Logistics UK welcomes Driver CPC changes

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Friday 7 August 2020

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Logistics UK (formerly the FTA) has welcomed changes to the Driver CPC scheme which took effect last month, emphasising the importance of ensuring the ability to tailor training to meet the needs of individual drivers.

“During the negotiating process, FTA ensured that any changes did not make the DCPC overly prescriptive,” said James Firth, head of road freight regulation at what is now Logistics UK.

“We are pleased that the ability to identify what training a professional commercial vehicle driver needs remains with industry – be that employer or driver themselves – rather than with politicians.”

Changes to the scheme, many of which originated at EU level, include amendments to minimum qualifications, training standards and periodic training delivery. In addition, exemptions for drivers in some specific industries have come into force.

In accordance with the changes, the government has updated its advice on Driver CPC exemptions, which can be found here, along with a variety of practical examples.

Logistics UK praised the decision not to impose training requirements too rigidly as had been feared, but to allow training to be adapted and tailored to individual roles, with reference to relevant legal and technological developments.

It said the inclusion of new flexibility around e-learning was “the most noticeable change” to the scheme. Under the new rules, courses are able to be designed to allow delegates to complete up two hours out of seven as e-learning content the day prior to a classroom session.

“This is the biggest change in delivery of Driver CPC since its inception in 2008,” said Firth.

“We will see how the training industry takes the option up, but we are pleased to see DVSA is looking for new ways of allowing delivery within the constraints of the [European] directive.”

FTA stressed that the term ‘e-learning’ should not be confused with the so far temporary measures allowing ‘distance learning’ or ‘remote learning’, deployed as part of the emergency response to Covid-19. DVSA has indicated that it will next review the continued use of these measures for Driver CPC in September.