Driver CPC: six months left for PCV, and no last-minute reprieve

The deadline for bus and coach drivers to complete their Driver CPC periodic training is just six months from today – and the Freight Transport Association has warned that those operators holding out for a last-minute reprieve as the deadline draws close will find themselves in hot water.

Passenger-carrying vehicle (PCV) drivers will need to receive the required 35 hours of training as a matter of urgency, FTA said, and no later than 10 September 2013. Large goods vehicle (LGV) drivers have until September 2014 to complete the training.

Said head of road freight and enforcement policy James Firth: “This is a reality which is not going to go away.  If the required 35 hours of Driver CPC training is not completed before the 10 September deadline, traffic commissioners will take action against vocational drivers and the operators who allow them to drive illegally.

“If there is a last minute rush to book courses, it is the quality training which will be squeezed first, so we advise companies to book now in order to make sure their drivers receive the best possible training.”

FTA’s warning comes in the wake of similar counsel from the powers that be – namely the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the traffic commissioners – which have today issued statements reminding drivers of coaches, buses and lorries, and their employers, of the need to stay on top of training requirements or else risk fines and loss of livelihood.

DSA chief executive Rosemary Thew said: “Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world and one of the ways we aim to keep them so is by encouraging all drivers to keep their skills up to date.  This is particularly important for professional drivers.

“It is encouraging to see that the majority of bus, coach and lorry drivers who need Driver CPC are participating in periodic training, but we urge all professional drivers and their employers to be aware of the deadlines and make sure they will be able to comply.”

Meanwhile, Scotland traffic commissioner Joan Aitken, who is also lead TC for Driver CPC, warned: “This is a critical time for any bus or coach driver who has not started or completed his or her Driver CPC. It is not an optional extra for drivers – it is a must.

“Operators must ensure that their drivers have done the training.  The consequences of not doing this could be loss of livelihood and action against operator licences.

Traffic commissioners urge operators and driver agencies to do all in their power to make sure that Britain’s bus and coach drivers are up to standard.”

Meanwhile, FTA has also released advice on what operators and drivers should look out for when choosing a training provider. Its ‘top tips’ include ensuring both provider and content are approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT); and ascertaining whether an assessment is involved; whether trainers are properly qualified; whether the syllabus is useful and relevant; and whether the provider is experienced, credible and knowledgeable about the transport industry.