Driver CPC Training

Llewellyn (Safety Advisors) Europe Limited is now an approved training centre for the delivery of the Driver CPC Periodic Training with JAUPT (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training)

Driver CPC has been introduced across the European Union to maintain high driving standards and improve road safety. All professional bus, coach and lorry drivers must hold a Driver CPC if they want to drive for a living unless you fall into one of following exemption categories:

• used for the non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use
• undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or new or rebuilt vehicles not yet put into service
• used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or Driver CPC
• carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, provided that driving the vehicle does not constitute the driver’s principal activity
• with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45km/h
• used by, or 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 assigned to rescue missions.

NB: any drivers of lorries over 3.5 tonnes, and minibuses with nine seats or more, must obtain a Driver CPC. The ‘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 also needs to hold a Driver CPC.

All drivers need to complete a minimum of 35 hours of periodic training every five years. The training will require attendance at courses but will not require drivers to take or pass further examinations.

How you gain your Driver CPC will depend upon when you obtained your vocational licence. If you are a bus or coach driver and held your vocational licence (D*, D1*, DE*, D1E*) prior to 10 September 2008 you have acquired rights until 9 September 2013. If you are a lorry driver and held your vocational licence (C, C1, CE, C1E) prior to 10 September 2009 you have acquired rights until 9 September 2014. To keep your Driver CPC and continue driving professionally beyond this date, you will need to complete 35 hours of periodic training.

New drivers will need to pass the initial qualification to gain their vocational driving licence and qualify for their Driver CPC. For a new driver, the requirement to undertake a minimum of 35 hours’ periodic training to retain their Driver CPC will start once they have passed the initial qualification.
* Those who have an entitlement on their licence stating ‘not for hire or reward’ (Code 101) will not have acquired rights and will have to take the initial qualification should they wish to drive professionally.

The Driver CPC is for LGV and PCV drivers who drive professionally throughout the UK. To come in line with the EU Directive 2003/59, the Driver CPC came into force in September 2008 for PCV drivers and September 2009 for LGV Drivers.

It is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life.
There are two parts of the Driver CPC:

• Initial Qualification
  • All 'new' LGV and PCV drivers who gain their licence after 10th September 2009 and 10th September 2008 respectively, will need to gain this qualification in order to use their licence professionally i.e. for work.
  • All 'old' drivers who obtained an LGV licence before 10th September 2009 or a PCV licence before 10th September 2008, will obtain 'grandfather' rights and will not need to gain the Initial Driver CPC Qualification. They will however have to come in line with the Periodic Training.
• Periodic Training
  • All professional drivers will have to now complete 35 hours worth of training within 5 years. This training can be of any type as long as it is an approved course which is approved by JAUPT (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training).

Details of the approved courses are listed in the table below. Please note that all courses must be a minimum of 7 hours therefore if you wish to take a course with a duration of 3.5 hours, then another course of 3.5 hours must be added.

The minimum length of a training course is seven hours. Where a course of seven 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. Driver CPC requires all professional bus, coach and lorry drivers to complete a minimum of 35 hours periodic training every five years for as long as they wish to continue to drive professionally.

You will be able to prove you hold Driver CPC by a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). The card will be issued to new drivers automatically on successfully passing the initial qualification. Drivers with acquired rights (holding a GB photo card licence) will be automatically issued with the card on completion of the 35th hour of periodic training.

Those drivers with acquired rights will be able to use their driving licence as proof of their Driver CPC status until they have completed their 35 hours training within the first five year cycle at which point they will be issued with a DQC.

There will be no charge for the card at point of issue.

Drivers with LGV/PCV licences from other countries

Drivers from other EU member states and drivers from non-EU countries may take their periodic training in the UK if they are normally resident or working here. Periodic training completed in another EU member state, where the driver is employed, or normally resident, may be taken into account by DSA/DVA.

Driver CPC applies across all EU Member States therefore all professional EU drivers are also required to qualify and hold a Driver CPC.