Powered Two-Wheeler Guidance - FORS - Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme

Powered Two-Wheeler Guidance document

The FORS Standard encompasses powered two-wheeler (P2W) fleets – made up primarily of motorcycle and moped operations – as the scheme continues to expand its remit to an increasing range of commercial vehicle operators.

FORS is committed to drawing attention to the importance of the safety of P2W riders on UK roads. Through the Standard, FORS provides access to this growing sector with access to the progressive Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation process.

What is FORS and why is it for you?

FORS is a voluntary accreditation scheme for fleet operators, which aims to raise the level of quality within fleet operations and to demonstrate which operators are achieving exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency and environmental protection.

Becoming a FORS operator can bring you peace of mind that your company is managing its work related road risk (WRRR) – and demonstrates to your customers and supply chain your commitment to exceeding the industry standard.

Five key benefits of FORS accreditation

1. STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

If you were a transport buyer required to choose between two operators, who would you appoint? Would you select the one whose safety record and environmental practices you knew nothing of? Or the one whose FORS accreditation proved a commitment to good practice in all aspects of the business, including road safety, sustainability issues and many other aspects of corporate social responsibility? Who’s going to win the new business? It’s a no-brainer for the transport buyer.

2. IMPROVE YOUR ROAD SAFETY RECORD

Dedicated FORS Professional training equips your managers and drivers with the skills and knowledge to improve their work related road safety and to reduce the risk of collisions with other motor vehicles and, crucially, vulnerable road users.
Become FORS accredited and access safety specific tool, guides and training courses, that help you improve your work related road safety.

3. REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION; INCREASE EFFICIENCY

FORS Professional provides classroom training and eLearning modules for managers and drivers covering environmental best practice. FORS also provides best practice toolkits helping to put you one step ahead of the competition. Expert advice on the latest technologies and systems will provide tangible efficiencies. Dedicated driver training will promote defensive, more economic driving, leading to reduced fuel costs.

4. ENSURE COMPLIANCE

Make use of FORS Affinity Partner products to meet your legal obligations and ensure you remain compliant with the FORS Standard. FORS Fleet Management System, powered by FleetCheck, delivers a comprehensive platform enabling complete vehicle, driver and organisation management. Operators have a duty-of-care by law to check their drivers’ competency and capability. FORS Driver Licence Checking Service, delivered in partnership with Licence Bureau Limited, provides preferential rates to members.

5. GREATER INDUSTRY ‘KNOW HOW’ AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

With fortnightly eNews, monthly training eNews and a regular magazine, FORS operators receive insider knowledge on how the scheme is changing the industry and where potential opportunities lie for you. Through funded and discounted FORS Professional training, managers and drivers will have the chance to meet, swap tips and network with other industry professionals.

There are three levels of FORS accreditation

Bronze – good operators demonstrating lawfulness and best practice – this is the entry level of accreditation

Silver – quality operators committing to improving safety, environmental impact and efficiency – this is the intermediate level of accreditation

Gold – exceptional operators providing evidence of improvements in safety, environmental impact and efficiency – this is the highest level of accreditation

The Standard and specific requirements

The FORS Standard sets out the requirements you need to meet in order to attain and maintain your accreditation. There are four key areas to the FORS Standard:

P2W fleets must meet all of the requirements of the FORS Standard relevant to their level of accreditation; however there are some specific requirements for P2Ws:

Management - M8 Health and Safety

Vehicles - V5.5 Load Safety for P2W

To ensure that motorcycle and moped loads are restrained so that they do not endanger the rider or other road users.

Demonstration

FORS operators shall have a policy, equipment, training and documentation in place for safe loads. The policy shall include:

Correct motorcycle and moped types for the load to be carried
The load types to be carried by each motorcycle or moped
Safe loading and unloading practices
Compliance with load documentation such as risk assessments and method statements

Where relevant, load documentation shall include:

Motorcycle or moped gross weight limits
Nature of the load
Load weight and dimensions
Loading and unloading instructions
Load distribution
Load restraint system such as top boxes, paniers and side bags

The correct equipment shall be issued to maintain safe loads.

Documentation, records and data relevant to load safety shall be:

Documented and reviewed in accordance with requirement M1
Retained in accordance with requirement M2
Communicated in accordance with requirement M5
Included in the health and safety policy in accordance with requirement M8
Included in Professional Development Plans in accordance with requirement D4

Drivers - D7 Working time and drivers' hours

FORS Professional development for P2W drivers

The FORS mandatory driver training listed in Annex 1 is required in order to meet FORS Bronze requirements D4 and FORS Silver requirements S5. At Silver, both Bronze and Silver mandatory training requirements apply. For drivers of more than one vehicle type, FORS operators must meet the FORS mandatory training requirements for all relevant vehicle types.

P2W drivers must complete the following training:

Bronze

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), and
The theory test: motorcycles and mopeds

Attainment of full motorcycle driving licence relevant to the vehicle power output may be used as an alternative to meet Bronze D4.

P2W drivers should also consider undertaking on-road motorcycle skills training such as FORS Professional Beyond CBT training course.

Plus one of the following:

FORS Professional Security and Counter Terrorism eLearning module, or
FORS Approved counter terrorism awareness training course or eLearning module

Silver

Training packages

If an operator or training provider has training packages that would help to raise the standards of P2W’s then please contact FORS. Any suitable training may be approved and accepted by FORS as a way of demonstrating compliance with the relevant FORS requirement.

Audits

The purpose of the Bronze audit is to make sure that the operator FORS accredits meets specific exacting standards. The audit process is about providing evidence of systems, procedures and documentation that demonstrate your company can meet the required standard of entry into FORS Bronze accreditation. To ensure that you are maintaining the FORS Standard, on-site re-approval audits are conducted annually for Bronze, every two years for Silver and every two years for Gold.

Passing you audit and becoming FORS accredited not only means you are contributing to creating and maintaining higher standards within the transport industry but your business will benefit from being safer and more fuel efficient.

Support for undertaking your audit can be found in the FORS audit toolkit.

How much does it cost?

Your FORS fee is made up of the annual subscription fee (based on your fleet size) and an audit fee (based on the number of operating centres accredited. Use the Fees link to access more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am an existing FORS member and have P2Ws in my fleet but I have never declared these before. Do I need to?

Yes, version 5.1 of the FORS Standard includes P2W’s in its effort to increase levels of best practice across the whole industry. This means that if the P2W’s 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 P2W’s if appropriate. New members will need to declare P2W’s from the onset when registering with FORS.

Do I have to display the FORS ID Graphic on my vehicles?

What support is available to help me meet the FORS requirements?

Make sure that you and your team meet the required FORS accreditation requirements and driver best practice across your organisation through the FORS comprehensive range of classroom and e-learning courses, many of which are free of charge. The extensive training programme was devised specifically for FORS to improve skill levels and performance across your organisation. Delivered by industry experts it provides the guidance you need to achieve FORS Bronze, Silver and Gold. Fleet managers from FORS accredited companies continue to have the opportunity to become a FORS Practitioner by completing each of the 10 workshops to receive your FORS Practitioner certificate.

Find out more about training

Find out more about toolkits

How to apply

If you would like to join FORS, you must register by completing the FORS application form. It can be accessed via the FORS website or a hard copy can be requested by email from: [email protected]

At registration and on each anniversary you will need to pay the relevant annual membership fee, details of which are available on the FORS membership and audit fees page.

Once you have completed your application form you have 90 days to request, undertake and pass your Bronze audit.

How do I find out more about FORS?

Call our Helpline team on 08448 090944 (08.30 – 17.00 Monday to Friday) or email us at [email protected].