Driver CPC reforms to roll out from December
Following the approval of legislation by parliament, the long-awaited reforms to Driver CPC will begin to come into force from Tuesday 3 December – though some elements of the changes will not take effect until 2025.
On 3 December, the new National Driver CPC (N-DCPC) will be introduced, which allows increased flexibility within the scheme for those driving lorries, buses and coaches in the UK.
For these drivers, training courses will be allowed to be completed in blocks of 3.5 hours, rather than seven hours, from the same date; and e-learning will be decoupled from trainer-led courses, meaning that some courses can be e-learning only – though the overall limit of 12 hours’ e-learning within the wider 35 hours of required periodic training remains.
Then on 1 February 2025, a new measure to speed up the returning-to-drive process for lapsed Driver CPC holders will be introduced, which will enable them to resume duties in the UK after a new seven-hour ‘return to driving’ module, then take the remaining 28 hours of training within 12 months of completing the module.
For UK drivers using DCPC to drive in Europe, the existing regulations – now named International Driver CPC (I-DCPC) – will continue to apply, without the new flexibilities afforded to those driving domestically. With I-DCPC, courses must still be at least seven hours long, for example.
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has pledged to keep under review the possibility of the introduction of a periodic test for N-DCPC as an alternative to training, although it has conceded that reaction to this proposal from stakeholders in its 2023 consultation was “mixed”.
DVSA updated its guidance on the Driver CPC reforms last week, which can be found in full at the gov.uk website.
Last month government ministers outlined the rationale for the changes to both MPs and peers, prior to the necessarily legislation receiving approval by both houses of parliament.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed the changes, having long campaigned for increased flexibility within the Driver CPC to better reflect the industry’s needs.
Sally Gilson, RHA policy lead for skills, said: “Our members have been waiting for these changes since the consultation in March 2023.
“Giving drivers greater choice of how they gain their DCPC was a key reform and recognises the flexibility operators need.”
John Keelan Edwards, managing director HGV training specialist Driver Hire Training, said: “This is good news for the industry as the new option will be a more accessible and flexible qualification, especially regarding e-learning. It will allow the industry to remain efficient and safe as well as make it easier for current drivers to renew training.
“The training is also good for operators, as they can ensure their drivers receive their training, but can also still meet the needs of their customers.
“The logistics industry is the backbone of the economy, and we are pleased that the new government is rolling out the changes this year, showing a level of commitment to the logistics sector, improving this key qualification to encourage new and established drivers alike.”
With the changes mere weeks away, training firms would need to act now to roll out new modules, he added.
“We will have new training options available from Day One. We know from driver feedback that the new type of course will be welcomed by drivers in their busy professional lives, as it allows them to be more flexible in doing their mandatory training, so we are assured drivers are going to welcome the change in December.”
