What Is CPC: A Quick Reminder for HGV Drivers

Now that the deadline for CPC training has come and gone, we thought we would provide HGV drivers with a quick reminder of what CPC is. Before we do however, it is important to note that the CPC and requirements put in place by the Government have not turned out to be as bad for the industry as once expected. Most UK drivers have completed their training and are now driving legally. Furthermore, nearly one-third of all CPC fines are issued to foreign drivers, according to the DVLA.

The CPC regulations require drivers to receive enhanced safety training every five years to demonstrate they are competent to operate commercial vehicles on public roadways. Despite being implemented only recently, the regulations are actually nothing new. The European Union introduced them more than a decade ago; but they did not become official in the UK until 2013.

CPC is an acronym that stands for Certificate of Professional Competence. Earning this certificate demonstrates that a driver is fully knowledgeable in the areas of highway safety and regulatory compliance. Once a certificate is earned, the driver must carry it whenever he or she is working. It must also be produced at the request of police officers and others qualified to ask for it. Failure to produce a CPC certificate on demand will subject the driver to fines.

Who Needs It

The law dictates that all HGV and PCV drivers complete CPC driver training every five years. When implementation of the law began in 2009, CPC training became a standard part of the regimen for all new drivers earning licences for the first time. That means the first round of certified drivers is already beginning their second course of CPC training.

Drivers who earned their licences prior to 2009 had two deadlines to deal with. PCV drivers had until September of last year (2013) to be trained and certified; HGV drivers had until September of this year. All professional HGV and PCV drivers should now be trained and certified if they continue to work.

The HGV Training Centre offers CPC driver training on an ongoing basis. If you have not yet received training despite having earned your licence before 2009, you are now currently in violation of the law. If you are caught, it could mean fines of up to £1000 and the loss of your licence. Your employer could also be penalised. We urge you not to take the risk. Sign up for one of our CPC training courses right away. We offer classes at more than 45 facilities around the UK.

In addition to CPC training, the HGV Training Centre also offers classes that can prepare you to take the HGV or PCV theory exam. Upon passing the exam, we provide complete commercial driver training that can prepare you to take the practical skills test, enabling you to drive an articulated lorry, tipper truck, coach, bus, etc. For more information about any of our classes, please contact us right away.

Sources:

1. Motor Transport – https://motortransport.co.uk/blog/2014/11/12/non-uk-drivers-get-a-third-of-driver-cpc-fines/