It’s that time again when FORS update their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Standard. We wanted to let you know what the FORS Standard version 6 summary of changes are, as soon as we did.
We’ll be updating our FORS Help packs, which will be available to purchase at the end of June.
If you have any questions regarding FORS, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to share the knowledge!
Summary of change between Version 5.1 and Version 6
M1 FORS documentation
New table created as Annex 3 which highlights
which requirements shall have a policy and/
or procedure and/or risk assessment/method
statement.
Clarification that operators are able to
demonstrate M1 using policy documentation
attributed to other schemes
Reminder: small operators may
demonstrate M1 verbally
M2 Records and information
No change
M3 Responsible person
No change
M4 Staff and resources
Pre-appointment checks for drivers should
include a declaration by drivers of any collisions,
both at work and off-duty, which involve
engagement with an insurance company and/or
the police
M5 Communication
Communications with drivers shall include
a declaration for drivers to acknowledge
awareness of their individual responsibilities
M6 Vehicle fleet
Clarification on the process for providing vehicle
registration marks or vehicle identification
numbers for trailers
The date from which dormant or previously
used operating centres shall be included in the
vehicle fleet register, has been updated
M7 Regulatory licensing
Regional/city vehicle permits relating to safety
or environmental requirements added as an
option, where applicable, to the current list of
licences and permits
FORS operators shall report to FORS any
licence or permit revocations, suspensions or
curtailments that are relevant to FORS
Where an operator licence is held, FORS
operator shall declare any enforcement
sanctions within the past 12 months and any
impending regulatory action
M8 Health and safety
Clarification around operational and driving at
work risks to be assessed under O1, including
prescribed passenger routes, and designated
routes to and from construction sites, and
addition of notified routes for abnormal
indivisible loads (AIL)
M9 Complaints
No change
M10 Transport infringements
No change
M11 Transport updates
Removal of reference to LoCITY scheme bulletin
V1 Serviceability and roadworthiness
Policy and supporting procedures for first-use
inspections shall include information on leased
and loaned vehicles, as well as hired vehicles
required in Version 5.1
V2 Daily walkaround checks
In addition to trailer coupling and load restraint
required in Version 5.1, where relevant, the
walkaround check shall also cover other
specific components listed
Drivers expected to repair minor defects shall
be competent to undertake these tasks
V3 Insurance
No change
V4 Vehicle tax
No change
V5.1 Load safety for HGVs
No change
V5.2 Load safety for PCVs
Maximum passenger and luggage weight limits
shall be considered
V5.3 Load safety for vans
No change
V5.4 Load safety for cars
No change
V5.5 Load safety for P2W
No change
V6 Vehicle safety equipment
Class V and Class VI close-proximity mirror
fields of view may now be achieved using a
camera monitoring system
Removal of reference to London’s Direct Vision
Standard vehicle safety scheme
V7 Tyre management
No change
D1 Licensing
Frequency of driving licence checks for higher
risk drivers shall be increased using an
approved risk scale – recommended (should) in
Driver licence checking procedure shall include
a requirement for drivers to sign an annual
declaration
D2 Driving standards
No change
D3 Staff induction
No change
D4 Professional development
No material change; language changed for
clarity only
D5 In-vehicle communication
No change
D6 Health and eyesight
No change
D7 Working time and drivers’ hours
Procedure for obtaining, processing and
analysing the relevant drivers’ hours shall also
include information on secondary employment
and its impact – recommended in Version
5.1 (should)
O1 Routing
The procedure in place to plan and adhere
to compliant, safe, and efficient routes shall
include adherence to any route scheduled by
the FORS operator or any route authorised by a
competent authority
Any route scheduled by the FORS operator,
or authorised by a competent authority,
shall include abnormal indivisible loads
(AIL) movements
In addition to the requirement in Version 5.1
for the risk assessment to include prescribed
passengers routes and designated routes to
and from construction sites, the risk assessment
shall also include any notified AIL routes
O2 Fuel, emissions, and air quality
No material change; language changed for
clarity only
O3 Road traffic collisions
No change
O4 Passenger safety
Clarification that all vehicles designed to carry
one or more passengers are in scope of this
demonstration
In addition to the passenger safety instructions
in Version 5.1 to include wearing seat belts, the
safety documentation shall include information
on not distracting the driver
O5 Specialist operations
No change
O6 Operational security
No change
O7 Counter terrorism
No change
S1 FORS Bronze
No change
S2 Performance data
Requirement changed from actively monitoring
and benchmarking to actively monitoring and
managing operational performance
An operational performance action plan shall be
documented, including performance indicators/
operational targets, and methods/tools
employed to monitor data
Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) management
should be included within data capture and
monitoring tools
S3 Fuel, emissions and air quality
The commitment to reducing fuel consumption
and minimising environmental impact shall
include the fuel efficiency and emissions
reduction initiatives that are in place or are
included in the operational performance action
plan now required for S2
S4 Road risk
Change to language regarding managing work
related road risk:
• Added reference to the operational
performance action plan now required for S2
• Changed language from “evidence of a
review meeting with the insurance provider”
to “evidence of a review with the insurance
provider” for clarity
S5 Professional development
Professional development shall be relevant to
the specific roles and responsibilities of drivers,
the responsible person, and all other staff in
the fleet operation – recommended (should) in
The amount of CPC training completed by
drivers should be seen as a guide for the
professional development of all other staff
Driver licence acquisition training should be
introduced
S6 Vehicle safety equipment
Regional or city vehicle permits relating to
vehicle safety requirements may be included
as evidence, where applicable, so long as they
meet or exceed the FORS Standard
S7 Noise pollution
Removal of customer locations from noise
impact assessment
Clarification that FORS operators may use
the FORS Noise Assessment template to help
evidence this requirement
S8 Internal communications
Silver re-approval: FORS operators shall
demonstrate internal communications for
previous 12 months
List of relevant materials that should be
used to assist internal communications
campaigns updated
S9 Sub-contracted services
No change
G1 FORS Silver
No change
G2 Recruitment and retention
(previously G4)
G2 Performance data
Requirement removed
Data elements of the demonstration
incorporated at S2
Recruitment and Retention (G4 in version 5.1) –
No change
G3 Sustainable operations
(previously G6)
G3 Gold case study – requirement removed
Some elements of the demonstration are
incorporated into new G3 as recommended
good practice
Sustainable Operations (G6 in version 5.1)
The review of fleet operation to improve
operational performance shall inform fleet
replacement decisions
At least 50% of the fleet should meet ‘ultra-low
emission’ engine standards
The fleet replacement plan should demonstrate
progression towards 100% ultra low emission
fleet
FORS operators may also provide evidence of
promoting sustainable initiatives
G4 Staff travel
(previously G8) Staff Travel (G8 in version 5.1)
No change
G5 Professional development
No change
G6 Contracted services
(Previously G9)
Rewording of the requirement for clarity
Where it is difficult to influence suppliers, FORS
operators should demonstrate best endeavours
The FORS list of accredited operators should
be explored when placing contracts for
transport suppliers
The following requirements from Version 5 have been removed and some
elements incorporated into Version 6 where appropriate:
G2 Performance data – requirement removed
Data elements of the demonstration incorporated at S2
G3 Gold case study
Requirement removed
Some elements of the demonstration are incorporated into new G3 as recommended good practice
G7 Promoting FORS
Requirement removed
Elements of community engagement, and supporting other operations, incorporated into new G3 as optional