All professional bus, coach and lorry drivers must complete 35 hours of training by 9th September 2019
With the deadline for Driver CPC training looming, here are some key facts that you'll need to know, whether you're a driver or an employer.
What is Driver CPC?
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is a qualification for people who drive a bus, coach or lorry as the main part of their job and who live in Great Britain. This qualification must be held in addition to your driving licence and all drivers must complete an initial Driver CPC qualification before driving professionally, which incorporates a theory test, case studies, practical test and vehicle safety demonstration.
All drivers must also complete at least 35 hours of Driver CPC every five years on a continuous basis in order to retain the qualification. If you drive lorries and buses, you only have to complete one set of training.
What happens if you drive without Driver CPC?
If your Driver CPC has expired, you cannot legally drive a bus, coach or lorry until you have completed your training. If you drive without the qualification, you could be fined up to £1000.
Does Driver CPC training still need to be completed following Brexit?
While Driver CPC is based on a European Union directive, it is a requirement for drivers in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate process. It also remains a necessity when driving in other Driver CPC member states.
Where can you find out how many training hours have been completed?
All of your training is logged online by the DVSA. You can find out how many hours you have completed here.
Still need to complete your 35 hours? GTG can help.
To help you get the training you need before your CPC expires, GTG Training offers a variety of approved training courses taught by highly qualified instructors. Each of the courses lasts seven hours and they cover a number of disciplines. The following Driver CPC courses are available to book today:
- Digital Tachographs and Drivers' Hours
- Fire Fighting and First Aid
- Realities of Transport
- Safety in Transport and Manual Handling
- The Law and You
Each course costs £65 + VAT. GTG has been approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT), so we'll make sure all your course data will be uploaded and logged on the official JAUPT system.