What is the Driver CPC?
The Driver CPC is a scheme 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.
When did the Driver CPC start?
Legislation to underpin the Driver CPC was put in place on 22nd March 2007 and the Driver CPC for LGV drivers was implemented on 10th September 2009.
How will the Driver CPC affect me?
Depending on your individual circumstances will determine how you acquire the Driver CPC.
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New drivers acquiring a vocational entitlement (C1, C1+E, C or C+E licence) after the 10th September 2009 will have to obtain an initial CPC in addition to their licence.
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Existing drivers who already hold a vocational licence on the 10th September 2009 are exempt from the initial Driver CPC. This is known as "acquired rights".
What will happen once I have my Driver CPC?
Irrespective of when or how a driver obtains the Driver CPC, he/she must complete a total of 35 hours Periodic Training within the following five years to keep the Driver CPC valid. LGV Drivers who are exempt from the Driver CPC via acquired rights will have to complete their periodic Driver CPC by September 2014. For more information on Periodic Training and to find an Approved Training Centre in your area please go to www.drivercpc-periodictraining.org.
The story so far...
Skills for Logistics has been involved in all the working groups that have been meeting, normally on a monthly basis, over the last year. These working groups also have representatives from a number of different stakeholders who have an interest in the Driver CPC, including the RHA, FTA and the trade unions. Extensive development work has been required for the extra testing that is required by the Initial Driver CPC. This has included increasing the bank of theory test questions to allow for the increase to 100 multiple choice questions, developing new hazard perception clips and developing the case studies that are part of the initial qualification. For the practical test and extra 10 minutes has been added on, plus a new 30 minute ‘show me, tell me’ module has been developed to meet the requirements of the initial driver CPC.
Another strand to the work as been to develop the process for approving training providers and courses for the delivery of Periodic Training. The Periodic Training working group put together a document called the ‘Guide to Periodic Training for Employers and Training Providers’, designed to inform all those organisations who are interested in becoming approved to deliver Periodic Training. This includes organisations who wish to deliver periodic training ‘in house’ to their own employees as well as those who are selling training to third parties. This document was first published in February 2007. The two sector skills councils, Skills for Logistics and GoSkills are working in partnership and have been tasked by the DSA to develop and administer the approvals process. A jointly run organisation, the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT), was set up in February 2007, and became registered company in August 2007. This organisation is managed jointly by the 2 SSC’s, and has been approving training centres and courses over the last year.
Initial Driver CPC
The theory test questions were increased from 35 to 60 in April 2007, and to 100 on the 4th August 2008. The number of hazard perception clips in the theory test were also be increased from 14 to 19 on the 4th August 2008.
The theory test has been split into 2 parts so the multiple choice test and hazard perception test can either be taken together or separately. If taken together and one is failed, only the one that was failed has to be re-taken - the result of the other test will be banked by DSA until the other part has been passed. This theory test, along with the appropriate practical test, will have to be taken by both PCV and LGV drivers from this date.
From the 10th September 2009 LGV drivers will also have to do the Driver CPC theory test, which consists of 19 LGV case studies and the Driver CPC practical test which consists of a half hour practical test module. Therefore, in order to gain both an LGV licence and the initial Driver CPC the following modules will have to be passed:
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Module 1a - 100 multiple choice questions
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Module 1b - 19 hazard perception clips
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Module 2 - 19 LGV case studies
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Module 3 - licence aquisition test
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Module 4 - Driver CPC practical test
For more information on the Initial Driver CPC please go to http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/cpc. To download an A5 leaflet containing information about the Initial Driver CPC please click here
Driver CPC - National Vocational Training (NVT) Option
The LGV/PCV Driver Training Directive allows for new drivers who are working towards their Initial Driver CPC to undertake an approved National Vocational Training (NVT) programme alongside their Driver CPC.
The NVT option enables drivers who have achieved Module 1 and Module 3 to enrol on an approved NVT programme for up to 12 months whilst they complete their remaining Driver CPC modules. This effectively enables drivers to drive professionally for up to 12 months whilst they complete the Driver CPC. This 12 month period is known as an NVT Concession.
Drivers who take part in an approved NVT programme will not only gain their licence and initial Driver CPC but also an accredited national qualification such as an NVQ. Any of the following qualifications are approved for the NVT concession:
- N/SVQ in Driving Goods Vehicles
- N/SVQ in Carry and Deliver Goods
- BTEC in Carry & Deliver Goods
It is important to note that the two qualifications (the Initial Driver CPC and the qualification followed as part of the NVT programme) will be assessed and awarded separately. The Driver CPC assessments will not be affected by performance on the qualification followed via the NVT Programme.
In order to benefit from the NVT concession, drivers will have to register with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), providing evidence that they are registered on an approved qualification. They will be issued with a NVT concession card which is valid for up to one year. The concession will start from either the beginning of the NVT programme or the date when the driver acquires their vocational driving licence, which ever is the most recent. Click HERE to download the application forms or call the DSA on Tel 0115 936 6278, or email them at NVT@dsa.gsi.gov.uk.
Periodic Training
Approval for training centres to deliver Periodic Training lasts 5 years, although if applications are made before 10th September 2009 (LGV) the initial approval period will still last until 9th September 2014 (LGV). Each approved centre will be audited at least once in every five year period by the JAUPT. Please go to www.drivercpc-periodictraining.org for more information on the audit process.
Approval for courses is annually – courses will be reviewed by the JAUPT to ensure they are kept up to date and to monitor the quality of their delivery. Courses must be at least 7 hours long (excluding breaks), and up to a maximum of 35 hours. The start date for course approval will be 10th September 2009 (LGV) whenever the course is actually approved prior to this date, although any courses that are approved during 2007 will be reviewed before September 2009 (LGV) (without additional charge) to ensure they are still current.
For more information on becoming an approved centre and a copy of the ‘Guide to Periodic Training for Training Providers and Employers’ please go to www.drivercpc-periodictraining.org
In conjuction with GoSkills, Skills for Logistics have produced the following guides for Operators to help them make informed decisions about Periodic Training and the best way to ensure they meet the requirements. Please click on the links below:
To download an A5 leaflet containing information about the Driver CPC Periodic Training please click here
