FORS has launched a new Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Working Group to support vans and other light vehicles that make up fleets as part of the scheme.
There are now more than 50,000 registered LCVs that are part of FORS and the new Working Group will ensure that the needs of LCV operators are fully covered by the scheme.
The group will also help to shape the future FORS benefits and FORS requirements with LCVs in mind.
The first meeting was held on 7 July at the McFarlane Telfer (McFT) offices in Maidenhead, Berkshire and was hosted by Chris Craggs, Managing Director of McFT. The Working Group is currently made up of BML Utilities, Brett Aggregates, Carousel Logistics, David Phillips Furniture, FORS, Leaseplan, Martek Contracts, McFT, ML Power Systems, Roger Bullivant, Transport for London, Thales UK and ACFO/TR Fleet Group.
DfT and the Met Police are joining in November to discuss vehicle security in response to the rise of vehicles being used as weapons. However, the group is not limited to these organisations and additional participants may join in due course. The group discussed a number of subjects, including how to add to the FORS benefits, such as Van Smart training and toolkits and how to further develop aspects of the Standard with LCV operators in mind.
The group made a number of recommendations including FORS van driver packs and more of a focus on vans and LCVs in the materials provided.
James Tillyer, FORS Manager, said: ‘We have many light vehicle operators in FORS and it’s important that we provide a platform to discuss how we can develop the scheme for couriers, tradesmen, parcel companies, utility workers and others. There was really constructive debate during the first meeting of this new group, and we have some great ideas to consider over the coming months’.
Any FORS accredited LCV operators that would like to provide suggestions for the working group to consider to help shape the future of FORS, please contact James Tillyer by email: James.Tillyer@ciltuk.org.uk