Fox Brothers have been operating across the North West for over 80 years. At Fox Brothers, we specialise in the supply and haulage of aggregates, recycled materials, muck shift and earthworks. In 2018, Fox Brothers focused on the fleet operation and heavily invested in this, increasing the size of the fleet from 40 vehicles to over 60 vehicles. The Fox Brothers classic blue fleet now consists of 8-wheel tippers, artics, low loaders, road sweepers and the new addition of Walking Floor® Trailers. In 2019, Fox Brothers moved its Transport and Recycling yard to a new premise’s at Squires Gate Industrial Estate, Blackpool to facilitate the new fleet size.

With operations at the yard including the treatment and transfer of non-hazardous materials and recycled aggregates, Fox Brothers is preparing to offer ready mix concrete from our own concrete plant which will also be located on site.

Fox Brothers have been proud to be part of big, local contract works from the Coastal protection project at Granny’s Bay and Fairhaven to the new M55 link road. 2019 also saw Fox Brothers be awarded Silver FORS accreditation allowing for more haulage contracting work, significantly work on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme.

Fox Brothers are based in Squires Gate Industrial Estate, Blackpool and operations include the treatment and transfer of non-hazardous materials and recycled aggregates, Coastal protection project at Granny’s Bay and Fairhaven to the new M55 link road. 2019. Shane Watson , The company’s FORS Practitioner explains that using the FORS toolkits and training has seen Fox Brothers achieve significant improvements through FORS (including reductions in fuel use / reduced CO₂ emissions, lowered NOx and Particulate Matter emissions, improved its road safety record, decreased transport related fines and charges.

We became aware of FORS from other construction transport operators demonstrating their FORS ID’s and realised it would help us to achieve best practice and benefit us by opening more business opportunities.’

 The company passed their Bronze accreditation audit at the first attempt. The procedure was comprehensive and educated managers and staff that this was a good process to ensure compliance and best practices throughout the company.

The main reason for progressing from Bronze to silver was that having adopted the CLOCS requirements for vehicle safety and identified the additional safety to vulnerable road users as a benefit. This soon followed with the requirements of the A14 improvement project requiring FORS Silver accreditation.

By using the FORS TBT’s, eLearning and enrolling in the FORS Fleet tools we found that driving standards and fuel consumption improved.

Achieving the FORS Standard has modernised and re-energised the management of our Work-Related Road Risk within our Transport Division” Lee Hardy HSQE Manager

“FORS has not only been a positive experience but has also improved each department and all operations, we have a much better understanding of the driver’s health & fitness which can only benefit both our customers and the business itself. The FORS toolkit has become an invaluable place to collate and review not only the training but to monitor our Carbon Footprint enabling us to make continuous improvements” M Hardy – Office Manager

These shall include:

• Performance data – Note fleet increase and higher mileages year on year which gives higher emission output.

	MPK	Incidents	CO2	NOx	PM10	Number of PCNs	Proportion of fleet that uses alternative fuels
Year 2018	0.18	22	2474	6867	112	12	0%
Year 2019	00.30	19	4975	11374	170	6	0%
Percentage improvement	40%	14%	50%	39%	34%	50%	0%

All our drivers are required to complete a health declaration at induction and a health questionnaire every 12 months. Eyesight checks are completed at induction, periodically every 6 months or following an incident or near miss. We operate an open-door policy where any issues including mental health may be discussed and help offered.

We have sourced drivers by recommendation and adverts in forces publications and looked at promoting from within by use of the apprentice scheme.

All our drivers utilise the Decibel X app to ensure any noise pollution they may be subjected to is actively managed, including the issuing of ear defenders as part of the PPE. Latest vehicles purchased are Euro Vl with noise damping equipment.

Due to the nature of our operations the use of alternative modes of transport has been investigated and will be constantly assessed going forward, however for the foreseeable future all our deliveries will be conducted by road. As technology progresses, we will hopefully move forward and purchase vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions.

As the fleet is replaced, we purchase the latest Euro Vl vehicles.

In order to make continual fleet improvements we will be, purchasing Euro VI vehicles, and constantly revising the way we monitor driver fitness and health, as this will help our company to protect the drivers and improve our emissions ‘

Achieving the FORS Accreditation for Fox Brothers would show we have come a long way in both compliance and best practice and would show we are committed to our company objectives

‘To be the best in our field’

Since becoming a member of FORS we have constantly improved our procedures making for a safer environment for all.

*Please note: All published FORS Gold case studies have been submitted by the accredited company named above and transcribed verbatim