The House of Lords and a House of Commons Delegated Legislation Committee have each approved proposed changes to the Driver CPC that are part of reform of that mechanism.
Amendments have already been laid out in detail, but they major on splitting Driver CPC into national and international silos. In the latter case, the international qualification will mirror the existing approach. It will be needed to drive internationally.
A national Driver CPC will introduce greater flexibility in how periodic training is carried out and open a more straightforward route back to the profession for drivers whose qualification expired up to two years previously.
In a notable point during the Lords debate of 29 October, Minister of State for Transport Lord Hendy suggested that the EU is considering introducing changes to its established Driver CPC approach, although the EU is “unlikely” to recognise the UK-specific national qualification in the near future.
Progress of the proposed domestic amendments had stalled with the general election in July after the draft regulations were laid on 16 May. The process was restarted in October with an expectation of changes being introduced in late 2024 or early 2025.
Lord Hendy notes that the proposed national Driver CPC “will offer more flexible courses than the current system, with an accelerated pathway for drivers to return to the profession.”
He describes the changes as “sensible and proportionate” that will help passenger and freight road transport. Many respondents to earlier parts of the reform process find the time and cost consequences of Driver CPC renewal under the current approach “inflexible and unnecessarily burdensome.”
The structure as it stands has contributed to vocational drivers leaving that position, Lord Hendy continues.
On the topic of some members of the coach, bus and HGV industries wanting Driver CPC to be abolished entirely, Lord Hendy says he believes that the qualification “is absolutely necessary for reasons of road safety and driver professionalism.”
He notes that the trade and co-operation agreement with the EU means that Driver CPC must be retained for most commercial international passenger and freight movements. The Delegated Legislation Committee saw support for the changes from across the political spectrum.
