National transport and logistics recruitment specialist Driver Hire has launched a fuel-efficient driving initiative, which it says could save UK industry one million gallons of diesel – wiping some £4 million off its costs.

The company has developed specialist training which claims to deliver significant fuel economy gains. It is now providing this training for its thousands of drivers across the UK.

Driver Hire, which provides temporary and permanent drivers to haulage firms, the public sector, supermarket groups and delivery firms across the country, has completed tests in association with Mercedes-Benz, which prove that the fuel-efficient driving techniques they teach can cut fuel costs by more than 20%.

“Even we were amazed at the level of savings,” said Chris Chidley, Driver Hire’s chief executive.

“Our tests recorded a 19% fuel saving for light vans. In larger goods vehicles we saw improvements as high as 31%.”