A major consultation on the future of Driver CPC has finished, with over a thousand industry stakeholders having their say. The UK government has now released its findings and conclusions, which include a raft of changes to Driver CPC training, examinations and more.
Since the official 15,000 word report may be a little difficult to digest, we’ve summarised the main points below. The simple version is that there should be exciting changes to training from next year onwards – and even the removal of testing as a requirement depending on the outcome of further discussions.
What is Driver CPC?
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC), commonly referred to as Driver CPC, is a qualification for professional drivers in the UK and EU. Introduced in 2007 in response to EU legislation, Driver CPC is a requirement for obtaining a professional licence to drive a range of heavy vehicles, including HGVs, LGVs, buses and coaches.
Driver CPC is obtained by completing four tests: a theory test (multiple choice and hazard perception), a case studies test, a practical driving test, and a vehicle safety demonstration. Non-professional drivers may take only the theory and practical tests, then take the case studies and safety tests at a later date if they decide to turn professional.
Driver CPC lasts for five years. It can currently be renewed by taking 35 hours of periodic training within that five year period. The qualification was designed to standardise professional driving across the continent, improving safety standards for both drivers and other road users. In turn, it was hoped that this would attract more professional drivers.
What was the Driver CPC consultation?
The Driver CPC consultation was an effort by the UK government to poll professional drivers, trainers, and other interested parties on the effectiveness of Driver CPC. This focused on two main areas: improving choice for drivers; and attracting more drivers to the industry, such as by making it easier for drivers with foreign qualifications to obtain a licence in the UK.
The consultation followed a review of Driver CPC, which was commissioned in 2021 after an acute driver shortage. Its outcomes were put to public consultation in March 2023, with the findings released in December 2023. The consultation garnered 1,190 responses, and included two webinars and multiple industry events, which themselves generated several papers by members of the sector.
What are the proposed Driver CPC changes?
The consultation process resulted in a strong sense that Driver CPC requires reforms. As a result, the government has laid out a series of changes to Driver CPC training, as well as further consultation on the introduction of a periodic test to complement Driver CPC training.
Changes to Driver CPC will include:
1. Reducing the minimum training course length
The government has decided that the minimum length of a training course will be reduced from 7 hours to 3.5 hours. The idea behind this change is to introduce greater flexibility for training providers and trainees to deliver more efficient and effective training.
Currently, modules can be 3.5 hours long, but two modules must be taken together, with a maximum of 24 hours between them. Trainees often report that they struggle to pay attention and absorb all of the information in a 7 hour lesson, even when split into two sessions on consecutive days.
Under this new rule, trainers may still offer longer training courses, but courses will be allowed to be as short as 3.5 hours. Longer courses will also not be required to be completed over two consecutive days, as is currently the case. Pending further consultation, the 35-hour periodic training requirement will still apply, so more courses may need to be taken to fulfil this requirement.
2. Consulting on a new periodic Driver CPC test
Further consultation is planned on the introduction of a pass/fail test for renewing or regaining your Driver CPC. This would be introduced as an alternative to the 35 hour training requirement, both for current Driver CPC holders and former professional drivers. This would form part of an ‘accelerated pathway’ to get professional drivers back into the industry.
The test would provide another option for drivers who feel their knowledge and mastery of driving is such that the 35 hours of training is unnecessary. The training could still be completed in order to refresh the skills that would be required of a test, which would likely include both practical and theoretical elements. However, this is yet to be decided.
3. Decoupling e-Learning from trainer-led courses
Training courses with an e-Learning component will also no longer need to be completed on consecutive days. Instead, the e-Learning component will now be allowed to be completed at a later date to the trainer-led part of the course. No specific limit has yet been decided, although it has been suggested that there may be no time limit on completing this part of a course.
4. Developing more course content and assessments
More core course content will be developed in conjunction with the DVSA to ensure that training courses are relevant and practical. Informal assessments will also be encouraged at the end of training courses to ensure that the information has been communicated and absorbed properly, and can be demonstrated in a practical setting.
5. DQCs will be digitised
Driver qualification cards (DQCs) for Driver CPC will no longer have to be carried on your person, with plans to create a digital version of the cards. This is designed to increase convenience and prevent fraud, and will also allow for the easy recognition of foreign equivalents to the Driver CPC. However, this is pending further consultation.
When are the Driver CPC changes taking place?
As the changes to Driver CPC will be changes to inherited EU law, they will be brought into force through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act. This is not expected to take place until summer 2024. Changes taking place then will include the new minimum course length, decoupled training, and new advice on informal assessments.
The other changes are pending further consultation. The introduction of a new periodic test as an alternative to the 35 hours of training will be prioritised, but will not be introduced until a later date. This means that for the foreseeable future, 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training will still be required for requalification – just with the option for 3.5 hour courses from next year.
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The changes to Driver CPC will create new options in terms of training courses, and potentially the option to take a test instead of periodic Driver CPC training. However, the changes to course lengths and content will not happen until late next year at the time of writing, and the introduction of periodic testing as an alternative is unlikely until at least 2025.
SAMS offers periodic Driver CPC training towards your 35 hour requirement, including a range of 3.5 hour modules that can be combined into a 7 hour course. Our next courses are booking now for February, March and April 2024, with weekday and weekend slots available. To learn more and book today, visit our Periodic Driver CPC page here.