DSA warns on Driver CPC training deadlines

You must do Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) periodic training if you’re a lorry, bus or coach driver.

You face being fined and even losing your livelihood if you don’t finish your training in time, the Driving Standards Agency has warned.The Office of the Traffic Commissioner has also reminded operators to be aware of their drivers’ training hours and deadlines to avoid penalties.

Driver CPC rules
Driver CPC was introduced in:

• 2008 for bus and coach drivers
• 2009 for lorry drivers

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.

Training deadlines
To stay within the rules, all drivers must do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years.

Bus and coach drivers with acquired rights have until 10 September 2013 to finish their first 35 hours of periodic training.
The deadline for lorry drivers with acquired rights and drivers with a licence to drive both bus/coaches and lorries is 10 September 2014.

Check your training record

You can find Driver CPC periodic training courses online

Majority taking periodic training
DSA’s Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said:

“Great Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world and one of the ways we aim to keep them so is by encouraging all drivers to keep their skills up to date. This is particularly important for professional drivers.

“It is encouraging to see that the majority of bus, coach and lorry drivers who need Driver CPC are participating in periodic training, but we urge all professional drivers and their employers to be aware of the deadlines and make sure they will be able to comply”.

Joan Aitken, lead Traffic Commissioner on Driver CPC said:
“This is a critical time for any bus or coach driver who has not started or completed their Driver CPC. It is not an optional extra for drivers – it is a must.”

“Operators must ensure that their drivers have done the training. The consequences of not doing this could be loss of livelihood and action against operator licences”