Driver CPC

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 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 is split into two areas, 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.

RLR is an Approved Training Centre to deliver Driver CPC periodic training.

Periodic Training covers drivers who currently hold a PCV / LGV licence and takes effect five years after the inception date of the new regulations — 10 September 2013 and 10 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.

RLR are currently registered for Periodic Training through the NDGTC ADR Consortium and have also applied in our own right. We will NOT be offering Initial Training.

We will be offering both block courses of 35 hours over a five day week and a day release (7 hours) option. It is envisaged that costs will be £100 per day for day release and £400 for one week block bookings. We will also be able to offer bespoke modules to meet specific client's needs.

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 the driver must have the original driver CPC qualification 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.

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 we envisage that RLR would register the client'’s specialist training course and trainer with JAUPT (rather than the client having to register its own approval) and carry out all the administration functions for the course on behalf of the client. This training could then be dovetailed with RLR’s ‘off the shelf’ packages to complete the drivers' training within the five year period.

This will allow our clients to manage their drivers' training in the most cost effective manner.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) is responsible for the implementation of the Driver CPC within the UK, and the courses offered by RLR Services will be delivered in accordance with the syllabus and approval of the DSA.

It is envisaged that during periodic training a driver will have covered some of the following topics:-

1 Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations

1.1. Objective: to know the characteristics of the transmission system in order to make the best possible use of it. (LGV & PCV)

1.2. Objective: to know the technical characteristics and operation of the safety controls in order to control the vehicle, minimise wear and tear and prevent disfunctioning. (LGV & PCV)

1.3. Objective: ability to optimise fuel consumption. (LGV & PCV)

1.4. Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use. (LGV)

1.5. Objective: ability to ensure passenger comfort and safety. (PCV)

1.6. Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use. (LGV & PCV)

2. Application of regulations

2.1. Objective: to know the social environment of road transport and the rules governing it. (LGV & PCV)

2.2. Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of goods. (LGV)

2.3. Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of passengers. (PCV)

3. Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics

3.1. Objective: to make drivers aware of the risks of the road and of accidents at work. (LGV & PCV)

3.2. Objective: ability to prevent criminality and trafficking in illegal immigrants. (LGV & PCV)

3.3. Objective: ability to prevent physical risks. (LGV & PCV)

3.4. Objective: awareness of the importance of physical and mental ability. (LGV & PCV)

3.5. Objective: ability to assess emergency situations. (LGV & PCV)

3.6. Objective: ability to adopt behaviour to help enhance the image of the company. (LGV & PCV)

3.7. Objective: to know the economic environment of road haulage and the organisation of the market. (LGV)

3.8. Objective: to know the economic environment of the carriage of passengers by road and the organisation of the market. (PCV)