Driver CPC

Background

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence has been introduced to the UK through EU Directive 2009/59.  It is a new 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 licensing.  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 applies to drivers who first passed a vocational driving entitlement after 10 September 2008 for PCV Drivers and 10 September 2009 for LGV Drivers. Such drivers may not drive commercially unless they have a Driver Qualification Card (DQC).

Periodic Training covers drivers who held a PCV / LGV licence prior to these dates or who have completed their initial DQC since then. These drivers must complete 35 hours of training over a five year period. For drivers who obtained their vocational licence prior to the dates above, the first deadline is 9th September 2014. Once they receive a DQC they will need to undertake another 35 hours training between 10th September 2014 and 9th September 2019. This cycle then repeats every five years.

For newly qualified drivers they have until the expiry date on their DQC to complete the next 35 hours

AW Training Services

AW Training Services is a member of The Driver CPC Consortium.

The Driver CPC Consortium is registered with the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT – registration number AC02559) for Periodic Training for PCV and LGV.

AW Training Services offer block courses of 35 hours over a five day week and a day release (7 hours) option.  Additionally there is an option to run courses ‘in house’ where customers can release sufficient drivers.  Costs are available on request.

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 directly from DSA.  It is a legal requirement that drivers must carry their Driver Qualification Cards 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.

We have 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 to qualify for Driver CPC.