The FORS Community Partnership, comprising AECOM, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and Fleet Source, has been established to run the award-winning Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme. The creation of the partnership follows Transport for London’s (TfL’s) announcement yesterday that it has appointed AECOM as concessionaire for the scheme. As well as the day-to-day management of FORS, the partnership will roll out the scheme nationally, making FORS accreditation available to fleet operators across the country.

FORS is an accreditation scheme that delivers safety, environmental and efficiency benefits for fleet operators by encouraging the adoption of best practice industry standards. The partnership will manage, operate and develop FORS to become the national benchmark for fleet operating standards. A FORS governance board will be established and will work with stakeholders to ensure industry support, while safeguarding the FORS standards and brand.

A period of transition from TfL to the partnership is now in progress, with the partnership taking over the day-to-day running of FORS from 17 February 2015, with a requirement to making it a self-funding scheme.

Further developments and plans for FORS will be announced by the partnership in due course.

Anne Johnson, the partnership's Operations Director, said: “We are delighted to be leading FORS through this exciting period in its development. Our goal is to encourage, support and facilitate the geographical growth of FORS as the leading standard for fleet operators nationally, building on the success in London. From its strong foothold in the truck and van sectors we aim to develop the diversity of FORS to other fleet sectors, to achieve ongoing improvements to road safety”.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “In 2008 our innovation led the way to increased fleet road safety in the capital with the creation of FORS. This partnership is good news for the future of road safety and the wider impacts of freight and fleet operations not just in London, but across the country. FORS’ success will be enhanced and this award-winning scheme will expand nationwide to the benefit of all operators and road users.”