The Met Police reports greater engagement with hauliers following FORS training with Officers from Met’s Commercial Vehicle Unit set to achieve esteemed FORS Practitioner status and the service focused on engagement and education over enforcement.

I think we’re all buying into the FORS best practice mindset

Sergeant Alex Burlison

FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, has teamed up with the Metropolitan Police, so that officers from the force’s Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) can undertake FORS training as part of efforts to foster better relations with fleet operators.

The partnership with FORS comes as the Met Police seeks to boost engagement with commercial vehicle operators of all types, committing to a more educational approach and creating an environment of open dialogue in addition to a focus on enforcement.

Learnings from the FORS Practitioner ‘Managing Abnormal Indivisible Loads’ training module have been incorporated into the CVU’s own Toolbox Talks; a two-hour educative presentation to hauliers, which the CVU reports as being particularly well received. Content from FORS has also been described as enormously beneficial in the CVU’s understanding of operators’ obligations.

The CVU is also looking to integrate more FORS content into its own training material. As part of this, five Response Sergeants from the Met’s CVU will complete the full FORS Practitioner programme, a series of ten individual modules covering all aspects of fleet management. Meanwhile, Sergeant Alex Burlison of the Met’s CVU, will undertake the 15-module FORS Advanced Practitioner programme.

Of course, our responsibility for roadside enforcement is crucial but we’re also becoming increasingly focused on education and engagement with hauliers. Transport Managers’ roles are so much more than mere compliance and FORS has really helped us appreciate the many and varied aspects of running a successful fleet operation. I think we’re all buying into the FORS best practice mindset.

We want to build better relations with all commercial vehicle operators and our Toolbox Talks not only deliver on a training level, but they also provide a platform for operators to feedback. We’re receiving calls from hauliers every day requesting more Toolbox Talks and more engagement, and FORS is helping to ensure we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet. Through its training portfolio, FORS provides a truly comprehensive knowledge base, and it’s apparent that commercial vehicle operators are engaging with FORS directly. So, it makes sense for us to be part of the narrative. Undoubtedly, we’re fostering better relations with hauliers, and I think the perception of the Met Police is also improving.

Sergeant Alex Burlison