Following in the footsteps of sister divisions Piletec and Stopper Specialists, Groundforce Shorco Harlow depot has recently been awarded the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Silver accreditation by Transport for London. The FORS Scheme is an industry-led accreditation that aims to promote road freight as a safe and sustainable mode of transportation.
Harlow Transport Department has been involved with FORS for 3 years, originally as a requirement of Crossrail, achieving the Bronze standard in 2012. This has been re-approved in subsequent years. The department ensures that, not only does the accreditation meet Groundforce’s own high standards, but also those of our customers and industry partners. This has meant putting in place further safeguards and controls within the division’s transport operation working closely with other organisations.
FORS has been extremely helpful in supporting the business and providing invaluable guidance and best practice advice such as on the maximisation of fuel use within the region. Groundforce Shorco Harlow is confident that the business can further consolidate and build upon the systems and best practice already in place to support a National Silver Accreditation and then a Gold submission in the future.
Groundforce Shorco’s Southern Depot has also joined CLOCS as a Champion and is developing a good working relationship with Groundforce Training Services and external hauliers to deliver a series of toolbox talks focusing on general driving standards, product knowledge, best loading practice and our high customer service expectations as part of a pilot programme in the south. With the challenges the Transport Department faces in ensuring the drivers receive targeted training against the business needs of the transport operation, the flexible delivery of Safe Urban Driver training has allowed Groundforce to develop a rolling programme that allows this training to be delivered without severely impacting on normal activity.
Dean Coe (Groundforce Southern Regional Hire Manager) says;
Groundforce’s achievement, with the support of FORS, has helped develop a culture of continuous improvement within transport operations, where good performance, especially of drivers, is recognised. Achievement of Silver Level is an acknowledgement to all Groundforce staff of the high standards the business is striving to achieve.