Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a manager or foreman who forces employees to work much harder than their wages demand.

1929		J. O’Hara ‘Convention’ in New Yorker 15 June 80/3: F.W. is a humane employer, always with the best interests of his employees at heart, as witness for instance the various social events which he finances throughout the year out of his own pocket. I mean he’s not a driver.
1952		W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 86: Won’t things be easier for all of you? The Commissioner . . . he’s quite a driver, if you know what I mean.