Freight drivers in Scotland may find conditions increasingly difficult as snow sweeps across the country.
The Met Office has issued a series of yellow weather warnings for ice in various parts of Scotland. These regions include the Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar, south-west Scotland, Lothian, Borders, and Strathclyde regions.
This means almost all of Scotland, bar the east coast, is facing significant weather challenges. Ice poses a particularly obvious peril to drivers of vehicles large or small. Places like Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee will be fine for now, although this may change as weather systems sweep in.
However, over the course of today (January 22nd) no weather-related road closures have yet been reported by Travel Line Scotland, with some closed due to other occurrences such as roadworks and the laying of gas pipes.
Naturally, the gritters will be out in force, but if the snow keeps coming and the temperatures remain low as expected, many roads could become a lot slower, with drivers being forced to cut their speed.
Preparing for the worst
So far this winter conditions have been generally mild across Scotland. Snow mainly confined to the upland areas, but that could now be at an end.
For that reason, drivers should take extra precautions to ensure they are safe in the event of cold weather. This includes warm clothing, warm drinks and extra food in case they get stranded for long periods; or even overnight.
Indeed, last year’s Beast from the East showed that problems can still occur right into early spring.
The coldest temperatures in Scottish winters tend to occur in the eastern Highlands. Those using the A9, for example, may pass through Aviemore, where the mercury has been known to drop to -22C on winter nights.
Braemar on the other side of the Cairngorms range can be similarly cold.
Ellie Baker, brand manager at FCS Scotland, comments: “Winter has arrived with a vengeance, and it could get worse, so now is an important time for freight drivers to take all the necessary precautions.”
The Met office is warning there will be a significant change in the autumnal weather this week, as Storm Diana moves from the Atlantic and is set to bring rain and gales to the UK, from Wednesday.
Here is some advice to your fleet drivers from IAM RoadSmart on how best to cope with it.
Heavy rain:
Heavy rain will affect your visibility, so take it slow. Rule 126 of the Highway Code states that the braking distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you should be two seconds when driving on a dry road, and at least four seconds in the wet. It is even longer on icy surfaces. IAM RoadSmart recommends up to 10 times the braking distance when driving on ice.
Your windscreen should be clean, wipers effective and the jets positioned correctly and aimed at the screen. It is sensible to clean the windshield, make any necessary adjustments and remove anything from the main area before you start your journey.
A good rule of thumb is that if you need windscreen wipers, then you need your headlights. Automatic light settings will not always activate in lousy weather conditions, so it is up to you to make a sensible decision as to whether these need to be turned on.
Aquaplaning:
If the water is standing in puddles on the road surface, your car is at risk of aquaplaning. Aquaplaning is where a wedge of water forms in front of the tyre and lifts off the road surface, causing the tread not to be able to displace the amount of water present. To recover form aquaplaning, ease gently off your accelerator, have a firm grip of the steering wheel and be sure not to make any sudden steering actions. The car will eventually regain its grip as the water clears.
Floods:
First, ask yourself – can you take another route? If not, then you need to identify how deep the water is. If the standing water is more than six inches deep, avoid driving through it. If you are familiar with the road, you can judge the flood to the kerb.
If heavy rain was not the cause of the flood, then what was? Moreover, what impact on the road does it have? For example, if it is a burst water main, the standing water may look like a normal flood, but the road surface beneath the water may be completely broken up. If you are unsure how the surge has formed, then avoid it altogether.
Are there other vehicles similar to yours that are safely driving through the water? From this, make a judgement call as to whether it is safe to travel through or not.
If the water is fast flowing, do not attempt to drive through it, as there is a real danger of being swept off the road in your car.
If you have considered everything and decided to drive through the flood, be sure to do so slowly. The best approach is to press lightly on your clutch and add gentle pressure on your accelerator to increase your engine revs. Do so without increasing your speed, in a similar way to how you would undertake a hill start. Doing this will prevent water from entering your exhaust. If you are in an automatic car, accelerate slightly but control the speed with your brakes. When you have passed the flood, test your brakes to make sure they are dry and working correctly.
