Frequently asked questions – FORS Standard version 5

Updates have been made across the FORS Standard. There is a summary of what has been changed in Annex 5 of the FORS Standard version 5.

Your follow-up audit(s) (Bronze/Silver/Gold) will be against the same version as your original audit as long as undertaken within the usual 30-day follow-up period in accordance with the FORS Rules and Procedures. However, failure to pass a follow-up audit(s) within the 30-day follow-up period will result in a full audit being required against the new version (version 5) of the FORS Standard.

No you can’t. If you are preparing a Silver or Gold submission you can do this using version 5 evidencing system from December 2018 but you can’t submit if before 14 January 2019.

New training requirements have been introduced across all levels of accreditation for both managers and drivers. These are different for drivers of specific vehicle types so it is best to check the training cards at Annexes 1 (for drivers) and 2 (for managers) of version 5 of the FORS Standard. Transitional provisions are in place for a number of new training requirements. Please check Annex 6 of the FORS Standard for full details.

A guide detailing the process for assessment and approval of in-house courses can be found here.

All vehicles at an operating centre used for servicing and delivery must be registered and will fall under the scope of FORS accreditation – this includes: HGVs, vans, passenger carrying vehicles, cars, powered-two-wheelers (motorcycles and mopeds)  and wheeled plant. You can also register vehicles not used for servicing and delivery, but, if you do, these vehicles will be included in the audit and drivers will fall under all FORS requirements. Please check page 2 of the FORS Standard version 5 for all vehicle definitions.

No, you can choose which operating centre(s) to include in your FORS accreditation but all vehicles used for servicing and delivery in the chosen operating centre(s) must be included in the scope of accreditation (as detailed above.) For information on accrediting single or multiple operating centres, please check the FORS Rules and Procedures.

Yes, version 5 of the FORS Standard includes P2Ws in its effort to increase levels of best practice across the whole industry. This means that if the P2Ws in your fleet are used for servicing and delivery, they must be included in your FORS scope of accreditation. So with effect from 14 January 2019, existing members will need to update FORS with fleet details PRIOR to re-approval audit and include any P2Ws if appropriate. New members will need to declare P2Ws from the onset when registering with FORS.

The safety eLearning modules from 14 January 2019 are: Cycle Safety, Van Smart, Smart Driving and Bridge Smart (due to launch soon). These are valid for 12 months and must be renewed every year. After 14 January 2019, Security and Counter Terrorism will no longer be part of the suite of safety eLearning modules. It has become a separate mandatory eLearning module under Bronze D4 and must be undertaken within the past 24 months.

Yes it will count against the new mandatory training requirements for Security and Counter Terrorism as set out in Annex 1 of the FORS Standard. It is now valid for 24 months from the original date undertaken. Therefore the validity will be extended on your training records from 12 months to 24 months.

No the London operations element of V6 is not effective until the implementation date of TfL’s HGV safety permit scheme. This means you will not be audited against this element yet. You will be audited against this element at the Bronze audit after the safety permit scheme is enforced. You can check the TfL Direct Vision Standard website for details.

This information can be provided via any electronic document that clearly presents the required information. From 14 January 2019, you will be prompted to upload this information when you request your audit.

There are two routes for organisations to achieve FORS Approved status:

• Automatic approval for operator licence awareness courses delivered by professional bodies that are referenced in the Senior Traffic Commissioner Statutory Documents 1 and 3; and
• Assessed approval for fleet management courses delivered by organisations – these are submitted and assessed by Transport for London as having met specific training objectives relevant to the type of fleet operation

Please click here to review the FORS Approved training document which includes information on automatic and assessed approval, and details of how to apply.

The FORS Standard version 5 evidencing system will be available for members to prepare against version 5 in early December. Look out for FORS eNews to confirm the date.

This has been made mandatory to ensure continuity so that the vehicle list is accurate as historically there have been many variations in accreditation submissions, leading to re-submissions and extra cost to the members.

Under vehicle requirement S6, blind spot vision aids for HGVs include a camera system, as well as an in-cab display screen and audible warning system. To allow for older vehicles in the fleet replacement cycle, a tolerance in the number of vehicles fitted with camera systems can be accepted for vehicles registered before 1 January 2015 where there is not a contractual or permit requirements. This tolerance must be fully justified at audit. If this tolerance is permitted, older vehicles not fitted with camera systems shall be fitted with an alternative blind spot vision aid such as a Fresnel lens. See version 5 Silver requirement S6 for further details.

At Gold G6 Sustainable operations, the above tolerance at S6 is not permitted. However, the fitment of camera systems for vehicles registered before 1 January 2015 can be planned and evidenced in line with the operator’s fleet replacement cycle and must be fully justified at audit.

Yes, your current Silver/Gold accreditation will be valid until your Silver/Gold expiry date even if your Bronze is passed against version 5.

The FORS Standard version 5 evidencing system will be available for members to prepare against v5 in early December. Look out for FORS eNews to confirm the date.

If the responsible person or other nominated manager leaves the business, a period of 12 months from the date of appointment of the replacement responsible person or nominated manager can be permitted for them to achieve the FORS Practitioner qualification. This must be fully justified at audit.

At Gold G6 Sustainable operations, the tolerance at Silver S6 for vehicles registered before 1 January 2015 is not permitted. However, the fitment of camera systems for vehicles registered before 1 January 2015 may be planned and evidenced in line with the operator’s fleet replacement cycle and must be fully justified at audit.

No, this requirement applies to new contracts only.

• At initial Gold audit, a plan for incorporating a flow down clause in all new contracts awarded shall be evidenced
• At Gold re-approval audit,
  • for Gold re-approval audits taking place between 14/01/2019 and 31/12/2019, you need to be able to demonstrate that you are planning to introduce a flow down clause in all new contracts awarded from the date of your re-approval audit
  • for Gold re-approval audits taking place from 01/01/2020, a flow down clause shall be incorporated in all new contracts awarded since previous re-approval audit and shall be evidenced

FORS Silver requirement S9 Sub-contracted services is only relevant where your sub-contractors are directly employed to deliver on your behalf to a site where FORS Silver is required.  This is typically a requirement written into the contract you have with your client and therefore should already be in place.

FORS Gold requirement G9 Contracted services is relevant to all other services employed by you to help run your fleet operation eg maintenance services, parts deliveries, bulk fuel deliveries and tyre services. It is not about services for the site where you are delivering. New contracts of this type of services shall be asked to be Bronze minimum.

At a Gold audit taking place between 14 Jan 2019 and 31 Jan 2019 you need to evidence a plan for implementing a suitable clause in any new contracts being let from the date of your next Gold audit.  By the time the next audit comes rounds you need to show that those clauses are being implemented in new contracts from the date of that audit.

It is recognised that some organisations, for example smaller ones, do not have the ‘buying power’ to influence the terms and conditions applied by suppliers.  Therefore it is sufficient to demonstrate that reasonable endeavours have been taken to implement the contract clause.

It is recognised that some organisations, for example smaller ones, do not have the ‘buying power’ to influence the terms and conditions applied by suppliers.  Therefore it is sufficient to demonstrate that reasonable endeavours have been taken to implement the contract clause.  

Yes, your current Silver/Gold accreditation will be valid until your Silver/Gold expiry date even if your Bronze is passed against version 5.