It’s his gentle right foot that sets the standard for them to follow.

The managing director of SRH Milk Haulage recently returned from Sweden where he was crowned the Asian Pacific Volvo Fuel Challenge champion.

“If the boss does a good fuel run it makes them think,” Mr Harvey said.

He and Regina Harvey started SRH Milk Haulage with one truck carting produce for Oak but it now employs 100 drivers, in 50 trucks, between the Hunter Valley and Western Australia. 

Each truck averages 300,000 kilometres a year.

“Even a 10 per cent saving adds up to a lot of money,” Mr Harvey said.

Fourteen drivers from across the Asia-Pacific completed the challenge in Gothenburg where they had to drive a 5.4km obstacle course as efficiently as possible.

The competition included an off-road component too and in some areas Mr Harvey was up to 14 per cent more efficient than the competition.

“It all came down to millimetres in fuel,” he said.

“It’s pretty tight.”

The win has enthused Mr Harvey who has issued a challenge to his drivers.

The most efficient of the bunch will receive a healthy bonus.

“It will not only promote better fuel economy it will create less greenhouse gas emissions and mean less wear and tear on the trucks,” he said.

Mr Harvey qualified for the Asia Pacific with his win in Melbourne.

Volvo will reward him for his Gothenburg prowess with a trip to Thailand in 2015 where Mr Harvey will defend his title.

On top of this he’s won tickets to New Zealand to watch the Volvo Ocean Race.

The competitors sail from Spain to Sweden through 11 ports including Auckland and covers nearly 40,000 nautical miles.