CPC training

The various parts of the CPC legislation were drafted to ensure that drivers and operators of goods vehicles all adhere to a certain standard. Its three sections have been specifically designed to make sure that new drivers going out onto the roads are as safe as they can be, with a detailed and thorough knowledge of the industry in which they work. Not only does the legislation look after the skills of new drivers, but it also makes sure that more experienced drivers are routinely retrained to keep their skill-set fresh and up to date. This has a positive impact on road safety and working conditions for drivers, makes Operators more accountable and responsible, and gives a broader and more involved edge to what is already a varied and rewarding career track.

There are 3 different Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC) that you can take, read on below to find out which is right for you. This affects anyone driving HGV vehicles for hire and reward (payment).

DRIVERS CPC INITIAL QUALIFICATION
If you are under 21, you need to do the Initial Qualification, whatever you are driving for.If you passed your car test before Jan 1997 and have ‘Grandfather’ rights for a C1 vehicle, you DON’T need to do this. If you passed your Category C1, C or C+E test before Sept 2009, you DON’T need to do this.Everyone else MUST do this. If you are required to do the Initial Qualification and you FAIL to do it, you are DRIVING ILLEGALLY and can have your licence revoked / face fines or imprisonment.

PERIODIC CPC TRAINING
To be completed after the Initial Qualification and is the drivers’ responsibility to ensure it’s done. Consists of 35 Hours classroom retraining every 5 years (7 hours per year). If you fail to complete your 35 hours at the end of the 5 year period, your licence will become INVALID until the hours are completed. If you passed your Category C, C1 or C+E test before Sept 2009, you have until Sept 2014 to complete this requirement. All other drivers will have 5 years to complete this from the date of their Module 4 pass.

OPERATORS CPC TRAINING
If you operate a goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes in weight you’ll need an Operator’s Licence. To obtain a standard licence you must hold the relevant Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Haulage (CPC) qualification. A Standard Operator’s Licence is required for hire and reward operations and a Restricted Operator’s Licence for own account.

Driver CPC aims to improve road safety by helping drivers of buses, coaches and lorries obtain, maintain and develop their professional skills and knowledge, including:

• eco-safe and fuel efficient driving
• defensive driving techniques
• health and safety
• loading a vehicle safely
• driving regulations
• complying with relevant rules and regulations such as driver’s hours
• being aware of the risks on the road and accidents at work
• first aid

Once you’ve decided to take the first steps towards becoming a professional driver, you’ll need to sign up to a course which will cover what is now referred to as initial Driver CPC training: a series of modules including theoretical and practical examinations. Initial Driver CPC will include the practical driving test and once all four modules have been passed, you’ll receive a driver qualification card which is valid for 5 years.

If you drive any of the following as a means of your principal source of income, you must be CPC certified:

• Articulated lorries
• Tipper trucks
• Bin lorries
• Heavy construction equipment
• Buses - both regional and local
• Coaches - both regional and continental

Please note you need to have a driving license.

You must provide:

• Two identity documents from group A. At least one document must show your current address and at least one document must show your date of birth.

Or

• One identity document from group A and two documents from group B. At least one document must show your current address and at least one document must show your date of birth.

Group A

• If you are a UK passport holder, your passport number entered on the application form. You do not need to submit the actual passport.
• Signed valid passport of any other nationality.
• Driving licence photocard if it was issued by the DVLA in Great Britain. We will not accept the photocard on its own if it was issued by the DVA in Northern Ireland.
• Driving licence photocard and its paper counterpart issued by the DVA in Northern Ireland.
• UK original birth certificate issued within 12 months of birth
• UK biometric residence permit card

Group B (Address & Identity)

• Valid UK firearms licence with photo.
• Current UK driving licence - paper version (not the paper counterpart to a photocard).
• P45 statement of income for tax purposes on leaving a job issued in the last 12 months.
• P60 annual statement of income for tax purposes issued in the last 12 months.
• Bank or building society statement issued to your current address, less than three months old. You can use more than one statement as long as each is issued by a different bank or building society.
• Mortgage statement issued in the last 12 months.
• Utility bill (gas, electric, telephone, water, satellite, cable) issued to your current address within the last three months. NOTE: You can only submit one utility bill in support of your SIA application.
• Pension, endowment or ISA statement issued in last 12 months.
• Letter from H.M. Revenue & Customs, Department of Work and Pensions, employment service, or local authority issued within the last three months. You can submit more than one letter as long as each is issued by a different Government department or a different local authority.
• A credit card statement sent to your current address within the last three months. You can submit more than one statement as long as each is issued by a different issuer.
• Council Tax statement issued in the last 12 months.

