The CLOCS Standard looks for all stakeholders to work together to create the right environment for the safest construction vehicle journeys, and for procurers to make informed, intelligent and pragmatic decisions.
A critical element is the procurement of fleet operations to ensure that the vehicles and drivers servicing construction sites are of an appropriate standard, and that the fleet operators have robust management systems in place to monitor and maintain those standards.
The CLOCS Standard requires clients to specify in tender and contract documents that all stakeholders comply with the CLOCS Standard, and principal contractors to procure fleet operations that comply with the requirements of the CLOCS Standard.
The CLOCS Standard states that fleet operators shall:
- 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:
- The operator can define their own scope for fleet compliance accreditation to respond to specific client requirements and their own business needs. This may require separate accreditation for vehicles under and over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight that operate within the same fleet.
- attainment of FORS Silver accreditation is not a CLOCS requirement and alternative fleet accreditation schemes or management systems may be used to demonstrate compliance. See below for details of some other schemes though others may be available.
To provide further clarification for all parties involved with CLOCS implementation and the procurement of fleet operator services, we issued the CLOCS Fleet Accreditation Guidance Note in June 2022.
Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS)
The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is a voluntary accreditation scheme for fleet operators which aims to raise the level of quality within fleet operations, and to demonstrate which operators are achieving exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.
DVSA Earned Recognition
DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) Earned Recognition is a voluntary scheme designed to enable vehicle operators of all sizes to prove that their organisation meets driver and vehicle standards. DVSA earned recognition operators regularly share performance information with the DVSA in the form of a monthly report.
DVSA have developed some guidance for CLOCS members on how Earned Recognition can be used to demonstrate compliance with the CLOCS Standard as an alternative to FORS Silver.
To contact the DVSA Earned Recognition team and learn more, simply email dvsaer@dvsa.gov.uk.
Mission Zero
Mission Zero is a quality standard for the road fleet sector. It is a scheme for organisations to adopt a roadmap towards the vision of zero collisions, zero emissions and zero prohibitions.
Working with a range of industry stakeholders, Mission Zero has used their collective knowledge of fleet standards to develop a scheme that meets fleet operator needs, legal obligations and customer expectations; whilst ensuring a quality standard that is accurate, consistent and reliable.
ISO 39001
ISO 39001:2012 specifies requirements for a road traffic safety (RTS) management system to enable an organisation that interacts with the road traffic system to reduce death and serious injuries related to road traffic crashes which it can influence.
The requirements in ISO 39001:2012 include development and implementation of an appropriate RTS policy, development of RTS objectives and action plans, which take into account legal and other requirements (which would include client specified) to which the organization subscribes, and information about elements and criteria related to RTS that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence.
Direct Vision Standard (DVS)
The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) measures how much an HGV driver can see directly through their cab windows. This indicates the level of risk to vulnerable road users, such as people walking and cycling, near the vehicle.
DVS and the safety permit scheme for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) requires operators of lorries over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight to obtain a safety permit before entering and operating in most of Greater London
