Truck UK - Training

Truck UK is an approved training centre and can provide seven hour modules of top quality and relevant Driver CPC Periodic Training at an all in £60.00 per delegate fee, including the VAT element that is presently 17.5% of the training fee and a further £8.75 that we have to pay to DSA every time we want to register that a delegate has undertaken 7 hours of approved periodc training

We know of one local provider who is offering periodic training at £25.00 per delegate + DSA registration + VAT, which is a very attractive price and we have to admit we can't match that price and ensure that we provide the top quality service DSA/JAUPT expect. At the other end of the market we know of at least two well known providers who were charging £125.00 per delegate and one of these has now reduced their prices to a more realistic double figure, but still more expensive than us ................................... and they don't provide weekend courses.

Contact us by e-mailing: drivercpc@truckuk.net and see if we can work together to both improve your level of compliance while at the same time managing your costs.

For information on our open courses, to be presented in August and September 2010 from our training centre in Oundle, near Peterborough CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

If you are based within East Anglia or the East Midlands and you would like someone to come along to your premises and explain the Driver CPC to either drivers or management or both, then get in touch with Steve Williams and he'll arange a visit, at no cost to you or your organisation. E-mail him at: steve.williams@truckuk.net leaving your contact details - mailing address; telephone number and e-mail address.

The Driver CPC affects every goods vehicle operator and every existing and new vocational truck driver. We can provide approved periodic training to existing professional truck drivers based within the UK. We strongly recommend that existing drivers commit to undertaking one day of 7 hours training every year, starting as soon as possible.

Below is some information regarding the requirements. If you are an operator who would like to discuss the Driver CPC in detail, including the possibility of Truck UK putting together a course or courses tailored to your specific needs, please e-mail: Operator query for a no-obligation meeting.

If your company is based within the East Midlands or East Anglia and you would like a free presentation to your staff regarding the requirements and implications of the Driver CPC, or you are organising a conference or seminar within the same regions and would like a free presentation please get in touch at e-mail address: steve.williams@truckuk.net. We are happy to travel further afield, but may require some assistance regarding travelling expenses.

Driver CPC is short for 'Driver Certificate of Professional Competence'. It is a qualification that all professional goods vehicle drivers need to have if they want to drive for a living. The Driver CPC has been introduced right across the European Union to try and ensure a higher level of driving standards. It is completely separate and different from the Operators/Transport Managers CPC. Holding the Operator CPC does not exempt anyone who drives professionally, even occasionally, from the mandatory requirement to gain a Driver CPC.

I already hold a lorry driver vocational licence (i.e. category C1; C and C+E). What will I need to do ?

The good news is that existing holders of category C, C1 and C+E driving licences are not required to take any examinations or tests to gain a Driver CPC. Such drivers have been granted 'acquired rights', also known as 'grandfather rights status' . This means they can continue to drive professionally up until 10th September 2014, as long as they undergo sufficient and approved 'periodic training', in batches of 7 hours, adding up to 35 hours of training before that date. If a driver held a category C on 11th September 2009 he must have undertaken 35 hours of approved Driver CPC training by the time 10th September 2014 comes around. Please be aware that this regular refresher training is not a one off requirement, it is a lifelong training commitment that will continue until the driver no longer drives commercial vehicles over 3.5 gvw for a living. So, from now on, vocational drivers' will be required to periodically undertake 35 hours hours of JAUPT approved refresher training in five year cycles if they wish to drive for a living.

'Periodic training' is regular and approved training that must continue throughout a professional lorry drivers' career. The reason given for this additional requirement is that it is believed that regular 'refresher' training throughout a person's working life assists in improving safe actions at work. With regard to drivers this is obviously focussed on safe driving, although there are other topics that can be covered, the choice is yours.

There is not a set and specific course of training that must be undertaken to gain a Driver CPC. Training providers and operators can themselves device their own tailored programmes of learning, that will mean various types of approved courses will be offered to drivers. Truck UK provides bespoke courses that can be accredited on behalf of clients, contact bespoke Driver CPC courses

The training that is made available is grouped under three headings:

Safe and fuel efficient driving (this may include vehicle loading, fuel consumption and awareness of pollution risks)
Legal requirements (i.e. rules for correctly operating the tachograph and adhering to drivers' hours).
Health & Safety, service & logistics (including first aid and customer care).

However, be aware that only courses approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) on behalf of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), delivered by accredited training organisations, will count towards the 'periodic training' requirement that will enable professional drivers' to obtain their Driver CPC. Truck UK is approved to deliver Driver CPC Periodic Training to both passenger transport and goods vehicle drivers.

Those new to the industry, since 11th September 2009, are required to take a two part examination (Driver CPC initial qualification) to enable them to drive commercial vehicles for a living (commercially).

The new tests have been designed to help drivers get a detailed and practical understanding of driving as a professional. Once the initial qualification tests have been successfully taken, the vocational driver will be entitled to a Driver CPC and they will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC), enabling them to be legally employable as a commercial driver.

After the initial qualification has been achieved that driver will need to undertake 35 hours refresher training every five years to allow continuous employment as a commercial driver to continue, but .......................... no more examinations!!

Unless a driver is exempt (see below) they must ensure that they obtain a Driver CPC by 10th September 2014. Furthermore, if an employer uses persons to drive for them commercially and they do not hold the required Driver CPC / Driver Qualification Card they (the Operator) could be liable to prosecution.

The above list is not necessarily exhaustive and is only intended as a guide. DSA recommend in all cases where it is felt an exemption applies, the driver seeks independent legal advice.

All the above information was taken from the DSA publication - A Guide to the 'Driver Certificate of Professional Competence'

The TSO has published 'Driver CPC - the Official DSA Guide for Professional Goods Vehicle Drivers' which is well worth buying, at only £9.99. To order your own copy go to The TSO bookshop Driver CPC page

Keep checking this website and also e-mail: Driver CPC Information and we will pick up your e-mail address and send you news and updates as they occur.