Hannah Robinson, 32, a Class 1 HGV driver from Hartlepool, County Durham, has faced online accusations of being an adult star simply because of her job.
The trucker, who helps run the growing haulage business C.W Haulage Services, says trolls on social media branded her as 'desperate' and accused her of doing OnlyFans. 'That was hilarious to me as it couldn't be further from the truth,' she said. Hannah, who shares her life on TikTok under the handle HGV Han, says she earns around £5,000 a month and loves her job despite the stereotypes.
From bin man dreams to 44-tonne trucks
Hannah always dreamed of driving big vehicles. 'When I was little, I used to watch the bin men driving up the street and say to my mam "I'm going to be a bin man",' she recalled. Her family background also influenced her: her uncles and cousins are truckers, and her grandad was a bus driver. She began training for her Class 2 licence in 2016 at age 21, but failed her test initially. Around the same time, her friend Callum, an experienced Class 1 driver, decided to launch his own agency. They teamed up, and what would eventually become C.W Haulage Services was born.
Proving herself in a male-dominated industry
As a female driver, Hannah says she often feels she has to prove her capability. 'During tight and difficult manoeuvres, I've been asked if I can manage and had men offer to do it for me,' she said. She also handles manual labour, including lifting 250-litre drums. 'I once had someone run over and say, "leave them for us, they're too heavy for you". I was quick to prove them wrong,' she added. Despite these challenges, she says the vast majority of drivers and colleagues have been welcoming. 'On the refineries, I'm treated the same as the men and that's how it should be,' she said.
Online trolls and OnlyFans accusations
While real-life interactions are mostly positive, social media is a different story. When Hannah announced her TikTok account, she received a barrage of comments from disgruntled male drivers calling her an attention seeker and desperate. Some accused her of doing OnlyFans. 'I told them I'd screenshot their comment and use it in a future video and they soon changed their tune,' she said. Hannah says the accusations don't bother her, but she acknowledges online abuse can affect mental health. 'They are literally strangers and don't know me. If they met me in person, their opinions would change because I get on with everyone,' she said.
A typical day for HGV Han
Hannah's days are never the same. 'I could be up at 5am, start work at 6, do my defect checks on the truck and trailer, then drive to my delivery point which could be England, Scotland or Wales,' she said. She has delivered everything from recycling to machinery, motorbikes, and even tins of spam. When working on refineries, she clocks in, gets into overalls, and covers all logistics from escorting loads to shunting trailers. She also helps with manual work when she can. The job has taken her across the UK, from John O'Groats to Land's End, and even to America and Canada for refinery contracts.
Staying fit on the road
Keeping fit is a challenge for truck drivers, and Hannah is no exception. 'After working a 12-hour day, all you want to do is eat and sleep,' she said. She ran a marathon last year and had to train while away in her truck. 'I'd park up on the industrial estate overnight, get my trainers and headphones on and run for miles,' she said. She also enjoys yoga and would do it in the cab. She believes all truck stops should have facilities like gyms to help drivers stay healthy.
Building a business from the ground up
Hannah and Callum started with just the two of them. Callum bought their first truck, The Grey Lady, and later a second, The Blue Ranger. Fast forward 10 years, they have multiple contracts with local companies and work on refineries across the UK, America, and Canada. 'We pride ourselves on having a great rapport with our clients, which has helped us grow into the company we are today,' Hannah said. She says working with her friend makes it fun. 'The job is only as fun as you make it, but we make it a lot of fun,' she added.
