The New Driver Certificate of
Professional Competence (CPC)
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Background
Big Wheelers (South Wales) Limited, are the leading provider in the provision of Driver CPC training to professional drivers in the capital of Wales and the surrounding area.
We have experienced instructors who are approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training and have been providing Driver CPC periodic training to PCV drivers in the South Wales region since September 2008.
To provide the best possible training, Big Wheelers (South Wales) Limited have teamed up with Mercedes-Benz to provide top quality affordable training courses that are suitable for LGV drivers of all makes or brands of vehicles commencing September 2009.
Driver CPC is not going away! It will affect current and future drivers in different ways, a summary of the latest information can be found below:
New Drivers – Initial CPC
New drivers acquiring a PCV vocational entitlement (D, D+E, D1, D1+E licence) after the 10th September 2008, or an LGV vocational entitlement (C, C+E, C1, C1+E licence) after 10th September 2009 will have to obtain the initial Driver CPC before being able to drive professionally. The new training format will be:
| Module 1 – Theory Test (two parts) | 2.5 hours |
| Module 2 – CPC Case Study | 1.5 hours |
| Module 3 – Practical Test | 1.5 hours |
| Module 4 – Vehicle Safety Demonstration | 0.5 hours |
Further detailed information regarding the initial process for Driver CPC qualification can be found on this website under ‘hgv training’ and ‘pcv training’.
Full Vocational Licence Holders
Existing PCV drivers who already hold a full vocational licence on the 10th September 2008 (D, D+E, D1, D1+E licence) and LGV drivers from 10th September 2009 (C, C+E, C1, C1+E licence) are exempt from the initial Driver CPC. This will be referred to as acquired rights.
Periodic Training
Both new and existing drivers must complete a total of 35 hours Periodic Training within the 5 years following their initial Driver CPC, or acquired rights, to keep their Driver CPC valid. This means on average each driver must undertake an approved training course of 7 hours (one training day) each year.
Following this, professional PCV drivers exempt from the initial Driver CPC by acquired rights will have to complete their periodic training by 9th September 2013, and LGV drivers exempt from the initial Driver CPC by acquired rights will need to complete their periodic training by 9th September 2014.
Drivers who hold both PCV and LGV entitlements are only required to take 35 hours of collective training over the 5 year period.
Driver CPC EU Directive 2003/59
In order to comply with Driver CPC EU Directive 2003/59 the contents of a training course must be approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training.
PCV Drivers
After consultation with various PCV drivers and operators from small to large businesses, we have a set of approved training courses, which appear to be common to meet the needs of our customers.
Each course will be for a period of 7 hours which will cover the following areas:
- Emergency First Aid for PCV Drivers
- Drivers Hours and Digital Tachograph Operations
- Essential Health & Safety and Disability Awareness for PCV Drivers
Price Guide for each PCV 7 hour course from 10th September 2009 to 9th September 2010:
- Normal cost per driver: £90.00*
- Booking 5+ drivers on same course: £70.00* per person
LGV Drivers
As a Mercedes-Benz CPC DriverTraining Associate, we have a full range of high quality courses that are interactive, varied and interesting. There is a mixture of classroom and in-cab training that has been approved for periodic training.
Each course will be for a minimum period of 7 hours, the course titles are as follows:
- Truck technology and safety
- Economical driving
- Driving safely
- The driver’s day - Legal and social legislation
- Load safety
- The professional driver
Details of each course can be viewed at www.drivercpclgv.com
Price Guide for each LGV 7 hour course from 10th September 2009 to 9th September 2010:
- Normal cost for classroom based training, per driver: £90.00*
- Cost for the provision of in-cab training, per driver: £140.00*
If there is a LGV or PCV course which you would like that is not listed above, please contact our Training Centre. We will be happy to discuss your requirements and arrange a course to suit your workforce.
Driver CPC Exemptions
There are several Driver CPC exemptions associated with the Directive. Exemptions listed are as follows:
- Vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 45kph
- Vehicles used by the armed forces, civil defence, and emergency services
- Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance
- Vehicles used in states of emergency, vehicles used in the course of driving lessons or examinations
- Vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passenger or goods – for personal use
- Vehicles used for carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, providing that driving the vehicles is not the drivers’ principle activity
Further information can be found on our website www.drivercpcsouthwales.co.uk or for LGV periodic training please visit www.mercedes-benzdrivertraining.co.uk