Chemicals driver honoured with Driver of the Year award
WA based chemicals driver, Hannah Hughes has been named Driver of the Year in the inaugural Women in Trucking Australia competition in recognition of female truck drivers.
The awards shine a light on the work of resilient and inspirational heavy vehicle drivers who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done. Hannah who was nominated by her partner Benn and fellow workmates at McColl’s, shows an uncompromising work ethic and is a well-respected member of the BCD team. Her ability to overcome any obstacle using her own initiative, drive in remote locations in hazardous weather conditions and work with dangerous chemicals on a daily basis makes Hannah an extremely valuable asset at McColl’s. “Hannah does a great job for us in one of our most remote locations under some of our most testing conditions. She contributes a lot to our organisation over and above her ‘day job’, and is very highly regarded by our tight-knit team in WA. Fantastic effort Hannah!” said BCD General Manager Mick Mulraney.
Winning the WiTA awards means the world to Hannah, “I am very humbled and taken aback by how much support there is out there for me, driving is what I love doing and its fantastic to be recognised by the industry” she said. Hannah who was up against 21 other inspirational women from varied backgrounds, ages and levels of experience, believes just being nominated was an honour and is simply grateful for the opportunity McColl’s have given her to be behind the wheel. “It’s a great testament to Hannah to be recognised for this award, we pride ourselves on mutual respect so having Hannah appreciated by her fellow drivers as a part of International Women’s day is a terrific achievement’’ said Simon Thornton, McColl’s Transport CEO.
Hannah not only contributes to the company as a driver, but by participating in health and wellness initiatives, contributing stunning photographs to the annual company calendar and displaying a high level professionalism and pride in her vehicle and what she does. ‘As a woman in trucking, you have to work so much harder to take away the doubt that you can do the job just as well as the men’ says Hannah, who comes from a family of truck drivers and is the first to put her hand up for long trips to Cape Preston, Telfer and Wiluna.
