The FORS Standard version 7.1

Annex 4 – Glossary of terms

This glossary explains the terminology used throughout the FORS Standard. It is important to note that these definitions are specific to FORS and may not match the definitions or interpretations used by other organisations.

Term	FORS meaning (words in italics are also terms defined in this glossary)
Abnormal indivisible load (AIL)	A load to be transported on a road vehicle but is bigger than can be accommodated within standard vehicle regulations and cannot reasonably be divided into two or more parts
Accreditation	FORS Operators having met the FORS Bronze, Silver or Gold requirements
Action points	A record of an incidence of non-compliance with the FORS requirements
Air quality	The concentration of harmful gases and pollutants in the air locally and near ground level
Assurance Schemes	Certification schemes to ensure standards of renewable fuel providers such as the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme
Audit	A verification process of fleet activities to ensure compliance to the FORS Standard
Blind spots	The areas around a vehicle that are not directly visible to the driver
Blind spot elimination	The complete elimination or reduction as far as practical and possible of blind spots using a combination of direct an indirect vision aids
Blind spot information system	Equipment that provides an audible output to alert drivers of other road users near to the vehicle in a driver blind spot. This could be achieved through different technologies (e.g. radar, or ultrasonic). Some technologies may also provide visual outputs to drivers, and some may only provide audible alerts where a collision is imminent.
Bronze	The first level of FORS accreditation
Car	A passenger vehicle with up to eight passenger seats
Carbon offsetting	Using schemes that draw emissions out of the atmosphere (such as tree planting) to negate emissions produced from operations
Class V and Class VI mirror	Close-proximity mirrors required on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW
CO2	Carbon dioxide – a major source of greenhouse gas that is emitted from vehicles and is contributing to climate change
Decarbonisation	Refers to changing operations or systems to those that produce fewer emissions (this refers to all greenhouse gas emissions)
Declaration (operator)	A written statement that is validated either by a physical (wet) signature or electronic confirmation, provided by a FORS Operator to confirm a requirement has been met
Declaration (driver)	A written statement that is validated either by a physical (wet) signature or electronic confirmation, provided by a driver to confirm a requirement has been met. In doing so the driver confirms that they understand the statement, and have read it, or been read it by a responsible person
Demonstration	The specific outputs that demonstrate how a requirement is to be met at audit
Driver	A person driving or riding any vehicle for an organisation that is in scope of FORS accreditation
Direct vision	What a driver can see through windows rather than using mirrors or cameras
Driver CPC	Driver Certificate of Professional Competence – a qualification for professional PCV and HGV drivers
DVSA	Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency – an executive agency of the Department for Transport, responsible for safe operating standards on Britain’s roads
Emissions	The harmful gases from vehicle exhaust systems released into the air
Emissions baseline	The reference point against which an organisation’s emissions data can be measured to understand progress made with emissions reductions
First-use Inspection	A vehicle safety inspection conducted by maintenance staff. It is required for newly acquired vehicles and vehicles being brought back into service
Fleet transition	Fleet transition refers to the change in the makeup of fleet toward lower environmental impact vehicles
FORS	The acronym for the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme
FORS Approved Training	Training that meets the requirements set out in Annexes 1 and 2 and has been approved by FORS/Transport for London
FORS Audit Declaration	Declaration signed by the individual being audited to certify that the information supplied at audit is a true reflection of the company’s activities, policies and procedures that are in place and evidenced at the time of the audit
FORS eLearning	Part of FORS Professional – a comprehensive series of online training modules designed to offer drivers and managers concise, accessible training
FORS Operator	A fleet operator- individual or organisation – that is accredited to Bronze. Silver or Gold level of FORS
FORS Practitioner	An individual who has completed all of the FORS Practitioner workshops. The qualification is valid for five years and is maintained by attending the FORS Practitioner Recertification workshop
FORS Professional Development	Either FORS Approved Training or FORS Professional Training
FORS Professional Training	A comprehensive package of training for managers and drivers, developed and delivered or licensed by FORS to help operators meet the FORS Standard
FORS Professional training register	A register of individuals who have completed either FORS Professional Training or FORS Approved Training
FORS Progression data report	A table within the Silver/Gold application pages, that enables operators to upload the required fleet performance data
FORS Standard	The FORS Standard details the requirements that fleet operators must meet to gain and maintain FORS accreditation
Gold	The highest level of FORS accreditation
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Any emissions that contribute to the ‘greenhouse effect’ trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing climate change
HGV	A goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. For the purpose of FORS, this includes wheeled plant, for example mobile cranes, concrete pumps and volumetric mixers. This does NOT however include for example earth moving machinery, excavators, hoists, elevating work platforms, reach stackers and forklifts
