To keep your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), you need to do 35 hours of training, every 5 years.
Whilst many drivers, and their employers, schedule periodic training over the 5-year life of their Driver CPC card, we know some still wait until the last minute.
Over the summer months, many Driver CPC training courses tend to get booked up quickly, as more drivers plan their training. This can make it difficult to get a space on some of the more popular courses.
To make sure you’re able to choose the courses that are most suitable for you, I’d encourage you, and your employer, to plan your training well ahead of the expiry date of your Driver CPC card.
Develop your skills and knowledge
Last year, we looked into ways we could improve our relationship with drivers and operators. Some of the comments we received about the training drivers need to do, showed that some drivers aren’t using their periodic training effectively.
Drivers are able to take the same course over and over again, which makes it a lot easier for them to pass and is pointless.
We know that there are some courses, such as first aid or fuel efficiency training, which are beneficial for drivers to repeat. These courses are really important to do and it’s good to keep your knowledge up to date.
But, repeating a course because it’s cheap or easily accessible is not a good use of your time or money. Even if you’ve been driving for many years, it’s important to refresh your skills and update your knowledge. And, if you’re an employer, keeping your drivers up-to-date with the latest rules and vehicle technologies can help reduce running costs to your business.
Providing excellent customer service
If you drive a bus, you are required to undertake disability awareness training. Customer care courses are available as part of Driver CPC periodic training. These sorts of courses can really help drivers understand their customers, and help businesses provide quality customer service.
One aim of Driver CPC is to improve road safety. There are a number of courses to help drivers improve the safety of vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. Some courses will even take you cycling in urban environments, to give you a better of understanding of what situations cyclists and pedestrians face on the roads.
Other courses encourage drivers to think about the long-term consequences of accidents and challenge any bad behaviour you might see others do. This could include using mobile phones while driving, or being encouraged to drive when you’re overly tired.
Monitor how much training you've done
As a professional driver, you can check how much periodic training you’ve done and when your DQC will be issued at GOV.UK. I’d encourage you all to register with this service so that you can monitor your training and ensure your record is up-to-date.
You can find out more information about Driver CPC courses that are available in your area using our 'Find Driver CPC training courses' service.
I hope this blog post reminds you about what sort of training you can take, and if you’ve done any really useful training recently, please share that in the comments below – it might help other drivers find a great course for them.
24 comments
Comment by Paul Turner posted on
I recently attended a 4 day DCPC course with a company called NOVADATA a very proffesional company, the course was very interesting and well presented by the 2 trainers, I've been in the transport industry for over 30 years and thought I knew it all, was I wrong there have been some many changes updates so this course was invaluable to me.
Comment by Deborah Boyle posted on
We deliver a range of DCPC courses including ADR, First Aid & Manual Handling, in addition, we also offer the RTITB modules for LGV & PCV which include tacographs, the working time directive, general health & safety, drivers hours, emergency actions, safe & economic driving, haulage operations etc. Whilst there are assessments / exams taken outside of the 7 hours, some are optional, we believe by taking an assessment / exam this confirms that the knowledge has been retained by the driver and they have not just sat through a 7 hour course, they've also gained a relevant qualification, we've also been told that should VOSA stop a driver for a particular reason, VOSA are fully aware of what modules a driver has taken, so drivers should pay full attention to what they're being taught on a DCPC course. Hope this helps.
Comment by Trevor posted on
Continued professional development is important and major changes to the DCPC are required to achieve the aim of improving road safety.
Imagine a DCPC module on safe loading scheduled for delivery on Saturday morning. The maximum 20 drivers arrive. Five have just finished nightshift. Five do not speak English. Five are PSV drivers and the remainder are repeating the module as it is convenient.
An hour into the module JAUPT arrive to audit the course.
The candidates have been correctly identified and registered, GDPR requirements fulfilled, the course is relevant to the DCPC but not necessarily to the candidates and they attend for seven hours. Acceptable? To the letter of the current regulations yes. Otherwise very unlikely.
