Industry bodies welcome common sense of Driver CPC change 12 August 2013

The FTA (Freight Transport Association) and RHA (Road Haulage Association) have welcomed the announcement that two more journey types – the training programmes for professional lorry and bus drivers – will be exempt from Driver CPC.

FTA has long been appealing to the DfT (Department for Transport) to introduce the exemptions from Driver CPC for mechanics who only drive HGVs to and from testing stations for their statutory annual tests.

The new exemptions mean that technician drivers will not need to take the five days of training every five years that professional lorry drivers must, by law.

Additionally, the DfT's decision states that individuals who only make short, infrequent journeys that are not carrying a load for payment will also be exempt.

"Professional lorry drivers have to work within a plethora of rules aimed at improving road safety, and it's right that those driving for a living every day have access to continuous refresher training," comments James Firth, FTA head of road freight and enforcement policy.

"But a mechanic who only ever drives HGVs on a public road to test them or take them for their statutory annual test, should not need to take the same refresher training as a professional, full time lorry driver."

Meanwhile, the RHA says it is continuing with its review of Driver CPC.

The association says it is examining how regulation by the DSA might be improved, how employers might improve its value to their businesses and how the core directive might be enhanced so that it is more appropriate to the transport industry.

Author
Brian Tinham

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