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Obtaining your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) training is continuing professional development which carries on throughout a professional bus, coach or lorry driver's career. Implementation of EU Directive 2003/59 requires all professional bus, coach and lorry drivers to hold a Driver CPC, in addition to their vocational driving licence.
Aims of Driver CPC
Driver CPC is aimed at improving road safety by providing better qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties.
It should also bring an improved professional and positive image to the industries, attracting more people to drive buses, coaches and lorries for a living.
How to Comply with Driver CPC
As a professional driver you will need to complete 35 hours of ‘periodic training’ every 5 years to retain your Driver CPC. Only approved courses taken with approved training centres will count towards periodic training.
If you hold both a Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) licence and a Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) licence, then you
will only be required to complete one set of periodic training.
For New drivers
You will have to pass an initial Driver CPC qualification before being able to drive professionally. It can be taken at the same time as the vocational driving test.
Driver CPC came into force across all European Union member states on:
· 10 September 2008 for bus and coach drivers
· 10 September 2009 for lorry drivers
Modules to be completed as part of your LGV aquisition;
The will be 100 multiple choice questions (pass mark will be 85) and the second 19 hazard perception clips with 20 score-able hazards (of which the pass mark will be 67 out of 100).
In addition to passing module 1, to obtain your Driver CPC you will also need to pass module 2. The module is a computer based test and uses case studies each one based on real-life scenarios you may encounter in your work life as An LGV driver.
As of the 10th September 2009 the practical driving test is being developed to include an “Eco-Safe Driving Assessment”. Although this will not contribute to the result of the test, during the test the examiner will assess your ability to control the vehicle and plan your drive in an eco-safe manner. Failure to do so will result in a comment on your test report and information on the subject of Eco-Safe driving.
In addition to passing module 3, to obtain your Driver CPC you will also need to pass module 4, a new practical test that focuses on vehicle safety which has been developed with the support and advice of the industry. In this 30 minute test you will be required to demonstrate your knowledge and ability in the areas listed below.
• Ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use.
• Security of the vehicle and contents
• Ability to prevent criminality and trafficking in illegal immigrants
• Ability to assess emergency situations
• Ability to prevent physical risk
• Demonstrate your ability through a physical, walk round vehicle safety checks
• The LGV test will also see the introduction of a new piece of equipment which will allow you to demonstrate your ability to secure loads.
After you have passed all the modules you will be sent a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). There will be no charge for the card at the point of issue.
For Existing drivers
As an existing professional bus, coach and lorry driver you are deemed to hold Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’. However, you must complete your periodic training within 5 years of the introduction of Driver CPC as follows:
· 9 September 2013 for PCV licence holders
· 9 September 2014 for LGV licence holders
Note: ‘Acquired rights’ (or ‘grandfather rights’) apply to people who already hold a full vocational licence to drive buses, coaches and lorries on the Driver CPC start date. A licence acquired before January 1997 which has a “D1 not for hire or reward” or “101” code does not qualify as ‘acquired rights’, and to drive professionally drivers will need to take all four modules of the new Driver CPC test.
If you give up driving professionally, and let your Driver CPC expire, then you must complete 35 hours of periodic training in order to regain your Driver CPC before you can resume driving in the freight, bus and coach industries professionally.
The existing ‘Transport Manager’s CPC’ also known as the ‘Operator’s CPC’ is a separate qualification and anyone holding one, who still drives professionally as part of their job, will also need to hold a Driver CPC.
Course Availability
We're always running new courses and adding dates, so call us on 0151 343 0588 for available dates for this course.
For further information click here http://www.dvtani.gov.uk/uploads/legislation/CPCBooklet.pdf
For Further Details and to book a place on the course click here
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