Group B (Identity Only)

• Driving licence photocard (without a paper counterpart) issued by the DVA in Northern Ireland.
• Valid EU photo card.
• Marriage certificate or Civil Partnership certificate, with translation if not in English.
• UK birth certificate issued more than 12 months after date of birth, but not a photocopy.
• Non-UK birth certificate, with translation if not in English.
• UK adoption certificate

The Trainer is an experienced instructor with many years of hands on practical experience in Road Transport Operations and Heavy Vehicle Maintenance. He holds appropriate qualifications to deliver the Periodic Training in addition to other recognised industry qualifications.

Q. I am a new Driver, what do I have to do?
A. If you are a new driver, you must pass an initial driver CPC qualification before you can drive professionally. Then every 5 years thereafter complete 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training.

Q. What is an initial qualification?
A. The initial driver CPC qualification is split into four parts.
1. Theory test
2. Case studies
3. Practical test
4. Vehicle safety demonstration

You must pass all four parts before you start to drive professionally

Q. What is Driver CPC Qualification?
A. Driver CPC is a legally required qualification for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers. It will:

- Improve your knowledge and skills
- Develop you skills and knowledge throughout life
-Improve road safety through better qualified drivers.

Q. Do I need to undertake Driver CPC Training?
A. You might not need to complete Driver CPC training, even if you’re driving a large goods vehicle or passenger carrying vehicle. This depends on, the vehicle you are driving and what the vehicle is being used for.

Q. What Vehicles can I drive without Driver CPC?
A. You don’t need Driver CPC if the vehicle you drive is:
- Being road tested after repair, maintenance or technical development
- New or rebuilt and not been put into service yet
- Limited to a top speed of 28mph

Vehicle uses where you don’t need Driver CPC

You don’t need Driver CPC if the vehicle you drive is:
- Used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods for personal use
- Used to carry material or equipment you use for your job - but driving the vehicle can’t be the main part of your job
- Used for driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC
- Used by, or is under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
- Used in states of emergency or for rescue missions

Q. Do I have ‘acquired rights’?
A. You’ll have ‘acquired rights’ if you’re a:
- lorry driver and got your vocational licence (C, C1, C+E and C1+E) before 10 September 2009
- bus or coach driver and got your vocational licence (D, D1, D+E and D1+E) before 10 September 2008 - this includes a restricted vocational licence D(101) issued after 1991 and D1(101) issued before 1997
- Your ‘acquired rights’ only counts for the type of vehicle you’d originally got your vocational licence for. You’d have to get the Driver CPC initial qualification for the other type of vehicle.

For example, if you drive a lorry and have ‘acquired rights’ and want to become a bus or coach driver, you would have to complete the initial qualification for Buses & Coaches.

Q. What does ‘acquired rights’ mean?
A. You could have the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) through ‘acquired rights’ if you’re already a professional lorry, bus or coach driver. This means that because you’ve already been working as a lorry or bus driver, your experience is counted as the same as taking the Driver CPC initial qualification. You’ll still need to complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your Driver CPC

Q. When do I need to do Driver CPC periodic training?
A. It’s up to you when you take the training courses, as long as you do them within 5 years.

Q. When does the 5-year period start?
A. Each 5-year period starts from 5 years before your current Driver CPC qualification runs out - not from the date you completed your last 35 hours of training.

For all ‘acquired rights’ drivers it started on:
- 10 September 2008 for category D, D1, D+E and D1+E drivers
- 10 September 2009 for category C, C1, C+E and C1+E drivers

You must complete your 35 hours of periodic training in the 5 years before the earliest expiry date if you’ve got bus and lorry entitlements and want to keep your Driver CPC for both.

Q. How do I get my driver qualification card (DQC)?
A. After you’ve passed the initial qualification you’ll get a driver qualification card (DQC). You must carry your DQC while driving a large goods vehicle or passenger carrying vehicle. If you have ‘acquired rights’ - You won’t get a DQC if you have your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) through ‘acquired rights’ until you’ve done 35 hours of periodic training. Don’t Worry…Your driving licence is proof of your Driver CPC until you’ve done this.

Q. I was driving professionally before Sept 2009, what does this mean for me?
A. You will have 'acquired rights'. You must gain 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your driver CPC qualification. Periodic training involves attending courses on various aspects of professional driving. Modules are normally delivered in separate sessions, each one lasting for 7 hours and all or most are classroom based learning.

Q. What is periodic training?
A. Periodic training involves attending courses on various aspects of professional driving. Most people aim to attend 1 course per year in order to achieve the target of 35 hours every 5 years.

Q. Where can I find Driver CPC courses?
A. Only approved courses through approved centres will count towards your Driver CPC Qualification. National Driver Training is pleased to say that we can offer a various range of approved Driver CPC courses.

Q. What happens when I complete my 35 hours?
A. You will receive a Driver qualification card. This is an EU directive and you will be breaking the law if you’re driving without one after Sept 2014.

Q. I have 'acquired rights' do I have to complete the 'Initial qualification'?
A. You do not have to complete the 'Initial qualification'. You do however have to complete 35 hours periodic training before Sept 2014