What are the Differences Between FORS Gold, Silver, and Bronze Accreditation?
Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) accreditation is a voluntary scheme that aims to promote best practices in safety, efficiency, and environmental performance for fleet operators. There are three levels of FORS accreditation: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level represents a higher level of achievement and requires operators to meet increasingly stringent criteria.
Here are the differences between FORS Bronze, FORS Silver, and FORS Gold, along with examples of the type of business that would suit each level of accreditation:
FORS Bronze
FORS Bronze is the entry-level accreditation and requires operators to demonstrate basic levels of compliance with regulations and best practices. To achieve FORS Bronze, operators must provide evidence of compliance with the following criteria:
- Vehicle safety equipment: Operators must demonstrate that their vehicles are fitted with appropriate safety equipment such as mirrors, cameras, and warning signs.
- Driver training: Operators must provide evidence of driver training, including induction training, periodic training, and driver assessments.
- Vehicle maintenance: Operators must provide evidence of a maintenance schedule that includes regular checks and inspections of vehicles, and that any defects are promptly rectified.
- Record-keeping: Operators must maintain accurate records of driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and fuel consumption.
FORS Bronze is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses that operate a small fleet of vehicles and have basic compliance systems in place. Examples of businesses that may be suited to FORS Bronze include courier companies, small haulage firms, and local delivery services.
FORS Silver
FORS Silver represents a higher level of achievement and requires operators to meet more stringent criteria than FORS Bronze. To achieve FORS Silver, operators must meet all the requirements for FORS Bronze, as well as provide evidence of the following additional criteria:
- Fuel efficiency: Operators must demonstrate that they have measures in place to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, such as driver training, vehicle tracking, and route planning.
- Driver health and wellbeing: Operators must provide evidence of measures to promote driver health and wellbeing, such as access to healthcare and support for mental health.
- Transport-related fines and charges: Operators must demonstrate that they have measures in place to minimise transport-related fines and charges, such as congestion charges and parking fines.
FORS Silver is suitable for medium to large-sized businesses that operate a larger fleet of vehicles and have more complex compliance systems in place. Examples of businesses that may be suited to FORS Silver include logistics companies, waste management firms, and municipal transport services.
FORS Gold
FORS Gold represents the highest level of achievement and requires operators to meet the most stringent criteria. To achieve FORS Gold, operators must meet all the requirements for FORS Silver, as well as provide evidence of the following additional criteria:
- Training and development: Operators must demonstrate that they have measures in place to promote staff training and development, such as apprenticeships and professional development programs.
- Community engagement: Operators must provide evidence of measures to engage with the local community, such as supporting local charities and community groups.
- Performance measurement: Operators must demonstrate that they have measures in place to measure and monitor their performance in areas such as safety, efficiency, and environmental impact.
FORS Gold is suitable for large businesses that operate a significant fleet of vehicles and have sophisticated compliance systems in place. Examples of businesses that may be suited to FORS Gold include national logistics companies, public transport providers, and waste management companies.
In conclusion, the level of FORS accreditation that is appropriate for a business depends on the size of the fleet, the complexity of operations, and the level of compliance systems in place. FORS Bronze is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses with basic compliance systems, FORS Silver is suitable for medium to large-sized businesses with more complex compliance systems, and FORS Gold is suitable for large businesses with sophisticated compliance systems.
If you are looking at getting help with FORS, full consultancy, pre-audit or training, please get in touch with us by emailing fors@totalcompliance.co.uk or by calling 0345 9001312. With years of experience assisting companies in the transport industry with FORS accreditation help, Total Compliance are your one-stop-shop for transport training and compliance, including FORS.
Want to learn more? Find out more about FORS by visiting the links to our blogs below:
What are the benefits of a FORS accreditation?