TfL offers olive branch to trade associations after FORS fallout

TFL is to hold an industry engagement event after trade associations accused it of monopolistic practice in regards to FORS earlier this year.

TfL, which contracted out FORS to Aecom in 2015, will host the event on 7 September at its offices in the capital.

The event is intended to review the scheme’s performance and understand the road transport industry’s views.

The meeting follows the chief executives of both the RHA and FTA writing to, and subsequently meeting, Alex Williams, director of planning at TfL.

Both feel that FORS is unfairly operating as a monopoly within the safety accreditation space.

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The associations have not ruled out legal action and told MT that they may pursue a joint action.

FTA chief executive David Wells said: “We’ve both sought legal opinion but we want to exhaust all other routes first before we put our heads together and say ‘should we consider doing something jointly on a legal basis?’”

And RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said he had no faith at this time. “It’s fair to say it’s been a very difficult process of discussion, where we still feel like we’re being ignored.

Although they have demonstrated some willingness to review the framework of FORS, they haven’t listened to any of the points we’ve put forward in terms of a way of progressing it,” he said.

TfL’s Williams said: “We are keen to work with organisations across the industry, including the RHA, on shaping FORS in the future, which is why we’re encouraging operators to get involved in our industry day.”