FORS: fuel efficiency key to driving down costs
The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, FORS, has emphasised the importance of managing fuel accurately in order to drive down costs and reduce emissions – a practice which it says it encourages in its membership.
FORS director, John Hix, said: “The single biggest financial outlay fleets face after staffing costs, is fuel. FORS has always demanded fleets improve efficiency, not only to reduce these costs, but to cut harmful carbon emissions.
“Each of our 5,000 strong members are required to accurately manage and measure fuel at every step of the FORS progressive scheme. Managers learn how to monitor fuel use, and plan routes to maximise fuel purchased, while drivers must complete driver specific training to tackle unnecessary fuel wastage.”
FORS Safe Urban Driving, Van Smart, TruckSmart and LoCITY Driving courses are designed to help commercial vehicle drivers understand the most efficient way to drive in cities and urban areas. Drivers learn how to combat engine idling to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and inefficiency.
This holistic approach has produced impressive results, claims FORS. It cites a recent survey of FORS members across the UK and Europe, which found that FORS operators had benefited from a 14 per cent reduction in reported fleet CO2 output, and a 12 per cent improvement in reported fleet MPG.
Fuel card use is also offered to FORS members as a means of reducing fuel costs. FORS Fuel Expert gives members exclusive access to a range of discounted fixed-price fuel cards – irrespective of fleet size or vehicle type – along with the tools to measure the fuel used.
The fixed-price fuel card is designed to meet the diverse needs of all FORS members’ fleets, in partnership with Fuel Card Services (FCS), one of the largest independent fuel card agents in the UK.
Those choosing to use FORS Fuel Expert can access up to 16 different fuel cards, from a range of major brands, offering a saving of up to 4 pence per litre (ppl), and up to 10ppl on fuel purchased on motorway forecourts.
Savings can also be made when members use the fuel cards across the FORS Fuel Expert network of more than 7,000 UK forecourts, including Shell BP, Texaco and Esso.
Crucial to this offering is reporting, says John Hix.
“This is more than just a fuel card; access is also provided to FORS Fuel Reporting which includes fuel consumption and MPG analysis, and can be easily downloaded,” he said.
“It is this data which helps members to identify where their fuel use is high, in order that they can target where they need to focus to become more efficient.”
FORS members can also use FORS Fuel Expert to understand their emissions, with CO2 certificates offering statistics on greenhouse gases generated by vehicle. This is essential evidence to help members achieve emission reduction goals, a key requirement at FORS Silver, the second level of the progressive scheme.
John Hix added: “FORS Fuel Expert is a valuable resource which helps our members understand their fuel use. This service works alongside the wider FORS training offering to give members a wholistic view of how their business uses fuel, in order that they can drive up efficiency to lower costs and emissions.”
