Breaking Barriers on the Road: HGV Driver Becca is Changing the Industry One Mile at a Time
At just 26 years old, Becca is already making a lasting impression in the haulage industry. Having only qualified as an HGV driver in October 2024, she is still relatively new to the industry, yet her journey has already been defined by resilience, determination, and a passion for proving that disabilities should never limit ambition.
Inspired by her father, who was also a lorry driver, Becca says she always knew this was the career she wanted to pursue. For her, driving was about far more than simply finding a job, it was about independence, self-belief, and building a career she could truly be proud of.
While many new drivers face challenges during their first months on the road, Becca has had to overcome obstacles that go far beyond learning the trade. Born deaf, her hearing loss was not discovered until she was 13 months old. Navigating the world as a young child without hearing was undoubtedly difficult, but from an early age she showed the determination that continues to define her today.
Medical advances have played an important role in helping her manage some of those challenges. In April 2002, Becca received a cochlear implant, which has helped ease some of the communication barriers she may otherwise have faced throughout her life and career.
Like many people entering the transport industry, Becca’s early experiences behind the wheel were not always straightforward. She previously worked for Stalkers Transport Services and speaks highly of both the company and her boss, Karen, whose support proved life-changing during a difficult period in Becca’s career.
Her very first driving role left her questioning whether she had made the right career choice. Poor training and a lack of confidence quickly caused self-doubt to creep in. However, Karen recognised her potential and took her under her wing, offering both support and patience when Becca needed it most.
“Stalkers is the reason why I fell back in love with my career and got my passion back,” Becca explains. “I was being retrained properly and met a lot of amazing drivers who treated me equally and like one of the team.”
Since then, Becca has relocated and joined Hamblion Transport, a family-run general haulage company based in Colchester with more than 50 years of experience transporting goods across mainland Britain.
The company was established in 1965 by Barry Hamblion. What began with part-time taxi work and local contracts gradually expanded into a thriving haulage operation after Barry purchased his first commercial vehicle, a Ford Transit 35-cwt chassis cab. Decades of hard work and growth have since transformed the business into the well-established fleet operation seen today.
Becca now drives a striking Volvo truck that has been customised in a bold hot pink colour scheme with the support of Operations Manager Sharnie Allwright. The eye-catching vehicle certainly stands out on the road and at shows, and Becca happily drives it with pride.
For Becca, one of the greatest rewards of the job is the people she meets along the way. Travelling throughout England, Scotland, and Wales has allowed her to build friendships within the industry and experience parts of the country she may never otherwise have visited.
“It’s a truly rewarding job,” she says.
However, like any profession, the role comes with its difficulties. Long hours can be exhausting, and communication can sometimes present additional challenges. Strong regional accents, phone calls, and gate intercom systems can all create difficulties when hearing is limited.
When asked about the extra challenges she faces as a deaf driver, Becca explained:
“I struggle with language barriers, especially when it comes to phone calls. However, I eventually feel confident enough to make them. Gate intercoms are another challenge; sometimes I have to get out of the truck and find someone to help me.
Listening fatigue can be draining emotionally, mentally, and physically. It takes a lot of energy to communicate clearly and efficiently, which is why I look forward to taking my cochlear implant off at the end of the day. I often miss out on communication with forklift drivers, so this is why I make them aware at all times that I need extra help.”
Despite these challenges, Becca continues to thrive within the industry and is determined to use her social media platforms to create greater understanding around deafness and disability in transport. Through social media, particularly TikTok where she has built a following of more than 20,000 people, she documents her experiences and raises awareness about the realities of being a deaf HGV driver.
“I wanted to spread awareness about disabled people like me that are capable of doing this job,” she says. “In the hope of changing other people’s perspectives of disabled people.”
“When I first joined this industry, I saw how many people were very uneducated and unkind towards me because I couldn’t hear them and asked them to repeat themselves a few times. So I wanted to change that, and I’ll continue to use my voice until I am heard.”
Her growing online presence is clearly making a difference. Becca says that since sharing her journey publicly, she has noticed people becoming far more understanding and willing to offer support.
“Since I started doing TikTok, more people are becoming aware of me and often offer assistance or ask questions about how they can support people like me. So I’m hoping this awareness will encourage other people to be less ignorant and more open-minded.”
Unfortunately, social media can also attract negativity. Becca admits she has received hateful and inappropriate comments from people claiming she should not be doing the job because they believe it poses risks to others. While those messages can be upsetting, she chooses to focus on the positive impact she is having instead.
Above all, Becca remains grateful to the companies and individuals who believed in her, particularly Stalkers Transport Services, who gave her the confidence to rediscover her passion for driving and continue developing within the industry.
Her story is a powerful reminder that with determination, patience, and understanding, disabilities do not have to define or limit career choices. It also highlights the importance of empathy — taking the time to understand the challenges others may face rather than judging from a distance.
Becca is not only building a successful career for herself; she is helping change perceptions across the industry. Through hard work, courage, and an unwavering determination to succeed, she is proving that obstacles can be overcome and that dreams are always worth chasing.
Tiktok:
@deaftruckerbecca
@lifeisallwright