How can you ensure compliance with digital signature requirements in the transport and logistics sector?

A driver operating with an expired FCO means a fine for the driver and the company, and sometimes the vehicle is immobilized on the spot. The risk isn’t only an uncompleted training course: it’s also proof that can’t be found at the time of an inspection, whether on the road or at the company. In transport and logistics, being compliant isn’t only about training your teams it’s also about being able to prove it was actually done. Digital attendance signing makes this process simpler by making supporting documents easier to manage.

The road transport sector is one of the few where vocational training is directly governed by the Highway Code, not only by the Labour Code. Any heavy goods vehicle driver must complete initial training, FIMO, before their first assignment, then continuing training, FCO, every five years to keep the right to drive for professional purposes. On top of that are activity-specific trainings depending on the company’s operations, such as ADR for transporting dangerous goods or CACES for operating handling equipment in a warehouse.

In the event of a roadside check, the absence of a valid certificate results in a fine for the driver but also liability for the employer, who may be sanctioned for allowing an employee to drive without up-to-date qualifications. In the event of an inspection at the company site, training files are reviewed: certificates and evidence that the trainings were actually completed. A valid qualification card is not always enough if the company can’t find the required documents, especially in case of a dispute after an accident.

The real weak point in many transport and logistics companies isn’t the training itself. It’s the administrative follow-up around it: attendance sheets signed in the field, then sent late to management, and later poorly filed or lost.

Here are the main documents a company must be able to produce quickly to demonstrate training compliance.

In all cases, the attendance sheet remains the main document. It proves the person was present throughout the training.

Companies in the sector generally fall under OPCO Mobilités, the skills operator that groups transport, logistics, and mobility services. It can support funding for FIMO, FCO, and other mandatory trainings, with terms that vary depending on company size, the applicable collective agreement, and the scheme used. Some trainings can also be topped up by the employee’s CPF or by regional aid, especially in sectors facing labour shortages.

It’s difficult to give a precise amount of coverage, because the rules change regularly and also depend on each case. The best approach is to check your situation directly with OPCO Mobilités or a specialised advisor. However, training funding is granted on the condition that you can provide attendance- supporting documents once the training is completed. If the funding file does not include all the attendance evidence, funding may therefore be refused.

Switching to digital attendance signing doesn’t change regulatory obligations. Thanks to digital attendance signing, a driver or forklift operator can sign directly on a tablet at the end of their training session without waiting for a paper sheet to be handed over for signature. In this way, the signature can be sent back and directly archived by the HR department. The signature is timestamped and centralised, which prevents documents from being lost across multiple sites. For this, it’s important to use a solid management tool like SoWeSign, capable of ensuring full traceability of your training supporting documents.

For a company managing multiple sites and high turnover, especially with temporary workers in driving or handling roles, this centralisation changes how quickly you can react. During an inspection, you no longer need to mobilise several people to rebuild a missing file.

In transport and logistics, being compliant means being able to prove that each employee has completed their training. With digital attendance signing, everything is centralised and available in seconds.

To find out how SoWeSign can integrate with your training tracking, we can offer a demonstration tailored to your company.          Request a demo ! 

Does an electronic signature have the same value as a paper signature?
Yes, provided the tool guarantees the real identity of the signer and the timestamp of the signature, which is the case for dedicated solutions such as SoWeSign.

Do you need to keep attendance sheets even after obtaining the qualification?
Yes. The qualification supporting document certifies the result, but attendance sheets remain proof that the training was followed in full and can be requested separately during an inspection.

Does digital attendance signing also work for internal trainings outside FIMO and FCO?
Yes. It applies to any training that requires proof of attendance, including safety trainings, CACES, or specific authorisations.