Driver CPC deadline set to be achieved, says DVSA 12 August 2014

Evidence released by DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) suggests that the vast majority of professional drivers will have completed their 35 hours' periodic Driver CPC (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) training by the 10 September2014 deadline.

DVSA notes that before Driver CPC was brought in, best estimates showed 500,000—750,000 professional bus, coach and truck drivers in scope – revised down to 425,000—675,000 when valets and technicians were exempted.

Current figures show nearly 800,000 drivers engaged in Driver CPC with just over 564,000 having completed their 35 hours' training.

Last month alone (July 2014), more than 1.1 million hours of training were logged and the latest figures show that 24,245,741 hours of periodic training have been taken by professional drivers since 2008.

"We're encouraged by the number of drivers participating in periodic training, but we urge all professional drivers and their employers to be aware of the deadline and make sure they're able to comply," states DVSA chief executive Alastair Peoples (pictured).

"DVSA enforcement officers already routinely check the Driver CPC status of professional drivers. After the deadline they'll be able to check whether acquired-rights lorry drivers have completed their training or are driving illegally," he continues.

"Not being aware of Driver CPC is not an excuse for drivers or operators and there will be no amnesty period."

And Joan Aitken, lead traffic commissioner on Driver CPC, adds: "Driver CPC is not an optional extra. The industry has been given plenty of notice of the deadline and any offences will be reported to traffic commissioners."

Vocational licence holders and operators could find themselves appearing before commissioners if drivers are found working without their driver qualification card (DQC), or fail to produce it, she warns.

Since the introduction of Driver CPC, 245 drivers have received a fixed penalty for failing to produce evidence at the roadside, of which 124 were HGV drivers and 121 PSV drivers.

22 of these were foreign drivers who should have had Driver CPC.

DVSA have also reported 143 cases to the court for prosecution involving 123 defendants (drivers and operators).

Of these, 23 were from the bus and coach industry and the remainder were from the haulage industry.

The majority of cases were successfully prosecuted with fines of up to £1,000.00.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

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