FORS – the UK’s leading fleet accreditation scheme

FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, is a voluntary scheme for commercial vehicle operators of all types – including van fleets, with 41% of FORS Accredited Operators operating vans in their fleet. FORS is designed to raise standards of road transport by mandating a best practice focus on safety, efficiency and environmental protection.

FORS is a progressive scheme with operators regularly audited and encouraged to progress from Bronze through to Gold accreditation. With over 15 years of experience, FORS today serves over 4,700 accredited operators, representing c.94,000 vehicles.

The concessionaire for FORS changed at the start of 2022, and with the new management of Sopra Steria Ltd, the scheme is evolving. For instance, FORS’ flagship project for 2023 ‘Future of Accreditation’ promises to demystify accreditation and make it simpler to achieve exemplary levels of best practice. With many more improvements on the way, there’s no better time to join.

Van Smart training

At the heart of FORS’ offering is training, with the FORS Professional portfolio arguably the industry’s most comprehensive training resource for drivers and fleet managers. It includes a substantial portfolio of dedicated training and support materials specifically for van operators. Van Smart is a fully accredited driver CPC training course comprising both theory and practical modules, including an ‘on-bike’ component to increase awareness of vulnerable road users. Further Van Smart content includes a driver handbook, a manager toolkit, a competency framework and Toolbox Talks.

Plus, the FORS Practitioner training portfolio has received a full upgrade recently, with the improved programme now offering more flexibility and dedicated content for specific career progression. The distinct set of 15 training modules covers all aspects of fleet management and is regarded highly in the industry. To date, 3,277 fleet managers have ‘graduated’ from the FORS Practitioner programme.