Traffic management specialist Paulsons has achieved 100% audit compliance under the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) using software provided by FleetCheck.
The St Albans-based company previously employed spreadsheets and paper check sheets to manage its 25 Renault Master and Ford Transit 3.5-tonne tail-lift vans, but adopted FleetCheck’s FORS-FMS system after managing director James Hawkes encountered it while undertaking voluntary work as a St John Ambulance paramedic.
“While driving an ambulance for St John, I raised a defect on their FleetCheck app and the fleet manager called me almost immediately, less than 10 minutes after driving out of the gate. I would never have caught a defect that quickly at work, so it was worth investigating.”
A 30-day trial with FleetCheck using the FORS-FMS system enabled Paulsons to very quickly automate processes and centralise data, saving around two hours daily and 10 hours weekly.
“The software not only boosted operational efficiency but we have also been able to achieve a perfect score on our FORS audit for the first time, showing how it is having a direct influence on our fleet and its compliance levels,” Hawkes went on.
The FORS accreditation scheme aims to raise the level of quality within fleet operations, demonstrating high levels of best practice in safety, efficiency and environmental protection.
First launched in summer 2018 and continually enhanced since, FleetCheck’s FORS-FMS is the result of an ongoing partnership between the two organisations. It includes an online checklist which allows FORS members such as Paulsons to quickly and easy access the specific fleet data required for accreditation, alongside a comprehensive data platform providing online document storage, an information portal and an advanced reporting suite.
Hawkes said: “The software connects directly with FORS so we no longer need to log on to their site and work out what has expired and needs further attention. It presents all the information we need in one place, so we can see exactly what needs to be done.”
Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, commented: “A large proportion of fleets operating under FORS now use the FORS-FMS system and achieve very high levels of compliance, similar to the results being seen at Paulsons. We’re pleased to see that the software is proving a success for them and having such a positive impact on their vehicle operations.”