Sorry to be so negative but it is a safety issue and needs to be credible.
Comment by Trevor posted on
The road to hell is paved with good intentions?
In principle the DCPC is a sound idea, however it would probably have been better received had it been DCPD?
Drivers Continuous Professional Development.
The credibility of the scheme has been seriously damaged by allowing modules to be repeated and count towards qualification. Drivers are instructed to attend regardless of the relevance as seven hours training regardless of quality or relevance to them meets the criteria.
There are instances of foreign drivers attending sessions taught in English practically unaware of what is going on!
JAUPT and the DVSA appear to preside over the chaos!
The recommendations of an EC review in 2017 have not been acted on by UK authorities. On line provision was suggested as an option. Inevitably a test to confirm learning would be necessary as with the driving theory test. This could work well as many drivers are adverse to time spent in classrooms especially when compelled to do so.
I would disagree with the argument that tests put off entrants to the industry or affect retention. Should anyone fail a periodic test they could then attend classroom training and qualify by attendance?
The DCPC was a serious attempt at improving safety in the industry but is failing due to a lack of common sense and understanding of the industry and drivers.
The industry is well rounded. Every corner has been cut. Many drivers are content with their level of knowledge. They have done the job for years, nothing changes and accidents never happen to them?
My personal choice was to take an ADR course which achieved 21 hours certification. It was interesting, possibly useful and neither repetitive, convenient or cheap.
The DCPC like Brexit is down to poor legislation and politics, nevertheless I wish it well as improving safety in the most dangerous occupation is essential.
Comment by Kevin M posted on
At the conclusion of a module of CPC LGV training, those attending were informed by the trainer that he had in fact not driven a HGV vehicle for the past 10 years! We laughed, but I have recently been informed that no such qualification is indeed needed to train professional drivers. Not so funny if it is true! Can anyone clarify please?
Comment by Steve posted on
Hi Kevin, in relation to your request for information regarding whether a dcpc trainer has to be able to drive a lorry to understand the rules, in short no is the answer but the trainer must hold certain minimum training qualifications and have a very good understanding of the industry, a good trainer should be able to answer even the most complex question a driver can put forward, dont forget that the drivers on the course will be a group of older and newer qualified drivers so what you feel is rubbish may well be basic but brand new vital info for the new driver and you were that driver once, the industry used to rely on Fred told Joe who told Harry who told me that ...... and it was wrong!!!! at least this way everyone hears (or should hear) the right things. find a quality proper training company that specialises not just the cheapest trainer with one course, i moved from driver to trainer several years ago but that does not mean i do not understand the problems you face, but can you honestly say that you learnt abolutely nothing on the course? not even one thing that will make you a safer or better driver? are you one of those very rare drivers that has never signed off a tacho infringement as a basic? I ran a course one day we did a quiz at the end and the person who scored highest was the signer for the deaf driver and she never knew drivers hours existed prior to the course, she beat all the drivers at their own game!! can you do sign language??
Comment by Rick posted on
There is, unfortunately, no authoritative list of courses which qualify for inclusion as contributing to the DCPC.
Comment by Olivia (DVSA) posted on
Hi Rick,
You can search for a course that qualifies as part of your CPC on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/driver-cpc-training-courses
Thanks,
Olivia
Comment by Michael Morris posted on
I thought that all courses were none pass or fail but to be informative and encouraging, because as I see it this industry is on an downwards slope with not many people wanting to join. I believe that if this takes the route it's taking with exams then there would be less people wanting to come into the industry. Courses should be designed to be informative and to remind all drivers of the most important and latest rules and regulations or just refreshing what we already know. Making it hard with exams is not the way forward and will ultimately leave an massive gap in the industry where people will think is this really worth it. Most courses at the moment are a little repetitive but that's what they should be for refreshing purposes adding tests will just drive people away.
