In a partnership with the Freight Transport Association (FTA), a trade association in the UK, Hertz UK became the first car rental company to promote the FTA’s Van Excellence Code (VEC) accreditation  in all of its services, according to the company.

The VEC sets standards in vehicle maintenance, driver competence and behavior, and environmental impact. Its goal is to establish a code of conduct for van operators in order to benefit businesses, the environment and all road users.

Hertz will implement the VEC standards within the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, which accounts for most of the three million vans on the road in the UK, and through its owner-driver program  that works with self-employed van drivers.

The FTA launched the initiative earlier this year. By working with Hertz, the company plans to set the standards for future working practices in the van sector.

“As vans are one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK and also critical to the small and medium business economies, it is extremely crucial to have high standards such as the voluntary Van Excellence Code,” Hertz International President Michel Taride said.