Driver CPC training has been part of the industry for a long time. But is it in need of change? One operator argues that it is, adding that it’s too easy for DCPC courses to dwell on irrelevant material
Here I am, two days into my Driver CPC (DCPC) training, which I decided to blitz in a solid, five-day block.
Day one was excellent. It was all about drivers’ hours, rest periods and the use of tachographs and it was highly worthwhile.
I don’t care what anyone says: Few people understand every last rule in relation to these subjects, so I was satisfied by the refresher course and how it applied to two of my drivers that were undertaking the training with me.
I was happy in the knowledge that all my drivers will benefit from this module. Without doubt, they have learned some valuable new information, as well as brushing up on the things that they already know.
About turn
Then we come to day two. What a terrible contrast. Seven hours of my life spent listening to information that has zero relevance and zero benefit to coach operation. It was about the safe loading and unloading of LGVs.
The last time I checked my driving licence, there was no LGV entitlement on it. While day two looked like it was excellent for the LGV drivers on the course, and a real reminder of safety-critical issues for them, for my drivers and I it was the most mind numbing experience of our lives.
As a coach operator, my questions are these:
- How on earth can this training be acceptable towards our DCPC?
- How can anybody be surprised that the DCPC is hated when over 50% of this course is made up of completely useless information that we will never have any need for?
- Why are all DCPC courses not tailored toward the needs of the people that are actually doing them, namely the PCV or LGV driver?
- If the powers that be have decided that 35 hours every five years is the amount of compulsory training that drivers need, why can they not benefit from 35 hours’ useful information and tuition?
Change required?
By the end of this week’s training, I imagine I will have arrived at the conclusion that about half of it is relevant and the other half is not. As a result, in my opinion the compulsory aspect should be 15-17.5 hours with the rest forgotten about, because it is useless to us as coach drivers.
At least two days should be devoted to drivers’ hours and keeping records thereof, with practical training in the use of the tachograph added, including how to make manual entries.
Then, how about a day of ‘proper’ first aid training? The only true first aid-certified person in my whole class of around 30 people is the trainer.
In conclusion, I place absolutely no blame on the training company or the trainer. Our trainer is excellent and is well worth listening to in terms of what is actually relevant to PCV drivers.
But I have lost a day of my life. It would have been equally rewarding to have watched paint dry, and probably more useful – and at least that would not have cost me over £300 for each driver.
I am certainly not saying that DCPC is a scam, but I am most definitely saying that it is a disgrace that we are subjected to such irrelevant content just so we can tick another pointless box to keep our entitlement to drive commercially.
Greg White’s views do not necessarily reflect those of either routeone or the Editor – but do you agree with him or not? Email editorial@divcom.co.uk to have your say.
