Firstly, who will the New FORS Standard update V4 affect?

New organisations

• If your organisation is already registered on Thursday 29th September 2016 but not yet accredited, you will be audited against version 3.3 of the FORS Standard
• Organisations registering with FORS after 29 September 2016 will be will be audited against version 4.0 of the FORS Standard.

Existing organisations

• Already FORS accredited organisations with a renewal date up to and including Wednesday 9 November 2016 will be audited against version 3.3 of the FORS Standard
• Existing FORS accredited organisations with a renewal date after Wednesday 9 November will be audited against version 4.0 of the FORS Standard.

What’s been updated in the new FORS Standard update V4?

There have been number of changes as to how some elements and are named and some elements have been swapped around. There’s also been some updates more relevant for the PCV sector and driver training. Here’s a run down of new FORS Standard update V4 changes.

Management

• M2 Responsibilities and Accountabilities – Now called ‘Organisational Structure and Responsibilities’, but no other significant changes
• M3 Responsible Person – Now called ‘Responsible Person/s’, operators are required to ensure that there is sufficiently qualified / experienced resource in place for the operation to continue without interruption
• M6Review – No significant change, but now with a more detailed explanation of what needs to be demonstrated
• M7 Change – This section is now ‘Complaints’ (formerly M8). It explains the need for effective management of complaints made by customers or the public
• M8 Compliants – This section is now ‘Transport Fines and Charges (formerly D8). It explains the need to record and react to fines or unpaid charges
• M9 Resourcing – This section is now ‘Transport Updates’ (formerly M10), but now requires an operator to receive information that’s specific to running a vehicle fleet
• M10 Updates – This section is now ‘Information Management’ (formerly O5), but no other significant changes
• M11 – This section is now ‘Tyre and Fuel Management’ (formerly V3), but now requires more evidence of managing the full life-cycle of tyres, as well as a system of monitoring and managing fuel consumption

Vehicles

• V2 Daily walk around check – Now called ‘Defect Checks’, operators are required to demonstrate that checks are done on each vehicle operated by a driver (accounting for multi-vehicle use within a shift)
• V3 Fuel and Tyre Usage – This section is now ‘Insurance’ (formerly V4), but no other significant changes
• V4 Insurance – This section is now ‘Vehicle Excise Duty and SORN’ (formerly V5). It requires operators to demonstrate that VED is managed and SORN declarations completed where required
• V5 Vehicle Excise Duty – This section is now ‘Safe Loading and Load Restraints’ (formerly V6), but now with more focus on load restraints
• V6 Safe Loading – This is a new section called ‘PCV Safe Loading and Load Security’
• V8 Working at height and the prevention of falls from vehicles – Now called ‘Personal Safety in or around Vehicles’. This requirement has been made more relevant to the PCV sector, and now focuses on safety around the vehicle (not just working at height)
• V9 Vehicle Manoeuvring – No significant change, though now includes more comprehensive demonstration

Driver

• D1 Licensing and Qualifications – This section now requires operators to use a risk-based system at least once every six months
• D2 Driving Standards – This section now includes the requirement to issue the latest version of the Highway Code to drivers, and to instruct them to observe the requirements contained within it
• D3 Staff Training – This section is now ‘Induction Training’. It requires a structured process for the induction of employees that focuses on heath and safety and vulnerable road users
• D4 In-vehicle Technology – This section is now ‘Professional Development’ (formerly D3), but with no other significant changes
• D5 Health and Safety – This section is now ‘In-cab Technology (formerly D4), but with no other significant changes
• D6 Driver Fitness and Health – This section is now ‘Health and Safety’ (formerly D5). It now includes more comprehensive demonstration
• D7 Drivers’ hours and working time – This section is now ‘Driver Fitness and Health’ (formerly D7), but with no other significant changes
• D8 Monitoring Driving – This section is now ‘Drivers’ Hours and Working Time’, but with no other significant changes
• D9 – This section is now ‘Driver Infractions’ (formerly D8 Monitoring Driving), but with no other significant changes

Operators

• O2 Specialist Goods – This section is now called ‘Specialist Goods and Abnormal Loads’. It now requires an operator to effectively manage the transportation of abnormal loads and appoint a DGSA where necessary. ‘Waste’ is also defined as hazardous waste only
• O3 Incidents and Collisions – This section is now called ‘Incidents and Insurance’. It combines the requirements of O3 and O4, but no other significant changes
• O4 Insurance Claims – This requirement is now incorporated into section O3
• NEW O4 – This new requirement is called ‘Engine Idling’
• New O5 Record Control – This new requirement is now called ‘Vehicle / Equipment Theft and Unauthorised Access’.

Silver

• S1 – Operators must now have at least 30 calendar days left on their bronze accreditation when applying for silver
• S3 Vehicle Warning Equipment – This section is now called ‘Audible Warning Systems’. The most significant change is the requirement for operators to fit a reversing alarm to all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW
• S5 Driver Training – This section is now called ‘Vulnerable Road User Safety Training’, and now requires any driver training to be FORS approved. Additionally the annual training can now be completed either as an e-learning module or a classroom based session, with at least 90% of drivers having completed (or been booked to complete) the necessary training – I’ll let you know the details on this in the next post.
• S6 Transport Related Fines and Charges – This section is now called ‘Performance Data’ (formerly S7), and include the need for operators to monitor NOx and Particulates as part of the capture of emissions data
• S7 Performance Measurement – This section is now called ‘Fuel and Emissions’ and is a development of G6
• S8 – This section is a new requirement called ‘Road Risk’.

Gold

• G1 Maintain FORS Silver – This section is now called ‘Maintain FORS Bronze and FORS Silver’ and adds in the requirement to maintain accreditation at all levels
• G2 Promoting FORS Standard – This section is now called ‘Promoting the FORS Standard’, but with no other significant changes
• G3 Published Case Study – This section is now called ‘Published and Updated Case Study’ and reaffirms the need for operators to update FORS case study material once a year
• G4 Performance Measurement – This section is now called ‘Performance Data’. It includes the need for operators to be actively reducing the impact of emissions including NOx and Particulate Matter
• G5 Staff Training – This new section is called ‘Driver Health and Fitness Review’. It requires operators to carry out a detailed check of the health and fitness of each professional driver
• G6 Fuel and Emissions Champion – This section is now called ‘Professional Development (formerly G5), although there are no other significant changes
• NEW G7 – This new section is called ‘Strategy for Recruiting New Drivers’. It requires operators to have a plan in place to recruit new drivers into the industry NEW G8 N/A This new section
• NEW G8 – This new section is called ‘Noise Assessment’. It requires operators to document an assessment of noise emitted by their operation or activity

In summary

There are quite a few changes for the New FORS standard update V4. The great news is they will all be covered in my own updated comprehensive Operator and Driver Handbooks which will be available in the TMconsultant shop soon. I’ll let you know when they’re ready!

Even though FORS have updated their website they have, in fact made it even more difficult to navigate!

If you need any advice or FORS help, then just get in touch. We’re here to share the knowledge!