Certificate of Professional Competence, Driver CPC Training
Certificate of Professional Competence, (CPC) came in to effect in 2007 following Driver CPC EU Directive in 2003. These regulations affect all professional drivers of large goods vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles. There are a few exemptions such as, people who wish to drive a horse box as a hobby not as a profession, armed forces, civil defence, the fire service, and forces responsible for maintaining public order.
There are two parts to CPC, INITIAL and PERIODIC. Initial driver training is for new drivers, who wish to drive LGV or PSV professionally, this initial part involves gaining increased knowledge by passing a case study theory test and a show me tell me module four test, in addition to the hazard perception, multiple choice and practical driving test already in force. Once all tests are passed the new driver will gain his full licence and driver CPC card and can drive professionally.
Periodic training is continued professional development for professional drivers, these courses require attendance only, no tests or exams are taken. During every five year period, all professional drivers will have to attend 35 hours of periodic training to keep their driver CPC card up to date and legal.
Periodic training is designed to confirm, and expand on, the existing knowledge and skills of each driver for example by enabling them to keep up-to-date with ever-changing legislation. The syllabus for the courses cover wide and varied topics all relevant to the professional driver, some examples are driver's hours law and regulations, safe carriage of passengers, fuel efficient driving, safe loading of vehicles, first aid, driving in severe weather conditions and security of vehicle contents.
To achieve the CPC card drivers need to attend periodic training courses being delivered by a training centre that is approved by Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT). All courses must also be approved and will have a unique course number. You may use more than one approved training provider who will record your attendance on the DSA data base. All approved centres and courses are listed on the JAUPT web site.
Once who have attended your 35 hours of periodic training the DSA will send you out your DCPC card to the address that is on your driving licence, it is your responsibility to notify DVLA if you move house and keep your driving licence up to date.
The uptake for periodic training was slow at first but now PSV drivers only have until September 2013 to achieve all their 35 hours so interest has improved greatly. LGV drivers have until September 2014 to achieve theirs.
There are costs involved and these vary from one training centre to another, the upload fee which is paid to the DSA to record your attendance is currently set at £8.75 for every 7 hour course you attend. Other costs involve loss of time on the road driving and possible overtime payments.
It is the licence holder who is responsible for keeping within the law and achieving his or her CPC card by the required date and then keeping it up to date. So opinions vary from one employee to another on who is paying for the training and other costs. It must be stressed however that, it will be the employer's responsibility to ensure that none of his drivers drive without a card. Delivering periodic training courses on a Saturday is proving the most useful to companies and individual drivers who then do not lose out on working hours during the week.
