DRIVER CPC

 

With effect from 10 September 2009 new rules came into force with regard to LGV drivers who drive professionally and hold a vocational licence, ie are paid for driving a medium or large goods vehicle.

 

Drivers who passed C1, C1+E, C or C+E tests prior to 10 September 2009:

 

Those drivers who held Category C1, C1+E, C and C+E licences prior to 10 September 2009 are deemded to hold the Driver CPC and have "acquired" rights. They are required to complete 35 hours of training every five years to continue being a professional driver of a medium or large goods vehicle. For these drivers the first five-year period started on 10 September 2009 and finishes on 9 September 2014.

 

This training must be completed in 7 hour periods (1 day), though it is possible for the training to be completed in two parts within a 24 hour period. Courses for this training must be approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) and can be either cab or classroom based. The syllabus for the periodic training covers a range of subjects as follows:  safe and fuel-efficient driving, legal requirements, health, safety, service and logistics.

 

Drivers who pass Category C1 or C tests on or after 10 September 2009 and want to drive professionally will have to pass the following tests:

 

Licence Acquisition Multiple Choice Theory Test  )               These 2 tests together are

Licence Acquisition Hazard Perception Test          )               known as Module 1

 

Driver CPC Case Study Test                                                Known as Module 2

 

Licence Acquistion Practical Driving Test                               Known as Module 3

 

Driver CPC Practical Demonstration Test                               Known as Module 4

 

Having passed all the above tests you will be issued with the Driver Qualification Car (DQC).

 

Drivers will then need to maintain their knowledge throughout their professional career and complete 35 hours of periodic training in each five-year period, the same as drivers with "acquired" rights, from that date.

 

There are some exceptions to the above rules. Only drivers who wish to drive professionally, ie earn their living by driving a goods vehicle, have to complete Driver CPC.

 

Also, those drivers who have C1 on their licences through "grandfather" rights and then take a Category C test do not have to pass modules 2 and 4 to start driving professionally (or continue to do so if they have already been driving C1 vehicles for a living). However, the first five-year period for Driver CPC started on 10 September 2009 and must be completed by 9 September 2014.

 

There are also exemptions with regard to the vehicles as follows:

 

*   vehicles with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 27 mph (45 km/h)

*   vehicles used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, Civil Defence, the Fire Service and forces responsible for maintaining public order

*   vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or new or rebuilt vehicles that have not yet been put into service

*   vehicles used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions

*   vehicles used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC, as provided for in Article 6 and Article 8(1) of Directive 2003/59/EC

*   vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use

*   vehicles carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver's principal activity

 

If you, the driver, consider that you should be exempted from CPC, then it is your responsibility to check that this is correct. You are strongly recommended to seek legal advice if you are in any doubt. Any perceived exemptions can ultimately be tested in a court of law.