As an essential requirement to drive professionally, the Driver CPC qualification expands the expertise of drivers, as well as ensuring road safety. Since Brexit, many have been asking – will the driver CPC be scrapped? In short – the answer is no. It will be accepted into legislation despite the UK leaving the EU.
Will the Driver CPC be scrapped?
There are several arguments as to why this is unlikely to happen:
- It improves standards within the industry
- It is likely the EU will require drivers to maintain this qualification to be able to transport goods in and out the country
- A lot of time and money has already been invested into it
- Its purpose is to improve road safety and reduce death and injuries for drivers and the wider public No government would want to be associated with removing a programme where one of the stated aims is the improvement of road safety and reduction of death and injuries for drivers and the wider public
Why are some people delaying their training?
There are various reasons which have led to the ‘Driver CPC to be scrapped’ belief:
- That as an ‘EU’ programme it will no longer be a requirement post-Brexit
- Short-term operational strains suggesting drivers cannot be released for training
- Limited budget for training
The qualification was first introduced in 2009, with the deadline for drivers to gain their Driver Qualification Card (DQC) set for 2014 (for LGV drivers). As this was the first Driver CPC deadline, it led to a major rush to complete training. Training centres across the country could not accommodate the influx. Drivers who did not have the required 35 hours of training could not legally drive for commercial gain. This may have contributed to pressure on driver supply.
Since the expiry date on each driver’s DQC will be different, there is no longer quite such a ‘cliff edge’ deadline for Driver CPC. Nevertheless, there are clear pinch points and it remains vital that all drivers stay up to date with their training needs. Spreading the training over five years makes operational and financial sense. The Government has made it clear that the rules are not going to change. To drive professionally – you must have your Driver CPC up to date. Failure to do so means you will be unable to drive commercially and could face a fine up to £1,000.
Is it beneficial?
Whilst there are some concerns surrounding the qualification, it has plenty of advantages. It delivers useful information which, for instance, informs individuals on changes to driver-related laws. Drivers’ hours rules, for example, are complex and frequently misunderstood. There is the risk of fines for people who do not adhere to them – not to mention the obvious safety risks of driving whilst tired.
Can you do Driver CPC online?
At Driver Hire, you can do training from the comfort of your own home. To get on the roads safely and officially – our Driver CPC online courses deliver first-class training.
We believe spending money on a course should be a valuable investment. There are few approved Driver CPC training providers in the UK. We are one of the nation’s leading providers. Our programme spreads across 20 modules, designed specifically to support commercial drivers in every aspect of their job.
As part of Driver Hire’s wider range of training services, you may also be interested in our Transport Manager CPC courses – which are also now available online.
Don’t put your Driver CPC off – if you’d like to talk to us about how we can help, get in touch, chat to one of our agents in the chatbox below or book your course today.
