A new training programme devised by a Bradford-based national drivers’ network is set to save firms up to £10 million a year and help improve their green credentials.

A fuel-efficient driving programme has been successfully tested by the Driver Hire Group, which is the UK’s largest specialist supplier of temporary and permanent staff to the transport industry.

The new programme has been unveiled following a series of tests involving Driver Hire staff and truck manufacturer Mercedes-Benz.

Chris Chidley, Driver Hire chief executive, said the successful results of the initiative would unlock potential massive savings in fuel costs for the firm’s customers.

Improved driving techniques would add to technological advances being introduced by truck and van manufacturers to make vehicles more fuel efficient, safer and greener.

Mr Chidley said: “Fuel and oil accounts for around 34 per cent of the total cost of running a commercial vehicle. Driving technique and planning are vital to ensuring that transport users can make the most of technological advances and achieve real savings.

“This means a fuel-efficient driver can be one of the most valuable resources a transport division can have.”

In the tests drivers covered an agreed route that included urban driving, dual carriageways and motorways. The route was covered twice, before and after Driver Hire’s bespoke training, and the amount of fuel used measured.

Mr Chidley said, based on Government figures, the fuel efficient techniques taught by Driver Hire could deliver ten per cent fuel savings.

After training, drivers in a category C vehicle used 27 per cent less fuel and those in a 7.5 tonne vehicle, 19 per cent less.

At current diesel prices this meant that a trained driver in a category C vehicle covering 80,000 miles a year could save their employer £6,700.

About 40 per cent of Driver Hire’s business is in supplying category C drivers and fuel efficient driving techniques would offer companies savings of at least £4 million.

Mr Chidley said: “Extended across all heavy vehicle types, the potential savings for our customers are in excess of £10 million a year.”

The fuel-efficient driver training programme will be delivered to all the firm’s drivers during 2009.

It focuses on awareness, anticipation, control and planning; efficient use of speed, braking, gear and clutch control; effective route planning; measuring and managing fuel consumption; daily vehicle checks, including vehicle body, tyres, fuel tank, wheel alignment and load positioning and security.

Driver Hire has more than 100 offices providing drivers to companies across the UK, including international hauliers, supermarkets, builders’ merchants and multi-drop delivery firms.

Earlier this year Drive Hire moved into a new single-site base on Canal Road, Bradford, employing about 60 staff and replacing three separate offices at Bingley, Crossflatts and Frizinghall.