Driver CPC Training
What is Driver CPC
Driver CPC was introduced in 2008 for PVC Drivers and 2009 for Lorry Drivers. It meant that professional drivers were required to undertake ongoing training to increase Road Safety and Compliance within the transport industry.
There are two types of Driver CPC Training, these are known as Periodic and Initial Driver CPC Training. Periodic training is undertaken by anyone who is considered to have acquired rights (ie: held a 7.5 tonne, class 2 or class 1 licence prior to 9th September 2009 or held a PCV licence prior to 9th September 2008) OR who has previously undertaken the initial CPC and now requires the 35 hours (five days) Periodic Training every five years thereafter.
If you passed your car test before January 1997 this generally entitled you to drive 7.5 tonne vehicles (Cat C1). Candidates with a C1 entitlement pre 9th September 2009 attend Periodic Training on acquired rights, even though they have never passed a vocational driving test as the right to drive 7.5 tonne vehicles counts as a vocational entitlement.
If a driver holds a vocational licence for buses and coaches as well as lorries, they only need to do one set of periodic training.
Lorry Drivers
If you drive a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes for work purposes you are required to be in possession of a Driver Qualification Card.
For drivers who held a lorry entitlement of C1 (7.5 Tonne) or higher on 9th September 2009 there was a requirement to complete 35 hours of Periodic CPC Training by 9th September 2014. This gained them a Driver Qualification Card that was valid for 5 years. During this 5-year period drivers would complete a further 35 hours of periodic training to be able to drive beyond 2019. The 35 hours Driver CPC training is required every five years on an ongoing basis so you can keep driving for a living.
Each new five-year period begins from the expiry date of your current Driver CPC qualification, and not from the date when you reached the 35 hours minimum training required.
If a driver did not hold a lorry entitlement of C1 (7.5 tonne) or higher on 9th September 2009 they must obtain their first Driver Qualification Card by completing Initial CPC. This gained them a Driver Qualification Card that was valid for 5 years. During this 5-year period drivers would complete a further 35 hours of periodic training to be able to drive beyond the expiry of their DQC.
PCV Drivers
If you drive a vehicle that requires a D1 (minibus) or D (bus) licence for work purposes you are required to be in possession of a Driver Qualification Card.
For drivers who held a lorry entitlement of D1 (minibus) or higher on the 9th September 2008 there was a requirement to complete 35 hours of Periodic CPC Training by 9th September 2013. This gained them a Driver Qualification Card that was valid for 5 years. During this 5-year period drivers would complete a further 35 hours of periodic training to be able to drive beyond 2018. The 35 hours Driver CPC training is required every five years on an ongoing basis so you can keep driving for a living.
Each new five-year period begins from the expiry date of your current Driver CPC qualification, and not from the date when you reached the 35 hours minimum training required.
If a driver did not hold an entitlement of D1 or higher on the 9th September 2008 they must obtain their first Driver Qualification Card by completing initial CPC. This gained them a Driver Qualification Card that was valid for 5 years. During this 5-year period drivers would complete a further 35 hours of periodic training to be able to drive beyond the expiry of their DQC.
Lorry & PCV Drivers
If you held a PCV licence AT 9TH September 2008 and a Lorry licence at 9th September 2009 then your 35 hours of Periodic Training will cover you for both. However, if you held only one of the licences at the cut-off dates and gained your other licence after then you require Initial CPC for your new entitlement (and Periodic for your old entitlement). The good news is that once you have completed your initial CPC any subsequent Periodic Training will count towards both.
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