Fleet operators provide the vehicles used to deliver to and from a construction site or development, and are responsible for providing safe vehicles and competent drivers.
CLOCS provides a consistent and collaborative approach to procurement from clients, developers and principal contractors in requiring compliance with the CLOCS Standard rather than one specific fleet accreditation.
By joining CLOCS, fleet operators demonstrate their commitment to operating at a higher standard and working collaboratively with planning authorities, clients and principal contractors. Importantly they are also helping build a consistent demand from procurers that creates a commercial advantage for those operating to higher standards and provides operators the freedom to select the accreditation that is most appropriate to them and their operational needs.
Additionally, having clients and contractors operating to a consistent standard, beyond legislation, means they are working together to create the right environment for the safest construction vehicle journeys reducing risk for operators.
Adopting and implementing CLOCS will help:
- provide evidence of a quality fleet operation where vehicles are in line with high industry standards and up to date safety equipment, and drivers receive appropriate training for the journeys they are undertaking
- reduce risk to protect drivers, vulnerable roads users and the operator’s commercial reputation
- provide a competitive advantage when bidding for work
- provide an opportunity to influence client procurement and contractor operations
CLOCS is commercially vital to our business, the majority of the contractors and local councils in central London that we work for insist certain vehicle standards are met. Failure to comply means our vehicles are turned away from the gate.
— Ashish Gami & Kevin Murphy, Transport Managers, McGee Group Ltd
Becoming a CLOCS Champion provides:
- a construction road safety standard already adopted by many of the UK’s largest clients, developers, contractors and fleet operators
- access to vital resources and support including guides, templates, case studies and training
- being part of an ever-growing community of like-minded organisations with access to member meetings, working groups and online safety forums
Adopting and implementing CLOCS
The CLOCS Standard defines the primary requirements placed upon the key stakeholders associated with a construction project and places responsibilities and duties on the regulator, the client, the principal contractor controlling the construction site and the supply chain including the operator of any road-going vehicles servicing that project.
The CLOCS Standard outlines specific requirement for a fleet operator as follows:
- ensure they are part of a recognised independent fleet accreditation scheme or have a suitable management system in place that addresses the issues of management, vehicles, drivers and operations
- in selecting their fleet accreditation, ensure all construction logistics vehicle operations meet the standards and requirements as described as Silver in the FORS Standard
- provide acceptable evidence (as defined by each procurer) to demonstrate that requirements have been met
Note that attainment of FORS Silver accreditation is not a CLOCS requirement and that alternative fleet accreditation schemes or management systems may be used to demonstrate compliance.
The CLOCS Standard applies to all commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight including abnormal indivisible loads and engineering plant. The client will determine within their own contracts if the CLOCS Standard also applies to vehicles under 3.5 tonnes.
Additional guidance on fleet accreditation is available here.
Useful resources
Anyone new to CLOCS should take a look at the getting started page for guidance on how best to adopt and implement CLOCS within their operations.
A number of resources are available to fleet operators:
- CLOCS Safety Forums are held throughout the year with speakers from across the industry talking about relevant issues, sharing their knowledge and expertise to highlight best practice
- ‘Exchanging places‘ is an industry initiative to help people, particularly pedestrians and cyclists see the road from the perspective of a lorry driver.
- The Van Driver Toolkit, developed by CLOCS Strategic Partner, Driving for Better Business, will help operators implement best practice for what is required to reduce costs, improve operating conditions and ensure safe and legal vehicles and wellbeing for your drivers
Additionally, CLOCS Champion Fleet Operators are invited to join a CLOCS Fleet Operator Working Group made up of peers and colleagues across the fleet community to develop a closer relationship with CLOCS, helping drive strategy and standards, and access knowledge, insights and expertise from others in the same role facing the same challenges.
Joining the CLOCS community
If you are ready to join the CLOCS community, your first step is to register to become a CLOCS Champion.
All Champions are party to a Memorandum of Understanding which should be reviewed to understand the commitment and engagement expected.
Case studies
McGee: Going digital
As an operator of a large fleet, McGee has revolutionised the traditional pen-and-paper-based daily vehicle inspection process by ‘going digital.
Read moreMunnelly Support Services and CLOCS
Munnelly Support Services has been helping clients and principal contractors to implement CLOCS to ensure road users and the workforce on construction sites are better protected.
Read moreSaint-Gobain, Bevan Group and Motormax
Saint-Gobain, Bevan Group and Motormax collaborate to reduce incident frequency of Jewson fleet by 34%.
Read more
