Due for completion in March 2018, the programme will see more than 600 sub-contractors achieve a minimum of FORS Bronze accreditation.
Aggregate Industries is paying 20% of the annual FORS subscription cost for its sub-contractors.
Successful FORS Bronze passes – and subsequent annual audits – will mean that sub-contractors will no longer be subject to Aggregate Industries’ own internal audits, so cutting operators’ downtime. The company has also produced its own guide, giving advice on registering with FORS and the accreditation process.
Gerard Cantwell, head of procurement and logistics at Aggregate Industries, says: “FORS and Aggregate Industries share a common goal in our commitment to drive-up standards in the road transport sector.
“With FORS delivering a thorough audit process supported by a full range of training packages for drivers and managers, our sub-contractors can only benefit from an even greater focus on safety, efficiency and environmental practice. Importantly,” he adds, “our entire road fleet will be aligned with FORS best practice credentials.”
Aggregate Industries says it will also support its sub-contractors to gain FORS Silver accreditations in the future.
FORS director John Hix says: “Driving FORS throughout a major supply chain is a great ambition. With so many synergies between ours and Aggregate Industries’ aim for safer, more efficient commercial vehicle operations, it was a logical move to introduce a FORS methodology as an integral part of the company’s fleet policy. We’d like to work with others to do the same.”