Comment by Jon posted on
I never realised you needed to pass the courses, I thought it was just attendance. If drivers only have the same day off every week & use the same company for CPC training then they probably are more likely to sit the same course. It therefore in my opinion should be compulsory to sit every course to complete their periodic training. Then drivers might take it more serious.
Comment by Rod posted on
I sat in a cpc course and I found it pointless, the Instructor was a driver with some year of experience but it wasted more of the time copying papers
and documents already sent with the application and make silly jokes, it took longer breaks the expected and really low quality teaching
Comment by John Clift posted on
Its all about the trainers knowledge and topic relevance, as an ISO 9001 auditor much of what I see has lot to desire. Look at the options pushed in the breakdown and recovery sector 35 hours worth of NHSS 17 training and none of to relates to what drivers need to know and understand. In the entire 35 hours it has less than 15 minutes that relate to road transport opertaing requirements. The post about an exam - I do not have an isuse with that as "little tests" right through the training really helps those doing the training and those delivering it as they an adjust content to their target audience abilities.
Comment by Ken S posted on
I have been building and training DCPC courses since its conception and in my professional opinion a course is as good as the person training it.
Experience and knowledge as well as the ability to get over to the drivers the importance of the training is vital. Drivers are more likely to interact when they see the person training them is on the same page and understands the important role they play.
Comment by Paul young posted on
Its is so refreshing to see comments and other like minded instructors who believe in Driver CPC training, I have passion for Driver CPC and have some amazing courses where drivers can express themselves and actually leave reviews with content and appreciation for the course delivered.
Only one frustrating point, there are still company’s operating well below guidelines and who blatantly abuse and cheat the system. Do they not realise that if a driver fails to adhere to these simple regulations who’s life are they putting in the line. I ask all my candidates one simple question. “If you are happy to drive your vehicle down the road with your family around it! Your mum dad sister brother grandchildren aunt uncle then I’m happy for you to be on the road!!!!”
If you wouldn’t then why do you take my families life in your hands by flicking a coin “Heads or Tail” you live or die
Paul young
CPC Direct Training ltd Croydon
Comment by William Wright posted on
Attal do wonderful driver c pc training very informative and well presented
Comment by William Wright posted on
Atall do wonderful and very informative courses for cpc
Comment by Hazdriver posted on
Is it not time that there was an exam at the end of each session to make sure everyone was awake
Comment by Stephen Alcock posted on
I agree in part with your suggestion, and I'm sure that's the direction that things will proceed. However, as is happening already with the driving test, if you have leaning difficulties you are at a disadvantage. I was a school governor for many years with a particular interest in SEN students. More and more, practically skilled and capable individuals will be pushed away from driving as a career because they have difficulties with reading and writing. OK, "how can they read a matrix sign?" I hear the crowd shout! reasonable question, and I don't offer an answer. I just think that it's sad that the SEN guys are going to be sidelined
Comment by Alan Mayes posted on
good information very well put.
Comment by Philip Burgess posted on
In my experience the courses are of good quality, the main issue is that an element of drivers do not want to attend the courses and before the course has started its a load of rubbish
Comment by Dave posted on
Most cpc courses are of mediocre quality, though all providers insist they are better than that.
I would like to see more opportunities for safeguarding courses for pcv drivers. Local council's want the drivers operating their contract routes to have and some provide a day course for it, so it makes sense to see two birds killed with one stone and have it as a cpc day as well!
Comment by Richard Wiles posted on
Will this costly and pointless excercise finish when we exit the E.U.?
Comment by Paul Young posted on
As an approved Driver CPC training supplier, we welcome your post and your comments.
We here at CPC Direct Training Ltd believe that all training should be enjoyable and should enhance a drivers core knowledge. This is only created by ensuring that key areas are covered, starting with the location and ease of access, with parking. Training rooms that are air conditioned and well equipped, PowerPoints and visual aids that inspire learning.
Finally instructors who believe in there courses and the importance of coaching the right standards.
Comment by Hazel Honour posted on
GOOD ADVICE