Stay compliant with the FORS Standard

Stay compliant with the FORS Standard

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The role of the FORS compliance team is to uphold the FORS Standard and to ensure that members comply with the requirements at Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditations. Among its functions, the team is in place to react to complaints about FORS members which may arise from a range of sources including enforcement agencies, FORS specifiers and members of the public. In addition, the team conducts weekly reviews of all the Applications and Decisions published by the Traffic Commissioner.

In October, November and December 2019, the FORS compliance team handled 111 complaints against FORS operators.

The compliance team deals with all complaints in accordance with the FORS Compliance and Enforcement Guidance for Operators. This document provides guidance on all FORS compliance and enforcement activities and explains how an operator’s FORS accreditation may be affected if they breach the FORS Standard or the T&Cs. It also includes a table of compliance outcomes depending on the type of complaint.

Here is a list of the most common complaints and the correct process for each under the current version (version 5) of the FORS Standard:

Most common complaints

Correct process

In accordance with the FORS Standard, T&Cs and FORS R&Ps

Timescale
Driving Dangerously FORS operators shall have a policy in place on the driving standards required within the organisation and provide drivers with access to the current version of the following documents:

  • The Highway Code for UK-based operations
  • Official road user guide or code of practice for non-UK based operations

Drivers should also have access to the current version of the official road user guide or highway code for any country they operate in

 FORS Compliance and Bronze requirement D2 Upon induction to comply with Bronze requirement D3
Parking breaches Fleet operators shall have a procedure in place to plan and adhere to compliant, safe and efficient routes. The procedure shall specifically include adherence to:

  • Prescribed passenger routes
  • Designated construction routes

Permit-controlled routes, such as the London Lorry Control Scheme

 Bronze requirement O1 As soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five business days
Displaying FORS logo, whilst the company are not accredited as full FORS members You will have no right to use any trademarks, trade names, logos or other Intellectual Property Rights of the FORS provider, the FORS Champions or the TfL group without the prior written consent of the FORS provider and you will not:

  • Use any trademarks, trade names or logos so resembling the FORS provider marks as to be likely to cause confusion with the FORS provider marks; or
  • Cause or permit anything to be done which might damage or endanger the validity or distinctiveness of, or the goodwill in, the FORS provider marks or other Intellectual Property Rights of the FORS provider; or
  • Represent, directly or indirectly, that any of your products or services have been endorsed or approved by the FORS provider or any FORS Champion; or use in advertising, publicity or any other communication, whether written, electronic or any other means any FORS provider mark or other Intellectual Property Rights of the FORS provider or the name, brand or logo of the FORS provider or FORS Champion, without the prior written consent of the FORS provider
 FORS Terms and Conditions – Clause 7.3 As soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five business days
Called to a Public Inquiry You will notify the FORS providers in writing, if your company or employees are called to attend Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry for the following reasons:

  • GV – S26 – Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 26 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995
  • GV – S27 – Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 27 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995
  • GV – S28 – Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995
  • GV – Sch.3 – Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995
 FORS Terms and Conditions – Clauses 3.4.3 and 3.4.4 As soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five business days