Driver CPC Background
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence was 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 within 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 – Initial and Periodic Training.
Initial Training came into effect for new PCV Drivers on 10 September 2008 and will affect new LGV Drivers from 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 currently 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. Existing drivers must have completed 35 hours training by these dates to retain their vocational driving entitlement. This can be undertaken in multiples of 7 hour blocks. They will then have until 2018 and 2019, respectively, to requalify for a further five year period.
PDRS
In 2013 PDRS proudly joined The Driver CPC Consortium. The Consortium has been set up to provide employers with a nationwide network of providers delivering uniform courses to a high / consistent standard. The Driver CPC Consortium is registered with the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT – registration number AC00621).
PDRS offer regular weekday and Saturday courses at our Nottingham Training Centre with options to deliver DCPC at the clients address.
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.
We have a portfolio of 7 hour and 3½ hour courses which allow customers to ‘pick and mix’ modules to suit requirements. See modules
Calendars
We are in the process of scheduling training courses up until September 2019, giving opportunity to plan training requirements. Places are available for booking now but are limited to maximum 20 per training day. See dates
Training Scheduling
Existing customers will get priority of places and we are also offering a free service to schedule driver training on the customers behalf to ensure minimum disruption to transport operations. The customer provides names, licence numbers, dates of birth and length of service – Discounts will be available for block bookings. See prices
DSA Syllabus
The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) is responsible for the implementation of the Driver CPC within the UK, and the courses offered by PDRS will be delivered in accordance with the syllabus and approval of the DSA.
