Transport fleet accreditation success boosts road safety

Lanes Group plc has passed five rigorous audits to retain national accreditation for transport fleet management and safe driving standards.

The drainage specialist has achieved, through re-auditing, the Bronze accreditation for its UK transport fleet under the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

FORS is used by companies operating across the UK to benchmark standards in fleet management and safety.

Paul McParland, Health, Safety Quality and Environment Manager for Lanes Group, said: “Our FORS Bronze accreditation covers the management of hundreds of vehicles, many of them HGVs, and more than 600 drivers.

“Road transport is one of our biggest health and safety risks, so we’re delighted to confirm, through this FORS auditing process, that we are maintaining nationally-recognised standards, though there is no room for complacency.”

During February 2019, five different independent assessors audited five Lanes depots – selected at random as part of the annual accreditation renewal process. All five achieved the required standard.

All Lanes drivers covered by the scheme have also completed three online e-learning courses over the last 12 months – a new requirement, in line with moves to make FORS more rigorous year-on-year.

Robin Carrington, Lanes Southern Transport Manager, said: “Lanes has held FORS Bronze accreditation since 2013. I have no doubt it has contributed to our determined efforts to continuously improve driving standards and transport compliance across the group.”

During 2018, the Lanes HSQE team has worked with transport managers to use vehicle tracking data to encourage safe driving by teams based at 22 depots and its Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water utility hubs.

This resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in occasions where the tracking system recorded speeds exceeding road speed limits by 10 per cent or more.

Bronze accreditation confirms that an operator employs good transport practices and complies with the requirements laid out by the FORS Standard.

This includes demonstrating dedication to driver and vehicle safety, combined with improving operating practices through effective monitoring of fuel and tyre usage.