VOSA’s Operators Compliance Risk Score (OCRS)

The Vehicle Operators Services Agency (VOSA) have created the operators compliance risk score system (OCRS) as a way of identifying compliant and particularly non-compliant operators whilst out on the road.

What is it?

The Vehicle Operators Services Agency (VOSA) have created the operators compliance risk score system (OCRS) as a way of identifying compliant and particularly non-compliant operators whilst out on the road. The system is designed to save officers time as they then only need to stop and check non-compliant operators.

VOSA examiners use a small device known as the mobile compliance device (MCD). The registration number or operator licence information is typed into the MCD. The device then accesses the VOSA database and returns information relating to the vehicle or operator in question. This then returns the compliance risk score which is shown as red, amber or green and as a numeric value of zero to ten. The VOSA examiner then makes a decision whether to pull over the vehicle based upon the information received from MCD. Should the MCD return a score of red nine or ten, the examiner is more likely to stop and check that vehicle than a vehicle with a lower score.

The difference between the traffic enforcement score and the roadworthiness score.

Two different scores are added together in order to calculate the OCRS score. These are the traffic enforcement score and the road worthiness score. Each score takes into account different criteria so that the final OCRS score gives an accurate overall picture of each operator.  

The traffic enforcement score includes roadside inspections and any prosecutions received by the operator. It is also covers two further sub-categories which are 'driver's hours' and 'other traffic details'. 'Drivers offences' includes such matters as insufficient rest and any tachograph related checks. 'Other traffic offences' include any offences relating to the weight of the vehicle inspected.

The roadworthiness score concentrates on condition of vehicles and is calculated by looking at the vehicle test information along with the vehicle encounter test results. The vehicle test information arises out of the first vehicle tests and subsequent annual tests. Vehicle encounters consist of fleet check inspections which can be carried out at the road side or at VOSA check sites.

A guide as to how the OCRS score is calculated

Scoring for both OCRS categories can be historic or predictive depending on how established the operator is. An established operator will have historic test results which allow a historic score to be calculated. Conversely a newly established operator will have no historic data resulting in a predictive score being calculated.

The historic OCRS score is based on data taken from the VOSA database and is calculated using actual historic data which has been collected by VOSA examiners during the previous two years. The historic score is calculated by adding together points which have been attributed to previous offences. The more serious the offence the greater number of points attributed to that offence.

Predictive scores are given to newly established operators with no historic data and are calculated using the data of operators that have similar characteristics to the operator in question. Information such as the type of operators licence held and the type of goods carried are taken into account when predicting this score.

Once an operator has been given either a predictive score or a historic score an index score is then created. Each encounter with a VOSA officer is classed as one event. All events with no defects or offences are treated as a clear encounter and therefore carry zero points. Each defect, or offence, is given a points rating based on the severity of the defect, or offence. The scoring mechanism calculates the average number of points per event and this score is termed the index score.

Similar operators have their index scores placed into a league table which provides a relative score. Operators with a historic score of zero points are placed into group green zero and the rest are grouped in 10 percentiles according their individual index score. The operators with the lowest index score are placed in the group zero, the operators within the next 10% will be placed into group one and so on until the league table is full. Once all operators are included in the league table each group or number is then assigned a colour. See below for an example.

The same principle applies to the traffic enforcement score but as this is based only on encounters, a large percentage of operators are not seen. Therefore, scoring for traffic enforcement has been set as zero for green, one to eight for amber and nine to ten for red. A copy of the OCRS league table is attached below and this sets out the parameters for both the roadworthiness score and the traffic enforcement score.

Other useful information about your OCRS score

You can find out your OCRS roadworthiness and traffic enforcement scores by sending an email to datacare@vosa.gov.uk. Further pieces of information, such as the vehicle test maintenance statement, the vehicle encounter report and national vehicle defect report are also available. Requests should include your operators licence number, your company name and address along with your email, a contact name and confirmation that the person applying is authorised to receive the information. VOSA are required to deal with your request within 20 working days.

OCRS scores can be challenged if you do not agree with the score that has been assigned to your licence. This can by done by writing to or emailing the VOSA data services team.