Background
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence has been introduced to the UK through EU Directive 2009/59. It is a qualification that all lorry, coach and bus drivers will need if they wish to drive professionally for a living. It has been introduced to improve the skills and knowledge of professional drivers. The directive has targeted certain areas for development, which include:
Improving road safety
Recognising, underpinning and developing the knowledge and skills that are needed for a professional driver to undertake his / her duties.
Keeping drivers up to date with new legislation applicable to them (i.e. drivers’ hours, digital tachographs etc)
Raising the profile and professionalism of drivers and the transport industry.
The Driver CPC should not be confused with the Transport Manager’s qualification required for operator licencing. The two are mutually exclusive. The Transport Manager’s qualification is still currently valid ‘for life’ while the Driver’s CPC requires periodic training equating to 35 hours in every five year period. Thus a Transport Manager with a CPC who also holds an LGV licence, and wishes to keep it, will have to undertake the same 35 hours training as his / her drivers.
The Driver CPC is split into two areas, Initial and Periodic Training.
Initial Training came into effect for new PCV Drivers on 10 September 2008 and new LGV Drivers on 10 September 2009. Thus any driver who passes his / her PCV / LGV licence after these dates will already hold a Driver CPC which will expire 5 years after issue unless the driver undertakes 35 hours of periodic training before the expiry date.
Periodic Training covers drivers who hold a PCV / LGV licence and takes effect five years after the inception date of the new regulations – 9th September 2013 and 9th September 2014 respectively. Drivers who have obtained their entitlement to drive must hold a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) to be able to drive commercially. They must then complete a further 35 hours training before the expiry date on the back of the DQC to continue driving after this date. This can be undertaken in multiples of 7 hour blocks. They will then have to requalify in every future five year perio
.
Driver Qualification Card
Once drivers have attended an approved Driver CPC course, his / her details are recorded on the DSA database. As soon as 35 hours training have been completed the driver will receive his / her Driver CPC licence (Driver Qualification Card – DQC) directly from DVSA. It is a legal requirement that the driver must have the original DQC available at all times when driving a vehicle covered by the regulations. Failure to produce the certificate at the roadside could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
The Driver CPC Consortium
The Driver CPC Consortium has been set up to provide employers with a nationwide network of providers delivering uniform courses to an exceptionally high, consistent standard. It is registered with the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT – registration number AC00621) for Periodic Training for PCV and LGV.
Members mostly offer 7 hour modules although 35 hours block course over a five day week. Additionally there is an option to run courses ‘in house’ where customers can release sufficient drivers. Costs are available on request.
The Consortium has a portfolio of 7 hour and 3½ hour courses which allow customers to ‘pick and mix’ modules to suit their requirements as well as ADR which has been accepted by JAUPT as qualifying for up to 21 hours of periodic training.
Bespoke Courses
We recognise that some of our clients may require specialist training to be included within their drivers’ periodic requalification. In many cases they will also employ suitably qualified personnel to deliver such training. It is our intention to work in partnership with our clients to deliver whatever training they require.
To this end Consortium Members may register the client’s specialist training course and trainer with JAUPT (rather than the client having to register its own approval at a cost of £1500.00) and carry out all the administration functions for the course on behalf of the client. This training can then be dovetailed with the Consortium ‘off the shelf’ packages to complete the drivers’ training within the five year period. This will allow clients to manage their drivers’ training in the most cost effective manner.
DVSA Syllabus
The DVSA (Driving & Vehicle Standards Agency) is responsible for the implementation of the Driver CPC within the UK, and the courses offered by Consortium Members will be delivered in accordance with the syllabus and approval of the DVSA