Transport for London (TfL) has signed up IT services group Sopra Steria to run the FORS fleet recognition scheme.
The new five-year contract takes effect from January 2022 and will see Sopra Steria take over from the current administrator, AECOM, which was appointed to operate, develop and grow FORS in 2015.
TfL thanked AECOM for its commitment to FORS over the years and said the new contract would enable it to improve the scheme and continue its work with freight operators to improve vehicle emissions and safety, including through its Vision Zero commitment.
Founded by TfL in 2008 as a London-based accreditation scheme for freight and fleet operation safety, FORS very quickly expanded nationally; it currently has around 5,000 accredited operators with approximately 110,000 vehicles across 17 countries and is regarded as international best practice.
The voluntary scheme audits fleet operators and awards bronze, silver and gold accreditations by asking them to demonstrate exceptional levels of best practice in safety and efficiency – the standards are used by TfL and other organisations in London and nationally in contracts to improve safety.
The scheme also provides member benefits, such as savings on insurance premiums, free and funded manager training.
The contract was awarded to Sopra Steria following a competitive tender process, with bidders evaluated on their ability to build on the success of the scheme. As part of the new contract, Sopra Steria will overhaul the scheme’s website and booking systems, making it easier for members to access information and update their details, while creating a more user-friendly and accessible sign-up process.
Adrian Fieldhouse, managing director, government sector at Sopra Steria, commented: “Road safety has long been a focus in the UK and we’re delighted to be working alongside TfL to not only help optimise mobility across the transport sector, but to help create both safer and greener roads.
“The FORS scheme allows freight operators to reach vital industry standards more easily, and by providing an improved digital experience we hope to boost the FORS scheme, helping to make a real societal impact.”
