An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises a drive roller having a textured finish with a plurality of microscopic protrusions and a plurality of microscopic depressions; the drive roller comprising a shaft and a surface coating on the shaft; a flexible belt having a first hardness driven by the drive roller, the belt moving at least one of a toner image or a recording media having a toner image thereon; with the surface coating comprising a base compound and plurality of grit particles having a second hardness which is higher than the first hardness. The grit coating may advantageously have a thickness of not more than about 50 microns. The grit particles may comprise one or more ceramics, or one or more polymer compounds, or other materials. The drive roller advantageously has a coefficient of static friction of at least 0.5 with the belt.