Van drivers - Do you need a Driver CPC?

[sddsddean]

Not a question, just a 'Did you know?'.

I did one of my Driver CPC courses today and thought I'd bring this to the attention of people. If you are a van driver who drives a vehicle between 3.5T and 7.5T (that is anything from a Transit sized van with double rear wheels and up to LGV) and are using the category C1 class on your licence to do it, you MUST do the Driver CPC which entails 35 hours of training by September 2014. This will affect many drivers such as builders, landscape gardeners etc. Just giving you a 'heads up' in case you didn't know!

[EvianBaby]

Whats a CPC course?

[sddsddean]

The Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is a EU reuirement for vocational drivers (thats both truck and buses). It is a legal requirement and if you haven't done all the training by Sept 2014, you will lose your entitlement to drive and vehicle covered by classes C1, C1+E, C, C+E for trucks and classes D1, D1+E, D, D+E for buses (though the bus CPC must be completed by Sept 2013). Every 5 year period after Sept 2014 you will again have to take another 35 hours training which will cover you until Sept 2019 and so on. Many van and minibus drivers do not realise this affects them, so check your licence! The minimum fine for driving without a Driver CPC is £250!!! If you currently hold the licence, you should carry it with you as this is your proof that you have 'grandfather rights' for the Driver CPC up until Sept 2014. Lots more info at http://www.direct.gov...sandcoaches/DG_186131

[Buenchico]

You appear to be a couple of years too early, Sddsddean!

CPCs became compulsory for all newly-qualified drivers (with vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or greater) from 10 September 2009. However those drivers with licences issued before that date have 'acquired rights', exempting them from the need for a CPC. Such acquired rights are valid for 5 years from the introduction of CPCS, which means that it will be Sept 2014 when they expire:
http://www.businessli...r.s=sc&type=RESOURCES

For EvianBaby:
http://www.direct.gov...ialVehicles/DG_171186

Chris

[Buenchico]

Crossed posts!

But I still don't understand what you're on about!

You've accepted that 'acquired rights' last until 2014. Anyone who doesn't have such rights should ALREADY have a CPC!

[EvianBaby]

Ok, so all my drivers don't need to worry about it for a couple of years then?

[sddsddean]

No, worry about it now! 35 hours is 5 x 7hr days (a course must be a minmum of 7 hrs). It is estimated that well over 40 % of drivers haven't even started yet and if they all think like you (as people do in these situations) there is going to be a mad rush for courses in the last 6 months and many people are not going to get their training done. Also, it will become a sellers market and courses that are now £59 a day could rocket to £200 a day or more based on supply and demand.

Chris - although I (as with most drivers) have acquired rights until Sept 2014, you can't do all the training on the last day! (or at least I wouldn't risk it!!). As you say, anyone passing a LGV test 'today' must have done the initial driver CPC test.

I'd like to point out that I did this post as a heads up for van drivers. Most truck and bus drivers know its coming, but most 'big' van and minibus drivers don't realise it affects them too.

[Toureman]

If you wanted this to reach many drivers why is it not in the"Other Vehicles "catogary as it has nothing to do with the majority of Drivers. ?

[sddsddean]

Technically it affects anyone who passed their test before Jan 1997, as they will have the C1 and D1 categories on their licence. If they use those classes, it affects them.

[Yoredale]

This is not necessarily true as your course instructor should have pointed out.
There are some exceptions to the CPC rules. One of which is: if you’re main job is not driving and you are only driving a vehicle with equipment and supplies for your main job you are exempt from the driver CPC rules. This would cover people such as builders and Landscape Gardiners etc.