If you are in the slightest doubt, then turn around and don’t go through the flood. Often modern saloon cars have the air intake in the wheel arch, which may be below the water level. If your engine should take in water, it will take immediately hydro lock, and the vehicle will stop.
Remember to stay alert and avoid splashing pedestrians. If accidentally done – even when causing splashed when driving through puddles at the side of the road – you could receive a fixed penalty and three points on your license for driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users. If deliberately done, it could be a public order offence, a court appearance and a fine.
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FORS has revealed the new FORS Standard at its annual Members’ Conference.
The new FORS Standard is the fifth iteration of the document. It sets out the requirements operators must meet if they wish to become FORS accredited.
The revised edition addresses the need for air quality improvements and sets out requirements to help operators mitigate against threats of terrorism. Provision is also made for a broader range of operations and vehicles, including powered two-wheelers, and new requirements for bus and coach operators.
The FORS Standard is updated every two years to reflect the continuous evolution of best practice and FORS’s singular aim to drive-up safety, environmental, and efficiency standards for all road transport operations. Version 5 of the FORS Standard was revealed to 500 FORS members at its annual conference in Birmingham today (Tuesday 16 October).
This edition of the FORS Standard, published as FORS reaches its 10th year of operation, highlights the increasing diversity of commercial fleets and aims to make it more accessible for a broader range of vehicles to achieve accreditation. It contains a more robust commitment to raising environmental standards in operations, recognising the need for better air quality in UK cities via revised requirements and a revised training programme.
FORS director, John Hix said, “FORS has always been committed to promoting continuous best practice, both in the progressive nature of our accreditation, and in the way we work to ensure our requirements remain relevant.
“The FORS Standard is not a static document, because best-practice is not static. The FORS Standard must respond to emerging best practice and new legislations which affect members, and the feedback of members themselves.”
Key changes – FORS Bronze Audit
The revised FORS Standard has been designed to make FORS accessible to more vehicles, especially the growing fleets of motorcycles and other powered two-wheelers, which contribute to many last-mile deliveries on UK roads. Now, specific load safety requirements set out by vehicle type are included not only for heavy goods vehicles, vans and passenger carrying vehicles (PCVs), but also powered two-wheelers.
PCVs are also given greater credence, with a new requirement at FORS Bronze to ensure accessibility, comfort and safety for all passengers. The requirement must be demonstrated via a passenger safety policy, on vehicle signage and adequate access for all passengers.
A new counter terrorism requirement has been introduced, meaning operators must have a policy and supporting procedures in place at FORS Bronze, which names a Counter Terrorism Champion. Under new Bronze training requirements members must also have completed the current FORS Professional Security and Counter Terrorism eLearning module within the 24 months prior to audit. Since its launch in January 2018, the module has been completed by over 15,700 individuals.
John Hix noted, “With the terrorist threat ongoing, it is now more important than ever that we all play our part in tackling the dangers to personal and vehicle safety. FORS is proud to be supporting our operators and drivers in managing and reducing risk in their day-to-day operations.”
Key changes – FORS Silver and Gold Accreditations
An added emphasis on improving environmental operating standards becomes evident with a new requirement at FORS Silver for HGV and van drivers to complete the FORS Professional ‘LoCITY – Time to clean up’ eLearning module within the 24 months prior to accreditation.
In line with the progressive nature of the scheme, FORS has also introduced a requirement at Gold for drivers to have completed either the FORS Professional LoCITY Driving training course, or a FORS Approved environmental awareness course within the past five years. This is in addition to the current requirement to have attended a Safe Urban Driving (SUD), a Van Smart (VS) or a FORS Approved work-related road safety training course, within the five years prior to accreditation.
FORS Silver also includes a commitment to tackle noise pollution – a criteria formally only mandated at FORS Gold. Operators seeking FORS Silver accreditation must complete noise assessments at operating centres and noise sensitive locations in a bid to minimise noise pollution and its impact on local communities.