Immersive interactive learning	Training where participants gain an interactive experience through drama-based multi-media, virtual reality or other mixed reality training methods
Indirect environmental impacts	Emissions or negative environmental impacts from the value chain of fleet operations, for example in the production of the vehicles that the operator uses
Indirect vision	What a driver can see through mirrors and cameras rather than the vehicle windows
Initial audit	The first FORS audit at each level of Bronze, Silver or Gold
Initial WRRR approval criteria	Mandatory WRRR training criteria needed to be met to achieve FORS Approved status for a driver’s first five-year qualifying period. Training providers must apply to have a course approved to achieve FORS Approved status for either initial or refresher WRRR training
Infringement	Action that breaks the terms of a law and leads to an offence such as warnings, prohibition notices and fixed penalties
KPI	Key performance indicator – a performance measure used to demonstrate FORS Silver and Gold accreditation
Lifecycle emissions	Refers to emissions produced at all stages of a vehicles’ life including the gathering of materials, production, use and end-of life disposal
LOLER	LOLER Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
Lower environmental impact vehicles	A category of vehicles with less negative environmental impact, including ultra-low emission vehicles and zero emission vehicles
May	Indicates an element within the FORS Standard that is optional or an emerging practice
Minibus	A passenger vehicle with more than eight, but not more than 16 passenger seats
MOCA	Multi-operating centre accreditation – a type of accreditation for FORS Operators with more than one operating centre to be accredited and the same policies and procedures throughout
Net Zero	Zero contribution to total greenhouse gas emissions through a combination of emissions reduction and carbon offsetting
Non-exhaust emissions	Emissions produced by a vehicle that do not come from the use of fuel; these are produced primarily by the rubbing of breaks, the wearing of tyres, and the disturbance of road matter in the air
NOx	Nitrogen oxides – a term for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) – gases formed by vehicle engines that cause air pollutants that are harmful to human health
On-cycle hazard awareness training	Training where participants gain first-hand experience as a cyclist
Operating centre	The site or depot where vehicles operate from, where there is infrastructure that supports daily management, control and day- to-day operational deployment of a fleet Note: The definition of a FORS operating centre is not the same as defined for operator licensing
Particulate Matter	A vehicle emission that is a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air and are harmful to human health, e.g. dust, pollen, soot, smoke and droplets
PCV	Passenger carrying vehicle – a passenger vehicle with more than eight passenger seats
PDP	Professional development plan – a plan that identifies and documents progressive FORS Professional Development for drivers and all other staff involved in the fleet operation
Policy	A document that determines the rules and strategic direction of the organisation
Powered Light Vehicle (PLV)	Powered two, three or four wheeled vehicles for either passenger or cargo use, for example; cargo bikes, motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, quad bikes, and microcars (this includes the sub-category of electric cycles known as Electric Assist Pedal Cycles)
Procedure	A document setting out the detailed steps required to meet the requirement
Purpose	The reason why the specific outcome is required
PUWER	Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
Regulatory phase out dates	The planned dates set by Government to stop the sale of new petrol/diesel vehicles
Refresher WRRR approval critera	Mandatory WRRR training criteria needed to be met to achieve FORS Approved status for a driver’s subsequent five-year qualifying periods. Training providers must apply to have a course approved to achieve FORS Approved status for either initial or refresher WRRR training
Requirement	The specific outcome to be achieved, based on legal compliance, safety, efficiency and the environment
Re-approval audit	A periodic audit of a FORS Operator
Shall	Indicates an element in the FORS Standard that is mandatory to demonstrate the requirement has been met
Should	Indicates an element in the FORS Standard that is recommended as good practice
Silver	The second level of FORS accreditation
Small operator	An organisation with fewer than five vehicles and fewer than five employees
SORN	Statutory Off Road Notification – a method to stop taxing and insuring a vehicle when it is taken off the road
Tailpipe emissions	Emissions produced by an internal combustion engine in transit (CO2, NOx, and PM), not including emissions from the production of fuel e.g. electricity for battery electric vehicles
Total cost of ownership	The purchase price of a vehicle plus the costs of operation including predicted cost of fuelling and anticipated maintenance
Van	A goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight
Vehicle	An HGV, PCV, van, car, PLV or wheeled plant
Vehicle tax	A tax that must be paid for most types of vehicles used on public roads (also known as Vehicle Excise Duty or road tax)
Vulnerable road user (VRU)	Road users that require extra care such as cyclists, pedestrians, PLV riders, horse riders
Well-to-wheel emissions	Emissions produced in the supply and use of fuel (including electricity) to power a vehicle, including tailpipe emissions of any internal combustion engines
WRRR	Work-related road risk – a method of managing the risks created and faced whilst driving for work

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