Throughout the United Kingdom companies are still working towards various different levels of FORS accreditation; these are either Bronze, Silver or Gold which all have additional requirements that need to be met in order to progress through the levels. However, we want to take a look at why the voluntary accreditation scheme is so popular among fleet operators.
First of all, within the content and requirements for FORS accreditation there is a visible focus on a couple of key areas that impact a businesses everyday operating activities; once compliant they will begin to notice improvements such as better fleet efficiency, reduced vehicular environmental impact and increased road safety. The influence and noticeability of these benefits will vary depending on a couple of factors such as the type of fleet a company currently runs and the mileage they are completing. However, the guides and training requirements mean that your drivers and operations team will be fully equipped to make notable changes that will have a knock-on effect for change throughout the rest of the business.
The fleet efficiency and environmental impact factors of FORS are mainly focused around how to increase fuel consumption across a commercial vehicle fleet, delving into fuel efficient driving techniques and driver behaviour in order to help make an evident change.
FORS accreditation also provides companies with compliance alongside safety standards such as WRRR, providing a visible commitment to the wider market that they are exceeding the industry standard relating to safety requirements. There are a growing number of specifiers that are stipulating FORS accreditation as a requirement for access to tender processes, they see FORS accredited companies as a way to increase safety within and around working sites to reduce the likelihood of an incident occurring.
Together TFL and FORS have pushed Safe Urban Driving and Van Smart into the Driver training market offering funded training courses, both are 7-hour training courses that focus on vulnerable road users and urban environments. The innovative training courses is a core element of FORS silver accreditation and includes both a practical and theory element, allowing drivers to exchange places with vulnerable road users and experience what it is like to be a cyclists in urban areas. This additional training further improves the safety within a fleet by increasing drivers awareness of vulnerable road users. In turn, this will reduce operating costs such as insurance which alongside the increased fuel consumption could save a business a considerable amount of money each year.
In addition to being able to take advantage of funded transport manager and driving training, FORS members can also benefit from exclusive discounts and offers from over 70 FORS associates. The range of products and services available include telematics, camera kits and tachograph analysis. However, they have all been selected as they are all things that can help you achieve or maintain your FORS accreditation, making meeting the requirements more achievable for fleet operators.