News

Transport for London claims 400 operators have already registered to join its Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS). Officially launched at the CV Show last week, the scheme is free and open to all van and lorry operators driving in and around London who meet the FORS standards. Glen Davies, freight development manager at Transport for London, tells MT:

"Companies were able to register online before the scheme was rolled out. Our target is to have 500 members on board in the first  year."Registering online is just the first step in the membership process after completing a self-assessment, a member of the Metropolitan Police Service Commercial Vehicle Education Unit will visit the operator's premises to carry out a formal assessment. If the operator meets the criteria, they will then be awarded either a gold, silver or bronze membership to FORS. To date, 12 police officers make up the FORS assessment arm, but if necessary, "more resources will be added," claims Davies. Stephen Steele, head of TfL's freight unit, adds:

"We hope the scheme will encourage freight operators to focus on how they can adopt better working practices to make them stand out from their competitors and make their businesses more efficient, while actively contributing to the wider agenda of reducing their impact on climate change and improving sustainability.'' For more information about FORS, which is part of the wider London Freight Plan, published in January 2008, click here .