FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, has announced it is to deliver its best practice road transport principles for single van operations where the vehicle owner is also the driver. The move is aimed at driving up standards of safety, efficiency and environmental protection in this relatively hard to reach sector, with the help of a low-cost, easy to understand FORS accreditation.
Key to the move is a FORS Bronze audit to suit owner van drivers. Whilst van operations are regulated, the requirement to evidence compliance, conduct checks, undertake training and retain records is less stringent than for businesses operating under O-Licence conditions. The FORS Bronze audit includes management responsibilities, driver competence and fitness, vehicle roadworthiness and operational management.
A dedicated toolkit has been developed to assist owner van drivers in preparing for audit. Once registered, FORS provides access to the extensive FORS Professional training portfolio as well as further benefits and incentives from FORS events and partner offers.
FORS has already engaged with leading courier and parcel delivery specialists Cargo2Go via the Transport Exchange Group – where business is shared among self-employed van drivers, and where FORS is now in place to serve as a best practice requirement. Van operators are invited to adopt FORS, after which, accreditation will be viewed by the courier and parcel delivery companies as an advantage in earning new business.
Following a successful roll-out of this new route to accreditation, FORS is expected to gain traction with self-employed owner van drivers more widely, encompassing last mile parcel deliveries and tradespeople representing a diverse range of professions. Today, some 4.5 million vans are registered in the UK – over 50 per cent of them registered to individuals. With the growth in eCommerce, increasing numbers of owner van drivers are fulfilling urban and last-mile deliveries. The market is competitive and with many owner van drivers wanting to differentiate and gain recognition as a good operator, FORS is there to provide relevant accreditation.
Geraint Davies, Concession Director at FORS, said, “Following our assessment of owner van driver operations, we identified a marked gap in the availability of resources, information and training for this growth sector. Over the past decade, fleet industry practices have developed to address some of the key safety and environmental concerns, and we found that self-employed drivers needed more targeted communications on these issues and a different approach to achieve the requirements of the FORS Standard.
“There are some excellent examples of best practice in the owner van driver sector, and they are rightly very proud of the small businesses they run. Through FORS accreditation, we want to recognise these drivers and ensure potential customers are able to identify good operators in their buying decisions. We wish to make FORS easily accessible for everyone, including owner van drivers, and that’s why we’ve carefully looked at the FORS audit, support material and cost of accreditation for this vital and evolving sector.”
Richard Mosley from Roving Richard, a FORS accredited van operator, said: “After seeking to improve standards and professionalism in our small business, gaining FORS accreditation was, without a doubt, simple and beneficial. We joined to be part of a community dedicated to safety and efficiency, and we’re confident FORS will help raise the bar for the entire van industry.”
Find out more here: Owner Van Driver – FORS – Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (fors-online.org.uk). Or, to speak to someone directly about an owner van driver accreditation, email enquiries@fors-online.org.uk or call 08448 09 09 44
