What is Driver CPC?
Driver CPC has been 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.
- Periodic Training, which involves all professional drivers undertaking 35 hours of training every 5 years.
Why has it been introduced?
To improve the knowledge and skills of lorry and bus drivers – helping:
- road safety (and thus all road users)
- the road freight and passenger transport industries (better staff performance, better recruitment and retention, more economical vehicle usage)
- professional drivers (skill levels and maintenance, career opportunities, professionalism)
- the environment (reduced fuel consumption and vehicle wear)
Why is it important?
Driver CPC has been introduced across Europe to improve all drivers’ knowledge and skills within the industry. It will be necessary to be legally compliant by September 2013 for PCV and September 2014 for LGV.
Is Driver CPC mandatory?
Yes - it is mandatory for all professional PCV and LGV drivers.
How does it differ from CPC?
CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is the qualification needed to operate an ‘O’ Licence. Although the new legislation is called Driver CPC its full title is Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. This should not be confused with CPC.
Which drivers of what vehicles does it affect and from when?
New drivers acquiring a PCV vocational entitlement (D1, D1E, D, DE licence) after the 10th September 2008 and/or an LGV vocational entitlement (C1, C1E,C or CE licence) after the 10th September 2009 will have to obtain the initial Driver CPC in addition to their licence to drive professionally.
Existing drivers who already hold a vocational licence on the 10th September 2008 (PCV) or the 10th September 2009 (LGV) are exempt from the initial Driver CPC. This is known as "acquired rights". However, they still have to take periodic training consisting of 35 hours every 5 years.
What size of fleet is included?
Any size fleet are included within the Driver CPC legislation, From a’ one man band’ to a large corporation. If the company employs professional PCV or LGV drivers they must take their Driver CPC training to comply with this EU regulation and validate their driving licence.
Are there any exemptions?
- Vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 45 Kph
- Vehicles used by the armed forces, civil defence, and emergency services
- Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance
- Vehicles used in states of emergency
- Vehicles used in the course of driving lessons or examinations
- Vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passenger or goods – for personal use
- Vehicles used for carrying material of equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, providing that driving the vehicles is not the drivers’ principle activity.
