FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, has announced it is to reduce the period between mandatory FORS Bronze re-approval audits from three down to two years for Gold accredited members from 1 January 2018.
FORS Gold members are required to undertake periodical FORS Bronze re-approval audits as part of their FORS accreditation.
From 1 January 2018, the change will affect members applying for Gold for the first time and existing Gold members, as and when their Bronze accreditation expires.
The decision was made by FORS Executive Group (part of GSAG, the scheme’s Governance of Standards Advisory Group) who deemed the three-year period to be “simply too long”.
Members will continue to be able to renew FORS Gold and FORS Silver accreditation annually via the online evidencing system, FORS added.
Small fleet operators (operating 1-3 vehicles) will also forego the £235 Gold evidencing fee, also effective from 1 January 2018. FORS added that this change is in order to encourage small operators to progress to FORS Gold and beyond.
Anne Johnson, FORS Operations Director, said the change, “will ensure high levels of safety, efficiency and environmental protection are better maintained and evidenced.”
