With 9 September marking one year to go until many professional bus and coach drivers have to complete their second block of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) periodic training, the DVSA has issued a reminder to ensure that training is up to date.
The DCPC was introduced in 2008 for PCV drivers, and in 2009 for HGV drivers. Since then 1m DCPC cards have been issued.
New drivers who drive for a living had to start taking the Driver CPC initial qualification from then. Existing drivers were given ‘acquired rights’ – which took their previous experience into account, and meant they didn’t need to do the DCPC initial training.
To stay within the rules, all drivers must do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years.
For drivers who were given ‘acquired rights’, the deadline to finish the next block of periodic training is 9 September 2018 for those who hold a Category D licence.
For those who hold a Category C licence it is 9 September 2019.
For drivers who hold both a Cat C and a Cat D, the deadline is 9 September 2019 – giving them six years to do the ‘first block’ as a one-off only. Thereafter, it goes to five-year blocks.
DVSA is urging drivers to plan ahead and complete their training in good time, and not leave it to the last minute when demand for training courses will be high.
Drivers now have more than 3,000 registered courses to choose from, including customer service, disability awareness, drivers’ hours rules and fuel-efficient driving.
Drivers and employers should choose courses based on their continuing professional development and operational concerns. A well-planned training programme, relevant to a driver’s day-to-day role, can provide many benefits.
Mark Winn, DVSA’s Head of Vocational Policy, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving.
“Drivers and all roads users are benefitting from lower incident rates as a result of training in techniques like defensive driving, or better understanding of drivers’ hours rules. Businesses are benefitting from savings on fuel thanks to drivers taking courses in eco-safe driving.
“Bus and coach passengers are experiencing the benefit of drivers having taken customer service and disability awareness training.”
DVSA’s warning about the deadline comes as a new milestone has been reached. Over one million Driver CPC cards – which are issued to drivers when they qualify or complete their training – have now been issued since 2008.
Keith McNally, the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Operations Director said: “The Confederation of Passenger Transport, the trade association representing the UK’s bus and coach industry, has worked closely with DVSA over the years assisting with the design of a flexible scheme that delivers real benefits to bus and coach operators, while also helping drivers to stay safe.
“It is pleasing to know that many drivers have already got their Driver CPC card and met the legal requirements. CPT continues to encourage its operator members to approach training early and get Driver CPC cards in drivers’ pockets as soon as they can. This will help to make sure that the potentially higher volume of training demand in September 2018 does not keep drivers off the road unnecessarily.”
Drivers who miss the training deadline can’t drive professionally until they have finished their training.
Drivers and vehicle operators can be fined up to £1,000 if they drive professionally without Driver CPC.
Drivers must carry their Driver CPC card with them when driving professionally, and can be fined £50 for not having it with them.
More information about Driver CPC periodic training and acquired rights is available at www.gov.uk/driver-cpc-training
Drivers can find training courses to meet their needs at www.gov.uk/driver-cpc-training-courses
Drivers can check how many hours of training they still need to do at www.gov.uk/checkdrivercpc
