A new membership scheme will help trucking companies improve their operations in the North East by being greener and cheaper.
The Tyne and Wear Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is being set up to help freight operators cut their costs, reduce their environmental impact and improve safety standards by sharing best practice and progressing through a series of bronze, silver and gold awards.
It’s being formed by the Tyne and Wear Freight Partnership with financial backing from Transport for London, which already runs a successful FORS scheme in the capital, as well as support from the C-LIEGE scheme, an Intelligent Energy Europe project promoting clean and energy efficient freight transport in European cities.
A launch event at Newcastle Civic Centre on Tuesday 19 June will be followed by the first free workshop for operators, in which delegates will benefit from leading industry knowledge and the opportunity to share best practice with other FORS members.
Councillor James Blackburn, Vice Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority (TWITA), said: “This new scheme will give operators the chance to learn ways to improve their business and also to pick the brains of industry experts, as we work towards cheaper and greener haulage in our region.
“A similar scheme has been hugely successful in London and the benefits are all too clear; for the local authority, the economy and the environment. It’s great that we are now able to lead the way for the rest of the country and I’m certain this new scheme will be a success.”
The scheme will be managed on a day-to-day basis by the international consultancy and training provider AECOM. AECOM freight consultant, Peter Hayes, said: “This is a scheme that’s been very successful in London and is now being rolled out in Tyne and Wear. With the local authorities behind us, we are hoping to demonstrate the value of the scheme to operators in the area and get them all onboard as part of an exciting new partnership for the region.”
If your business is interested in becoming an accredited member of FORS, you can find out more by contacting Mike Page at AECOM on 0191 224 6512.
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Page last updated: 19 June, 2012
