If you miss your Driver CPC deadline, you could be parked up and facing a fine of up to £1,000. There is lots of training to keep on top of in the transport world. And Driver CPC is probably the one that you hear the most about, as it is the main on-going training that drivers must complete once they have achieved their HGV or PCV licence. This guide tells you everything you need to know to stay legal and keep the wheels turning.
What is Driver CPC and who needs it?
The Driver CPC (Certificate or Professional Competence) is for every professional driver of a Large Goods Vehicle, so that’s both lorries and buses in the below categories:
- Bus (PVC) Licence categories: D1, D1+E, D, D+E
- Lorry (LGV) Licence categories: C1, C1+E, C, C+E
- Unless an exemption applies, and you can check the exemptions here.
What is Initial Driver CPC?
When you do the initial training to get your HGV or PCV licence, you will complete your Initial Driver CPC. This is 4 modules which cover a theory test, a case study test, a demonstration test (or ‘show me, tell me’ test), and the practical driving test.
Once you have completed this Initial DCPC training, you will get a DQC (Driver Qualification Card) which is valid for 5 years. This is different to your driving licence. Your driving licence shows what classes of vehicles you are allowed to drive. And your DQC shows that you can drive Large Goods Vehicles professionally. If you drive professionally without a DQC, you could have your licence suspended by the DVSA, and you could be fined up to £1000.
What is Periodic Driver CPC?
Periodic Driver CPC is the regular training that a driver must complete to maintain their DQC and their right to drive professionally. Every 5 years a driver must complete 35 hours of Periodic Driver CPC training, and the training covers subjects like Security, Economical Driving, Driver’s Hours or Vulnerable Road Users. Each module is either 3.5 or 7 hours long. Normally you must complete different training modules throughout the 5-year period, unless you are refreshing another qualification, or if there is a valid reason to repeat a module.
Examples where you may repeat a module:
- You are refreshing a First Aid certificate which expires every 3 years.
- You are picking up regular driver’s hours infringements and you would like to repeat a Drivers Hours module to refresh your knowledge.
What does a Periodic Driver CPC course cover?
CTS offers lots of different modules to make sure that your knowledge on the various different subjects is kept up to date. The modules that we offer are:
- Vehicle Checks & Defects: This 3.5-hour module is only suitable for HGV drivers. It covers walk around checks, what to do if you find a defect, and offers advice on the dangers of driving a defective or poorly maintained vehicle.
- Company & Public Image: This 3.5-hour module offers an explanation of the consequences of anti-social or dangerous driving, and advice on avoiding conflict while on the road.
- Drivers Hours: This 3.5-hour module covers the different regulations that govern driver’s hours and explains how to work out which regulations are relevant to you.
- Economical Driving: This 3.5-hour module focusses on fuel consumption and the ways that you can reduce this.
- Emergency Aid: This 3.5-hour module is a mini first aid course to help drivers determine the order of safety and what to do if they are in an emergency situation.
- Health & Safety: This 3.5-hour module is an introduction to the Health & Safety at Work Act. It covers manual handling and risk assessments.
- Licence, Weights and Dimensions: This 3.5-hour module is only suitable for HGV drivers and provides an explanation of the driving licence, entitlements and endorsements, as well as covering the dimensions of different vehicles and their maximum weights.
- Security: This 3.5-hour module reviews the security issues that drivers may face such as theft, terrorism and illegal immigrants.
- Tachograph: This 3.5-hour module reviews how to use a tachograph, instructions on carrying out manual entries and an explanation of the different modes.
- Tiredness, Diet & Lifestyle: This 3.5-hour module reminds drivers of the dangers of driving tired, and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through both diet and exercise.
- Fire Marshal: This 3.5-hour module covers causes of fires, types of fire extinguishers and how to deal with burns.
- Vulnerable Road Users: This 7-hour module provides a reminder on the hierarchy of road users, and how to handle driving near vulnerable road users such as horse riders, children and learner drivers.
