The FORS Community Partnership (FCP) has announced details of the pricing structure established to roll out the best practice scheme nationally.
From February 17, 2015 all new companies joining the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme will pay:
- An annual subscription fee based on their fleet size, ranging from £65 for companies with one vehicle to £2,250 for companies with 100-plus vehicles.
- An audit fee based on the number of operating centres they wish to have accredited with a standard rate of £450 per operating centre. For more details on these fees, click here.
For companies that are already FORS accredited there will be a charge for the annual renewal although this charge will be waived or reduced in the first year, depending on the company’s renewal date. Further details can be found here.
All FORS operators will have access to:
- Advice, guidance and campaign toolkits
- Performance management tool
- E-learning modules
- Regular news and bulletins
- Offers and discounts from FORS Associate suppliers
- The members' website
FORS operators working in London will have access to funded:
- CPC training for HGV drivers
- Safety training for van drivers
- Best practice workshops for managers
Companies with their own internal audit capability can be approved to certify their own depots to the FORS standard.
John Hix, FORS community partnership concession director, said: "TfL has fully funded FORS for the past seven years and established the scheme as a benchmark standard for industry. The scheme is now being offered across the UK and a funding model has been created to facilitate the continuing growth of the scheme to improve and develop the benefits it offers whilst becoming financially sustainable."
Commenting on the development of the FORS self-funding scheme, Steve Agg FCILT, chief executive, CILT said: "The FORS Community Partnership has established a fair and sustainable pricing structure to ensure that all fleet operators are encouraged to join the award-winning scheme. We recognise the importance of developing a national benchmark for all and have demonstrated our commitment to professional development in ensuring that all operators have access to FORS."
Tick Durpin - 02/02/2015 12:28
There is a flaw somewhere when a "voluntary" accreditation scheme effectively becomes a business model. Buying a certificate instead of earning it are two different things. I hope the organisations that insist on this FORS accreditation are prepared to pay a premium to have their goods and services delivered to them by FORS accredited operators, otherwise it is just another tax on the freight industry.