It follows the review into DCPC which took place between November 2021 and January 2022 in response to acute driver shortages in the road haulage and passenger transport industries.
DfT is seeking views on options for how the DCPC qualification is maintained and, in the case of returning drivers, regained, taking advantage of the greater autonomy to regulate following EU-exit.
Potential measures being considered include:
- reducing minimum course lengths to enhance flexibility of delivering periodic training,
- the option of new periodic test as an alternative to periodic training, which will be delivered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA),
- an accelerated route for former drivers to return to the sector more easily.
If implemented, reforms will establish a National DCPC for use in Great Britain and possibly Northern Ireland should Northern Ireland ministers agree (as DCPC is a devolved matter).
The existing regime, International DCPC, will remain for travel to, from or within the EU, including the Republic of Ireland, and will continue to be recognised for journeys within the UK.
DfT emphasises that the proposals are all subject to consultation and no final decisions have been made on which reforms may be taken forward. These proposals will require amendments to legislation.
You can read and respond to the consultation via https://is.gd/nidove as well as read through the DCPC review report (https://is.gd/etuyih).
The closing date for the consultation is 11:45pm on Thursday 27 April.