Posted 13 August 2007
As a Recovery Operator and Driver this will affect you
Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence
What is Driver CPC?
The Driver CPC is for LGV and PCV drivers who drive professionally throughout the UK. It is being developed as a requirement of the EU Directive 2003/59, which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life. There are two parts to the legislation:
• The Initial Qualification that must be achieved by new LGV and PCV drivers along with their vocational licence to enable them to use their licence professionally, and
• Periodic Training, which involves all professional drivers undertaking 35 hours of training
every 5 years
Driver CPC scheme will start in three stages
Legislation to underpin the Driver CPC was put in place in March 2007 and the Driver CPC for PCV drivers must be implemented by 10th September 2008, and for LGV drivers must be implemented by 10th September 2009. For drivers holding a LGV licence prior to 10th September 2009 the CPC will come into force by the 10th September 2014.
Do I require a CPC?
From 10th September 2009 all drivers requiring a licence for categories
C1, C1+E, C, & C+E. Will in the future need to acquire CPC.
Drivers of vehicles that are exemptions from CPC
Drivers that are exempted from requiring a CPC are drivers who drive the following categories of vehicles
Vehicles
1 that the maximum speed of the vehicle cannot exceed 45kph
2 undergoing road test for repair, maintenance or for technical development
3 used by the civil defence, armed forces and emergency services
4 used in the course of driving lessons or examinations
5 used in states of emergency
6 used in the carrying of goods or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his/her work, if driving the vehicle is not the drivers main job.
7 Used for non commercial carriage of goods or passengers ( used privately )
New drivers taking their test from September 2009
Will require taking the new test which will involve a Four hour theory ( is currently one and a half hours)
and a a two-hours practical test (currently one and a half ). The tests are required to be a NVQ level 2 standard.
There are two sections to the theory test
1/ Licence Acquisition
2/ Case studies.
On the successful completion of and the practical test the licence and the CPC will be given at the same time
Drivers holding a licence prior to 10th September 2009
Existing licence holders periodic training
Drivers already holding a vocational driving licence before the 10th September 2009 are not required to complete the initial CPC.
They will be required to complete their first 35 hours of their periodic training with in five years period to be able to comply with the regulations. This must be completed by the 10th September 2014, to be able obtain their CPC by “Acquired Rights”
The intention of periodic training is to develop the drivers knowledge and his skills, the training will cover
1/ Professional driving skills
2/ Road safety
3/ The environment
4/ Knowledge of the road freight industry
Validated training
Only training that is given by training bodies that are approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) will be able to count towards the periodic five yearly training
General Notes
The first 36 hours of periodic training must completed by the 10th September 2014. it is not required that it is carried out in one session as long as it is completed in within the 5 Years. It could be split through the five years but when training takes place it must be a minimum of seven hour in the session excluding brakes.
Training must be carried out by an approved JAUPT training centre for the training to count as to your periodic training. Training given will be audited by JAUPT to maintain the standard of training given
Periodic training will not be based on a fail or pass result also the trainee to take a test. Consideration will be given to the attendance of the driver which will be recorded on a central database
EMPLOYERS NOTE
Training carried out during working hours, when the driver receiving payment when attending will be classed as working time and must be accounted for under the working time regulations within his 35 - hour week
When a driver CPC is achieved the driver will be issued with a “Drivers Qualification Card” as evidence that he has achieved the standard
Brian A Drury
AVRO Technical Help Line
Tel: 01634 255104
Email: avrotechadvice@aol.com
