I’ve often wondered the fate of many companies that were operating over thirty years ago and whose drivers I often me up with at loading and delivery locations. One company in particular was Gaffers that came from somewhere in the Knottingley/Wakefield area. I seem to recall they operated mainly Scania units and box trailers, all painted yellow with the company name in blue. If memory serves me correctly I think all the units were owner driven, hence the name Gaffers. They’ve obviously been long gone like so many others but if anyone has any further information I’d be grateful.
formertrucker:
I’ve often wondered the fate of many companies that were operating over thirty years ago and whose drivers I often me up with at loading and delivery locations. One company in particular was Gaffers that came from somewhere in the Knottingley/Wakefield area. I seem to recall they operated mainly Scania units and box trailers, all painted yellow with the company name in blue. If memory serves me correctly I think all the units were owner driven, hence the name Gaffers. They’ve obviously been long gone like so many others but if anyone has any further information I’d be grateful.
I found a few pics on Flickr for you. I’m sure you’d find more if you googled it. Robert
A couple more here for you
transportphotos.com/road/photos
When I read the title of this thread I was about to launch into a detailed account of all the gaffers (good & not-so-good!) I’ve worked for. Completely threw me when I read the first post! Probably just as well- saves getting a load of solicitors’ letters through the post. 
Gaffers were based in glass Houghton in Castleford on the carr wood rd ind est they packed in a long time ago there yard is still there its been used by an Hill Hire now I think WH Malcolms had it for a few years before they moved to Normanton ,don’t think it was called Gaffers because they were all owner drivers I know a few lads that drove for them they used to work out off Ram Kitchens at Birstall as well as general haulage
BIG AW:
Gaffers were based in glass Houghton in Castleford on the carr wood rd ind est they packed in a long time ago there yard is still there its been used by an Hill Hire now I think WH Malcolms had it for a few years before they moved to Normanton ,don’t think it was called Gaffers because they were all owner drivers I know a few lads that drove for them they used to work out off Ram Kitchens at Birstall as well as general haulage
Hello Andy, how’re things with you? haven’t heard from you for a while. Regards Kev.
Been off-line for a while but thanks for the pictures of Gaffers vehicles, certainly rang many bells after such a long time. Seeing a Blue Dart behind one of them also took me back a few years, didn’t Blue Dart do a lot of the ttransport for British Vita somewhere up in the Oldham area?
I also remember another company called Northwest Freighters, I know they’ve long gone, like the good old company I used to drive for for so many years. A lot of our work was for Thorn Lighting/Thorn Consumer Electronics for which we had a contract as well as a contract for Nacanco. Good old days, roaming the country, not the restrictions and rules that must be followed nowadays. Can anyone tell me what bacame of W Carter Transport just up the A12 from Ipswich?
Is this the W Carter you have mentioned transportphotos.com/road/photos
British Vita are still operating from Middleton nr Oldham.
And is this the Northwest Freighters
formertrucker:
I’ve often wondered the fate of many companies that were operating over thirty years ago and whose drivers I often me up with at loading and delivery locations. One company in particular was Gaffers that came from somewhere in the Knottingley/Wakefield area. I seem to recall they operated mainly Scania units and box trailers, all painted yellow with the company name in blue. If memory serves me correctly I think all the units were owner driven, hence the name Gaffers. They’ve obviously been long gone like so many others but if anyone has any further information I’d be grateful.
Going back to the original thread, IIRC Gaffers was started by Robert Priestner, son of Gerald who had owned Priestners of Carrington before selling out to WBS in the early eighties.
Not too sure about the owner driver thing, will ask my dad about it and see if he can remember.
Yes, that’s the W Carter I was mentioning; are they still operating or yet another fallen by the wayside? And that’s the Northwest Freighter, too. I know they packed up many years ago. Thanks for that and the pictures.