FORS recently hosted its fourth national conference in Birmingham. This year’s theme was safer, smarter, greener
Few accreditation schemes offer as much as the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS). Last week it invited 450 associates and members to its fourth annual conference to further exchange and transfer knowledge for the improvement of fleet operation on road networks around the world, as well as permit networking and partnership through its exhibitors and sponsors.
Supported by an exhibition and product showcase from 36 FORS Associates and four Affinity Partners, the theme this year was safer, smarter, greener; reflecting the purpose of FORS accreditation, with technology, compliance tools and alternative fuels making the bulk of discussions.
Without FORS, many operators may not have investigated policies that improve their operations. Its tiered standard encourages members to set obtainable targets and improve without the need to adhere to a strict set of rules, or simply tick a box to achieve a legal minimum.
The promotion and progress of better practice is no better exemplified than at the FORS national conference. Speakers covered a diversity of topics from improvements in road safety to the importance of mental health, changes in tachograph technology and the methods of ensuring compliance.
FORS also touched into its other benevolent work – Transaid, a charitable effort in sub-Saharan Africa, has introduced road safety programmes and health work to support vulnerable areas on the continent. FORS matched members’ contributions and raised over £1,000 at the conference.
A suitable FORS standard
FORS has been expanding into coach and bus to stress that its blue stickers are not exclusive to freight.
In the last version of the FORS Standard the scheme addressed specific passenger vehicle aspects, such as safe passenger loading. The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) sits on FORS’ Governance and Standards Advisory Group (GSAG) and inputs into the development of the FORS standard.
“FORS updates the standard so that it is still current and relevant to what is happening in terms of best practice, technology, and the law,” FORS Director John Hix tells routeone. “It works with organisations like CPT to make sure the standard is suitable for the coach and bus industry.”
Only a few years ago, there were no passenger transport representatives on GSAG. FORS’ history is rooted in the heavy goods vehicles sector, but over the years, it has grown to cover a variety of segments.
Interest in FORS is growing on a worldwide scale, not just an industry one. According to Mr Hix, that’s owing to what FORS stands for.
“It’s seen as a best practice standard that goes beyond the legal minimum. We’ve found that operators want to push the boundaries – they want to go beyond minimum standards,” he explains. “If operators go through the FORS accreditation process, they will come out of the other end being a better, safer and more productive operator. It will support their safety obligations as well as their company needs to be efficient.
“Margins are tight, but safety, efficiency and the environment go hand in hand. It’s a virtuous circle.”
Relevant topics
Among the pertinent topics discussed was alternative fuels. Head of LCV for UK and Eire at Renault Trucks UK Grahame Neagus advocated the strength of electromobility and encouraged an open mind to electric’s application to various operations. In an interactive poll, 19% of participating members claimed they already had electric vehicles in their fleet.
Meanwhile, Commercial Vehicle and Alternative Fuels Consultant Martin Flach presented the case for natural gas and biomethane and their commercial viability.
The pair were supported by Professor Geoff Clarke, Transport Consultant at AECOM, and Brian Robinson of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership – who espoused the need for multiple approaches in the decarbonisation of fleet operations.
FORS will bring a lot to the ongoing debate on air quality with its conferences and speakers, says Mr Hix. The standard already requires members to monitor emissions at silver, and improve them at gold standard. Anti-idling and noise abatement are further touch points for local authorities.
It is still early days for FORS in the passenger vehicle sector. But with efforts to raise awareness and the promotion of the scheme’s benefits through a national conference, Mr Hix says the progression will continue, and this year has been no different. “The national conference is a real success every year,” he says. “It’s great to see our associates and members sharing best practice and seeing the technology and equipment available.
“The badge is well recognised these days, and if operators have worked hard to achieve those standards, they deserve that recognition. Reputation is everything.”
