How will it affect me?

– In future, for professional heavy goods, bus and coach drivers just holding a driving licence will not be sufficient for someone who wishes to drive these vehicles for a living. The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is coming into force across all European Union member states on 10th Sept 2009. All drivers will need to complete a minimum of 35 hours of periodic training within every five year period for as long as you wish to continue driving professionally. This can be one 7 hour day per year, or 5 days in year 5. The training will require attendance at courses but will not require drivers to take or pass further examinations.

If you are an existing driver you will have ‘acquired rights’ as you already hold a vocational driving licence (C, C1, CE, C1E, D*, D1*, DE*, and D1E*) on the relevant start dates. Bus and coach drivers will hold acquired rights up until 9 September 2013 and lorry drivers until 9 September 2014. To keep your Driver CPC and continue driving professionally beyond this date, you will need to undertake regular periodic training.

What is periodic training?

Periodic training is continuing professional development for bus, coach and lorry drivers. It carries on throughout the professional driver’s career – no matter how infrequently they drive.

The minimum length of a training course is 7 hours. Where a course of 7 hours is split into two parts the second part must start within 24 hours of the completion of the first part. It is important that you allow yourself enough time to complete your training within the five year period. There is no advantage in delaying your periodic training. The sooner you train, the sooner your knowledge and skills will be refreshed and updated, which will enhance your professionalism.

The main aim behind Driver CPC is to improve road safety; providing better qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties. Driver CPC should also bring an improved professional and positive image to the industry. It is aimed not only at improving the knowledge and skills of LGV and PCV drivers when they first start work, but also ensuring those skills are maintained and developed throughout the driver’s working life. Courses will be available post September to comply with this legislation.

Click on the Course for further information and course details:

• Fire Training and Manual Handling (run as one 7 hour day)
• LGV Driver Essentials
• Safe Lorry Loading (Forklift Refresher Training)
• Load Stability and Security
• Emergency First Aid at Work