With these improvements, he notes the rising cost of equipment as being one of the biggest challenges he’s faced, but having a strong professional relationship with Redhead has made for a lasting impression. Larry’s father, a skilled mechanic, always preferred Mack trucks, which led to a longstanding relationship with Redhead Equipment.
“My dad always liked Redhead,” said Larry. This relationship has been pivotal for the Urick family, not just for reliable trucks, but for the consistent service provided by Redhead’s team. Over the years, Larry’s son Keegan would visit Redhead with his grandfather to pick up parts, a connection that has lasted to this day. “Keegan started working at Redhead over 10 years ago, and it’s nice to see how he’s continued that tradition with the team there,” said Larry.
In fall 2024, Larry decided he would take the winter off from driving but would be back at it by spring. He is still very involved in the business and is in the shop daily managing the day-to-day operations. “I may be 67, but I’m not retired yet,” said Larry. “I work 10 to 12 hours a day, especially in the summer months. I start in May and work through October. I’ve always been the kind of person who stays busy.”
Through all these challenges, Larry’s dedication to his family, employees and the business remains unwavering. “I’m still working because I like what I do. I can’t just sit idle, and the work gives me purpose. When my wife retires in a couple of years, maybe we’ll slow down a bit,” he said.
Even as Larry continues to work, he still holds on to a sense of adventure. If he could drive anywhere in his Mack truck, he would choose the Alaska Highway. “I’ve always been intrigued by road building. The Alaska Highway, with all its history, would be a dream trip for me,” he said.
