How DVSA Target Operators: Understanding the OCRS System

Ever wondered how the DVSA decides which vehicles to stop at the roadside or which operators to inspect?

It’s not just random.

They use a system called OCRS — the Operator Compliance Risk Score — to identify which operators pose the greatest risk to road safety and licence compliance.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What the OCRS is and how it works

• How your score is calculated

• Why even Restricted Licence holders should care

• What causes your risk to rise

• How to improve your score and avoid DVSA attention

What is the OCRS?

The Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) is a tool used by the DVSA to prioritise which transport operators should be:

✅ Targeted for roadside inspections

✅ Subject to further investigations

✅ Called to a maintenance audit or Public Inquiry

It’s a performance monitoring system — and your score reflects how well (or badly) your vehicles and drivers have performed during DVSA checks over the last 3 years.

Does OCRS Apply to Restricted Licence Holders?

Yes — absolutely.

Your licence type doesn’t exempt you. Whether you operate under a Standard or Restricted Licence, OCRS tracks:

• Roadworthiness issues

• Traffic offences (e.g. driver hours, overloading)

• Vehicle test (MOT) history

• Inspection results

• Prohibitions and fixed penalties

If you’re operating vehicles above 3.5 tonnes, DVSA is watching — even if you only run one lorry.

How the OCRS Works: The Basics

OCRS is made up of two separate scores:

1. Roadworthiness Score

Measures maintenance-related issues like:

• Defects found at the roadside

• Missed inspections

• MOT failures

• Incomplete or poorly recorded defect reporting

2. Traffic Score

Measures issues like:

• Driver hours infringements

• Tachograph abuse or missing data

• Overloading

• Speeding

• Use of mobile phones while driving

Each category is scored out of 100 and weighted based on severity.

The Colour Bands: What Do They Mean?

Operators are placed into one of four risk bands:

Colour	Risk Level	What It Means
Green	Low	Compliant and unlikely to be stopped
Amber	Medium	Some issues, may be targeted
Red	High	Likely to be stopped or inspected
Grey	Unknown	No sufficient data to score

Most new operators start off in grey, and stay there until enough activity is recorded.

How Points Are Scored

Every incident (defect, offence, failure) generates penalty points based on how serious it is.

Points are:

• Higher for dangerous defects (e.g. brakes, steering)

• Lower for minor infringements (e.g. late break or driver card expired)

• Weighted by how recent the incident is — more recent = more impact

• Scaled by fleet size (e.g. one defect in a 1-vehicle fleet carries more weight)

The points decay over time, typically after 1 to 3 years.

Important: If you’ve never been stopped, that doesn’t guarantee you’re safe. It just means there’s no data — which can be risky in itself.

How to Check Your OCRS

As of recent DVSA updates, you can access your own OCRS via:

👉 The DVSA Vehicle Operator Licensing system

👉 Ask for it via your VOL account or contact DVSA directly

You’ll need to log in as the licence holder or transport contact.

What Makes Your OCRS Worse?

Action or Issue	Impact
S-marked prohibition at roadside	Very high negative impact
Missing scheduled safety inspections	High
Tachograph misuse	High
MOT failures	Moderate to high
Overloading	Moderate
Failure to carry out daily walkarounds	Moderate
Repeated minor defects (e.g. lights, tyres)	Adds up over time

These points push you toward amber or red, increasing the chance of:

• Roadside stops

• DVSA inspections at your premises

• Being flagged for enforcement

• A potential Public Inquiry

What Improves Your OCRS?

• Keeping a clean MOT pass history

• Regular, well-documented maintenance

• Fully compliant driver checks and training

• Addressing defects and infringements quickly

• Using digital systems or logs to track compliance

• DVSA roadside stops that find no issues (yes, these help!)

Should You Be Worried If You’re in the Grey Band?

Being in the grey zone means:

• You haven’t had enough roadside interactions for DVSA to assess risk

• You might be flying under the radar — for now

• But one prohibition could push you straight into amber or red

That’s why even Restricted Operators should manage as if they’re being scored.

How to Stay Green: Practical Steps

✅ Schedule and track PMIs using a calendar or digital planner

✅ Conduct and store walkaround checks daily

✅ Rectify defects with written evidence

✅ Check MOT dates and fix issues proactively

✅ Download and review tachograph data (if applicable)

✅ Train drivers on working hours and reporting

✅ Review your compliance files monthly

What Happens If You’re Red?

You can expect:

• Increased chance of roadside inspections

• DVSA requesting documentation

• Greater scrutiny at MOT

• Higher risk of Public Inquiry

But all is not lost — you can:

• Improve your practices

• Address historic issues

• Let time pass without new penalties

• Request a voluntary DVSA audit to demonstrate improvement

Conclusion

OCRS might sound like a behind-the-scenes tool — but it’s one of the main ways DVSA decides who to target.

Whether you’re running a single 7.5-tonne vehicle or a growing fleet, your OCRS is a reflection of how seriously you take road safety and compliance.

You don’t need to obsess over the numbers — but you do need systems that show you’re in control. That’s the difference between staying green and getting caught out.

Next in the series:👉 What Happens During a DVSA Roadside Check?