Mercedes Benz trucks get ready for Driver CPC legislation that comes into force September 2009
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
The Driver CPC legislation comes into force in the UK from September 2009 and it requires drivers to undertake 35 hours of periodic training over five years.
Legislation to underpin the Driver CPC will be in place by 22nd March 2007 and the Driver CPC for LGV drivers must be implemented by 10 September 2009.
Driver CPC applies to drivers of vehicles on roads open to the public and for which a driving licence in any of the following categories is required:
i. C1, C1 + E, C or C + E
ii. D1, D1 + E, D or D + E
All drivers of the above categories who are either:
i. nationals of an EU member state or
ii. nationals of a non-EU member state but who are employed or used by an organisation based in an EU member state
will have to hold Driver CPC if they wish to drive professionally.
Both the initial qualification and periodic training will be based on the same syllabus.
The syllabus has three main subject areas. These are:
1. Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
2. Application of regulations
3. Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics
Periodic training should revise and expand on the subjects and should suit the needs of the driver at that time.
For the initial qualification, a test plan has been developed that shows in which module the various syllabus areas will be tested.
All professional vocational drivers must undertake periodic training in order to maintain their Driver CPC.
Drivers will have to complete a minimum of 35 hours of approved training every 5 years. Each training course must be of a minimum length of 7 hours, with the 7 hours being defined as contact time with the trainer. Each training course must be delivered within a 24 hours period.
All training must be taken with an approved training centre and on an approved training course. Records of training taken by drivers will be kept centrally.
All approved training centres and training courses will be subject to audit and approval may be withdrawn if it is found that centres or courses are not complying with the approval criteria.
Drivers who are deemed to hold Driver CPC by acquired rights must complete their periodic training within 5 years of the introduction of Driver CPC:
i. for PCV licence holders, by 10 Sept 2013.
ii. for LGV licence holders, by 10 Sept 2014.
Drivers who gain their Driver CPC by completing the initial qualification must complete their first cycle of periodic training within 5 years of the date they acquired their Driver CPC.
Drivers who do not maintain their Driver CPC, i.e. because they leave the industries, but who want to start working as a professional driver again, must complete 35 hours of periodic training in order to regain their Driver CPC. They must complete the training before they can resume working professionally.
Drivers holding both lorry and bus and coach licence entitlement will only be required to complete 35 hours of approved training every 5 years.
The new Driver CPC presents a huge change for the transport industry and Mercedes Benz Commercial Vehicles want to help everyone it affects from individual drivers to owners of large fleets by offering a mixture of CPC approved in cab and classroom courses at over 30 locations across the UK.
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