Driver CPC

What is a Driver CPC? - In 2003 the European Union agreed that all commercial goods vehicle drivers must undertake vocational training, this training is referred to as a Certificate of Professional Competence or CPC. The aim of the Driver CPC is to improve road safety & fuel efficiency and to help a driver meet the demands arising from the developing transport market

This qualification should not be confused with the Transport Managers CPC, which is  a different and higher level, regarded as a level 3 (driver CPC is regarded as level 2)

Two Types of Training - initial & periodic - Initial training is to be undertaken by new drivers passing their test, after September 2008 for PCV & September 2009 for LGV, Initial training will result in the driver having to pass a test to show they have completed the learning to a set standard.

Periodic training applies to all drivers, but must equal 35 hours over 5 years, there is no formal test. However the training must conform to an approved syllabus and cover topics such as

• Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
• Applications of regulations
• Health, road and Environmental safety, service logistics

The directive does not stipulate the precise content of each course, only the duration they must take, and give guidance on the content. This content can be tailored for each company so that it matches their own business requirements. A training organisation or department can submit their own training materials to be assessed and included as part of the training requirement

Most drivers who undergo their LGV driving test will now be have to take the Initial CPC module, however those who already hold a licence will have until 10 September 2014 to complete 35 approved hours training

Training record - A driver will now have to carry with them when driving a driver record card to show that they have completed the required amount of training. These cards will be issued by the DVLA on completion of either the Initial training or on completion of the first 35 hours of periodic training, as with digital tachograph cards there are strict requirements regarding the loss or theft and replace of the training record card. As a driver must report it missing within 7days, and can only drive without it, once reported for 15 calendar days.

Currently drivers who hold ADR licences and have to re-sit these exams cannot use these hours to count as part of the training for the Drivers CPC. Only drivers who are studying for a Transport Managers CPC or an NVQ can count this training - which in nearly all cases will be provided by the same approved supplier.

Offences & Penalties - Legislation is already in place to make it an offence to drive without holding a Drivers CPC, or to force someone else to drive knowing that they did not hold a CPC, in all cases the fine is £1,000 currently these are deemed to be non endorseable.

Who Pays? - The legislation requires a driver to hold the correct qualification on the correct date, but does not stipulate who will have to pay for it. With most employed drivers this will in all likelihood be the employer who organises and pays for the training. However with agency labour, it will most likely be the driver who is going to have to organise it. Some of the larger agencies will undoubtedly have the resource to put processes in place, but it will be down to the end user to ensure that a driver meets the criteria, and can prove it by producing the Training record card when they arrive for duty.

If you would like more information regarding Driver CPC please email marketing@depoel.co.uk