The new FORS Standard aims to minimise the probability and severity of collisions involving vulnerable road users. FORS Silver accreditation is also fully aligned to meet both the TfL requirements on managing work-related road risk (WRRR) and the new CLOCS Standard v3, due to come into force in January 2019.
The evolution of the FORS Standard
The FORS Standard review process has been managed by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), part of the FORS Community Partnership (FCP), under the direction of a Technical Advisory Group of the FORS Governance and Standards Advisory Group (GSAG) – a group made up of FORS members, specifiers and stakeholders who provide advice and guidance on the development of FORS.
John Hix concluded, “FORS has grown from a relatively-small London-centric operation, to encompass well over 5,000 members of diverse fleets nationwide. With this truly national remit, it is vital that FORS is flexible enough to meet the evolving challenges our members face and to help operators striving for continuous operational excellence and best practice. We are confident the new Standard moves our members forward on this course.”
“Version 5 FORS requirements and demonstrations will guide FORS members on how to run a safe, efficient and environmentally-sound operation,” said John Hix, adding, “their operation is in safe hands with the FORS Standard.”
FORS is funding a series of half-day workshops to help ‘demystify’ the relationship between FORS and CLOCS
‘Demystifying FORS and CLOCS’ workshops were developed in 2017 by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) – a key partner in the FORS Community Partnership.
The first ‘Demystifying FORS and CLOCS’ workshop was delivered in London in July with further workshops scheduled for Manchester and Birmingham. The workshop is free to attend for fleet operators and client specifiers. Over 200 delegates attended the first phase of the workshop delivery last year with FORS supporting and funding the delivery of workshops in 2018.
FORS and CLOCS are powerful complementary initiatives in place to drive-up standards in road risk management across the logistics sector. However, with national growth of the schemes at an exceptional rate there is a perceived confusion as to how they work together. The ‘Demystifying FORS and CLOCS’ workshop was developed to:
Provide the background and context as to why the contruction sector is taking steps to protect the most vulnerable road users
Explain the role of the different stakeholders and the actions they need to take to ensure a consistent road safety standards across the industry
Clarify how clients specify the CLOCS Standard in their supply chain and how fleet operators accredit to the FORS to demonstrate CLOCS compliance
The workshop is designed for anyone with influence within the supply chain, including developers, principal contractors, fleet operators, local authorities and procurement professionals.
CLOCS was established as an industry led movement in 2013 to address the construction sector’s overrepresentation in fatal collisions involving vulnerable road users. FORS has aligned to the CLOCS requirements since it was launched, in which time both schemes have matured to develop a consistent national standard for managing road risk in logistics operations. CILT Senior Associate and FORS Technical Adviser, Glen Davies, believes a level of misperception is understandable but one which can be easily explained.
“With two powerful schemes influencing road safety standards across the country, it is entirely reasonable that there is some confusion,” he says, “and, while there is a similarity, there is both a distinct difference and a crucial connection. CLOCS is a set of road safety requirements the construction client expects within the supply chain – FORS is a quality standard for fleet operations that is recognised by the client.
Davies adds, “Alongside improving road safety standards, FORS also helps improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Compliance to the CLOCS Standard is demonstrated by fleet operators accrediting to FORS Silver. It’s as simple as that.”
Derek Rees, CLOCS Project Director, concurs, “Every construction client and principal contractor should use CLOCS to demonstrate their respective corporate commitment and practical actions to eliminate the tragic 500 fatal or serious injury collisions that occur every year on the UK’s roads between HGVs and pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – and they should require every fleet operator to use FORS to demonstrate their own commitment and actions to achieve the same mission. Together we can save lives, business reputation and money.”
If you are a FORS company, or if you are working towards accreditation, your business is entitled to some exclusive fuel cost saving offers from Fuel Card Services. Click here for more information.
FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary. In just one decade, FORS has grown from a small, yet highly motivated, collective of best practice-minded operators joining a new scheme created by Transport for London (TfL), to become a nationwide scheme boasting a 5,000-strong membership and representing the full spectrum of the transport operating industry.