CTS also offer courses that are approved for Driver CPC and where you can gain CPC hours alongside another certificate:
- Emergency First Aid at Work: This is a NUCO approved qualification to become a workplace Emergency First Aider. You can also gain 7 hours Driver CPC when sitting this course.
- ADR: This is the training required to carry dangerous goods. Depending on the modules covered, you can gain up to 28 hours of Driver CPC when sitting this course.
- Transport Manager Refresher: This is the regular training that Transport Managers should undertake in order to stay up to day with industry changes and to refresh their knowledge. You can also gain up to 14 hours of Driver CPC when sitting this course.
National vs International Driver CPC
The latest change to Driver CPC rules has introduced International and National Driver CPC. Depending on whether you drive solely in the UK or whether you also drive in the EU, you have some different options to complete your Driver CPC hours. However, in both cases you still need 35 hours of training every 5 years.
- International Driver CPC: For driving in the UK and the EU. This is basically the same system as the one which has been in place since 2008, only now it is called ‘International Driver CPC’. Training must be in 7-hour blocks although it can be split into two 3.5-hour blocks over 2 consecutive days. You can do a maximum of 12 hours as e-learning.
- National Driver CPC: This is the new route if you only drive in the UK. Training can be in 3.5-hour blocks. So instead of doing five 7-hour sessions, you can do ten 3.5-hour sessions. You can also do more e-learning training if this works better for you.
If you need an International CPC, you must be careful as you cannot mix National hours into your training otherwise you will lose your international entitlement.
Drivers who want to work both in the UK and Europe must complete all 35 required training hours through international courses and can opt out of National courses counting towards their overall DCPC hours via the online service. If National training is included when a Driver Qualification Card is issued, drivers will receive only a National CPC and won’t be able to drive professionally in Europe.
You can check your Driver CPC hours and ‘opt-out’ here
Driver CPC Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many hours is Driver CPC?
A: By law you must train 35 hours every 5 years.
Q: How much does Driver CPC cost?
A: The cost of DCPC varies by training provider. DCPC with CTS Training is £50+VAT per person for a 7-hour course. Prices for courses that combine another certificate with DCPC hours will depend on the course.
Q: Who needs DCPC?
A: Any professional driver who drives LGVs (lorries or buses) needs DCPC.
Q: Is DCPC hard, and can you fail?
A: Periodic Driver CPC does not have an official test so you cannot technically fail. There are regular questions and an end of module quiz to make sure that you’ve understood the content. However, if you don’t attend the full hours of the module or if you were not paying attention and the instructor does not judge that you have learnt the appropriate amount, then your hours will not count.
Q: Will I lose my HGV licence if my DQC expires?
A: If your DCQ card expires, you don’t lose your HGV licence but you will not be allowed to drive professionally without a valid DQC.
Q: What do I need to do if my DQC has expired?
A: If your DQC has expired, you MUST NOT drive professionally. However, you do not need to complete your initial DCPC again, you just need to complete 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training and wait to receive your new DQC before you can drive professionally.
Q: Can I do DCPC training at home?
A: Yes, as well as classroom courses, we can offer online Driver CPC training if you would prefer to complete the training at home.
Q: What are grandfather rights?
A: Grandfather rights, or acquired rights, mean that HGV and PCV driver who earned their licence before a certain date do not have to complete the initial driver CPC training in order to get a DQC card. They simply need to complete 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training and wait to receive their DQC card in order to start driving professionally.
This exemption applies if for drivers who earned a bus or coach license (D, D1, D+E, D1+E) before September 10, 2008, or a lorry license (C, C1, C+E, C1+E) before September 10, 2009.
So now you know everything there is to know about Driver CPC, here’s what to do next:
Check out our upcoming Driver CPC courses here.
We can also come to your site to carry out Driver CPC for a group of your drivers, just contact us to book.
As always, if you can any questions you can reach us on 01945 880155 or training@ctservicesltd.co.uk.
