Does anyone remember (or used to work for) David Somers?
He didn’t have many vehicles (probably around 10) and the firm did mainly Continental stuff for the likes of Glook Export (now taken over by AEI), Economy Freight Services of Leeds, and 4 LHD wagon and drags in Westermann livery.
I started there in 1987 as a fresh faced, young thing of 21, just passed my class 1 and worked there for just over a year.
I’d love to hear from anyone who was involved in the company.
Dont remember David Somers mate , but yeadon’s only a small place.
I used towork for Bibby’s, just by the airport, cant have been many firms in yeadon though. one of the lads at bibby’s came from a small yeadon firm, Andrews Bros i think, F12 globetrotter, used to do the continent.
Dave knowles, had a small outfit doing continental work, he was a right character, he had a maroon and gold scania 112 tag axle unit and a step frame tilt, buisness must have been ok at that point , because he added an immaculate 142 tag axle unit and purchased a brand new step frame tilt, all white with blue writing, knowles international transport. unfortunately the scania was written off in France, i think, I remember him bringing the wrecked unit back to yeadon, it was amazing how the driver survived, although i think he was in hospital over the water for a long time.
From what i remember the wrecked unit was stripped and the V8 lump went into his 112, he then purchased 2 crappy ex-rental Daf 95, 310’s.
dont know how long he stayed in transport after 1994 when i left bibby’s at yeadon, the last i heard, he’d bought a coffee shop, on yeadon high street.
i still know a few yeadon lads, so i’ll ask around and let you know.
Thanks Jerry, I’d appreciate that mate.
Our yard was first situated on the airport industrial estate but then moved over the road to that huge area of land, I think it was/is called Coney Park.
Anyway, they were happy (and very very long!) days for me and I cut my teeth with this firm. Talk about in at the deep end…the very first wagon I drove after passing my test was with this firm, it was a MAN 14.192 wagon and drag, LHD with a splitter gearbox. The trailer was 40ft long and it had a bizarre scissor type coupling which moved in 7 places…OK for going forward but a proper ■■■■■ going backwards! I owe Mr Somers alot for letting me loose in his wagons!
I did a job for him I had a new green 112 scania, (the dogs at the time) pulling a supercube in Economy shipping colours. Doing Barcelona.
I’ve got a photo somewhere of it parked up at La jonquera. (wasn’t parked up for long) I did my cpc with David Sommers when I left the Army as I had my class 1 he gave me a job. He was a nice chap.
Is he still about?
Smc
He sure is! But not doing the transport thing any more. I saw him in Chapel Allerton, Leeds last year and had a very brief chat with him, can’t remember what he said he was up to now though.
I drove that big Scanny down to Barcelona too. That was a nice piece of kit at the time wasn’t it…shame about that stepframe tilt bodied trailer Economy Freight had though!
Did you just do the one job for David? I also did my CPC with his training company…in 1988 I think.
Happy days them mate, I’d love to see that photo of the wagon, any chance you could post it up if you manage to find it?
When I find it and work out how to post on here i’ll put it on.
SMc
Here you go was this the same truck??
Thats the one!!
Huge dose of nostalgia! So thanks for that (hope you don’t mind me downloading a copy).
This is actually the machine that got me captivated with big articulated trucks. In 1985/86, before I did my class 1, I worked at Economy Freight as a 7.5t driver and often sat in the drivers seat of this big Scania when it was at the warehouse loading. I couldn’t get over how tall the cab was! I set myself a personal challenge to get through the class 1 and drive this very truck. A year later and I realised that dream!
Nice one mate, thanks.
There’s a few more of Somers’ motors if you CLICK HERE. You might recognise some of 'em.
Nice to see my old truck!!!
I started working for Somers in '86, Graham Wilson (sadly deceased) and myself were employed on Economy shipping work. Graham originally drove D641, I drove the blue and silver Scania D512 HWT. We did that job 'till he pulled out.
I then pulled for Redhead Transport / International with D641, now painted white and nicknamed ‘White Lightnin’, and continued until he went bust in '93.
Drivers;
Graham Wison - Economy Shipping
Jock Matheson(me) - Economy Shipping
Mick Bradley - Westermann
Chris North - Westermann
Mick Fish - Westermann
Brian Kelly - Glook
Brian Speight - Glook
Richard Ducloss - Westermann
John Seith - Redhead
John Turrell - Transport Manager and occasional driver
Mary Somers - Office
Ian Mallinson - Mechanic
I now work for Mcburney Refrigeration based in Dublin, but still remember working for Somers with fond memories.
Jock, you have a PM!
Some pictures. 
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Nice one Jock! Brings back memories mate!
I’ve pinched a couple of those piccies…hope that’s OK 
Hi Shrek, back for the weekend. I thought it might’ve jogged some memories but on recollection, most Somers drivers are possibly suffering years of drinking in German breweries and the memories are wiped clean!!!
I remember David “Major Roadworks” Somers very well. Got my cpc with him and did odd jobs for him mainly the airfreight contract London/Brussels/Luxembourg to give his employed drivers a break.I eventually bought D512 HWT off him but it was registered in Luxembourg then as TG 229.Traded it in for a new 143 ( Camerons Leeds) and I understand Ian Mallinson bought it. Saw it in Bordeaux truckstop sometime later,that was probably in 1992/3
I use to drive for dave knowles i drove A606 PHS that,s the maroon scania ,then we got the white one KJI 5216 which was written off in france when a car went into the front of it , paul was the lad driving it he was lucky to survive ,so then we took the engine out and put it in mine , the 2 dafs where uprated to 360 to give em a bit more poke lol , last time i spoke to dave he was driving for dhl , plus running his catering vans threw the summer time
dunno why i didn’t make the connection back in 2008, but i did my CPCs with him back in 1988 - how [zb] long ago?!! 
Just a quick question Re david somers im trying to find my mum,s cousin chris north who drove for somers if anyone know,s where he is or spoken to him could u e mail me on hear many thanks