FORS is now recognised as the go-to best practice accreditation scheme in the transport sector, with a mandate to promote safety, efficiency and environmental protection. Its members include commercial vehicle operators of any size and make-up, with vehicles from cars, vans and light commercial vehicles, to heavy goods vehicles. Members can access a comprehensive package of funded training delivered through the FORS Professional training portfolio.
FORS Director, John Hix, believes it is this progressive nature which has kept FORS relevant in an ever-changing industry. “When FORS began,” he says, “it was clear there was a lot more operators could do to make the roads safer and to make their fleets more efficient. Without a doubt, great strides have been made since then, with far more awareness of safety, up-skilling of drivers, and fleets operating far more efficiently. However,” he adds, “new technology, busier cities, and the increasing complexities of compliance means standards are always rising and there is always more we can do.
“Best practice is not a static one-off achievement, and neither is FORS – it is about embedding a cultural change, to encourage operators to always do more. We now have in place a robust accreditation scheme and we’re extremely proud that, 10 years on, our members continue to raise standards for their operations and the wider industry.”
FORS officially launched at the CV Show in 2008 and published the FORS Standard; the first edition of the comprehensive reference source which defines the requirements that members must meet in order to achieve the three, progressive levels of accreditation: FORS Bronze, Silver and Gold. It wasn’t long before FORS recognised it had at its disposal a much wider remit within the transport sector and, with growing interest from operators and specifiers from across the UK, the scheme rapidly expanded well beyond the confines of the M25.
Steve Agg, chair of the FORS Governance Standards and Advisory Group (GSAG) which oversees the FORS Standard, and former Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, said, “FORS started from scratch, specific to London and specific to freight, and now it is a scheme available to any commercial vehicle operator, across the UK and beyond. FORS has provided a tangible means for companies in the transport sector to demonstrate that they want to drive-up standards.”
Graham Bellman, Group Fleet Director at the Travis Perkins group, and GSAG member, said, “FORS single biggest achievement is putting transport distribution and supply chain on the map, moving us to an industry with a professional image and a national standard, helping not only us as operators but also our suppliers.”
Gordon Sutherland, GSAG member and Road Transport Logistics manager for FORS Champion Thames Tideway, said, “The tangible benefits of FORS are that companies are seeing less penalty charge notices and less incidents. The drivers are more confident with less staff turnover as a result, and that is a huge achievement in itself.”
Garry Lewis, Transport Standards Manager at Tarmac, and a member of GSAG said, “FORS shows that legal compliance isn’t good enough in today’s world, it needs to be about bringing in best practice. FORS has become the leading Standard for road transport safety and environmental issues, taking us past legal compliance to help drive us forward.”
The power of 10 – FORS milestones
1. 2008 FORS launches at the CV Show, publishing its Bronze Standard
2. In 2011 FORS launched its FORS Practitioner qualification, awarded upon completion of a series of 10 workshops, designed to assist operators in day to day best practice, and it also launched Safer Urban Driving course, putting drivers on cycles to highlight challenges faced by vulnerable road users
3. FORS has grown into a truly national scheme with a staggering 82% of members – that’s 4,051 companies – based outside London
4. FORS is now international, with active members in 17 countries, including the UK
5. The FORS Professional training programme has thus far trained over 180,000 managers and drivers via its eLearning and classroom-based courses
6. There are now over 1,000 FORS Silver accredited members
7. More than 250 companies are accredited as FORS Gold
8. Over 1,000 qualified FORS Practitioners
9. FORS first ten accredited members are still active today, and include Hanson UK, Trad Scaffolding Company, Martek Contracts, TfL (Tube Lines), Headlam, PHS Group, Bywaters, Bedfords Transport, West Horsley Dairy, and Lawsons Ltd
10. Over 5,000 accredited operators, representing nearly 10,000 operating centres and over 110,000 vehicles
If you are a FORS company, or if you are working towards accreditation, your business is entitled to some exclusive fuel cost saving offers from Fuel Card Services. Click here for more information.
