So now we know the fees that those wishing to partake in Fors (the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) will need to pay, as TfL's scheme makes the move into the private sector under Aecom.

 

Operators are still digesting those and no doubt we'll hear more views in the coming weeks (three operators we contacted last week hadn't even seen the fees yet, so there may well be a longtail to this).

However, while some have welcomed the change, others have predicted some operators that currently have Fors as a 'nice to have' will now leave the scheme at their next renewal date.

That's not ideal as the plan is to grow Fors, taking it both national and into new areas such as the bus and coach sector. However, this expansion, combined with the fact that it's hard for those subcontracting in the construction and building arenas not to have Fors, will likely offset any departures (for now).

Regardless, it will be interesting to see where the current 2,400 member-mark stands in a year's time and in what sectors it has a foothold.

At present RHA and FTA aren't behind the scheme's national ambitions, with RHA stating that while the aims of Fors are laudable it would rather see a single standrd agreed by all stakeholders put into place (above the legal requirements of an O-licence, that is).

Nor is Christopher Snelling, head of urban logistics at FTA, a fan. "We’re still not convinced about the rationale for Fors at all. Where is the proven safety benefit in Fors? We haven’t seen any demonstrated.

"There are specific elements in Fors you can require, but in terms of membership as a whole, as a package, we’re not convinced," he said.

While paying for Fors is, as previously discussed on The Hub, a gamechanger in terms of the relationship with members and in-turn their expectations, Fors gold member ELB Partners sums up what many operators are likely thinking at the moment.

"I knew there would one day be a charge for Fors but I really did not expect it to be quite so expensive. This seems a lot of money to me, especially when you add in all the other organisations such as RHA and FTA.

"It seems that us hauliers are paying the bill yet again for all the urban awarness schemes and safety equipment and yet again the cyclist will benefit and still not contribute," said MD Peter Eason.

As previously stated, that may well be a price ultimately worth paying for the industry, but it now clear that Aecom and its partners have some hard questions to answer in the months ahead.