Safety concerns raised as DfT consults on Driver CPC reform

Industry trade body Logistics UK has warned that proposals to reform the Driver CPC qualification in the UK, which are currently out to consultation, may pose safety concerns and “devalue the professional­ism of the road haulage sector”.

The government’s proposals are still under devel­opment and subject to the outcome of the consul­tation. But in their current form, the posited reforms to the Driver CPC could lead to the introduction of a second, domestic qualification, unrecognised abroad, alongside the existing Driver CPC card.

Vocational truck and coach drivers moving to, from or within the EU, including the Republic of Ire­land, would still need to retain the existing DCPC qualification card, which is achieved by examination and retained by completing 35 hours of training every five years. This would become known as the international DCPC (I-DCPC) under the proposals, and would remain valid for driving in the UK.

But the Department for Transport (DfT) says a new national DCPC (N-DCPC), if adopted, could enable a more flexible approach to the scheme for those only driving in Great Britain, and Northern Ireland should the devolved authorities also adopt the plans – with the possibility of a periodic test providing an alterna­tive means to the current periodic training regime of maintaining the qualification.

Logistics UK said the consultation was “bad news for road safety and haulage operators, as well as drivers”. Its policy manager for road freight regula­tion, Chris Yarsley, said: “Within its own consulta­tion announcement, DfT has said that much of the current industry training relates to issues impacting safety, and that the new, proposed periodic test – which would replace the current 35 hours of period­ic training – could result in significantly less training being offered and, therefore, available overall.

“Operating and driving heavy commercial vehicles is a chal­lenging, complex role and to re­duce the training opportunities for drivers when they need to be operating in line with the safest possible practices is simply unac­ceptable and could compromise the vital safety on which much of our industry is based.”

The industry’s difficulties re­cruiting drivers during 2021 led to pressure on the DfT to reform Driver CPC, to reduce the burden on drivers and lower barriers to those returning to professional driving. DfT said an initial review found the principles of Driver CPC were generally supported, but that reform was desired to reduce the cost to drivers in time and money.

However, potential reforms were constrained by the need to maintain a qualification that would be recognised in EU states, and others such as Norway and Switzerland.

The route to acquiring the ini­tial qualification would remain un­changed for all drivers, meaning all would initially hold an I-DCPC by default. The proposed amend­ments would only affect those renewing their DCPC beyond the initial period of qualification, or regaining it following a lapse. But while drivers requiring the I-DCPC would need to continue complet­ing the prescribed 35 hours of pe­riodic training every five years as per European rules, drivers only intending to work domestically could be offered simpler, cheaper ways of maintaining DCPC as a domestic-only – N-DCPC – quali­fication.

This could be achieved, un­der DfT’s preferred option, via a periodic test featuring multiple choice and situational judgement questions, lasting between an hour and 90 minutes. This would be taken at a driving theory test centre, and would yield a pass or fail result. A pass would provide a domestic driver with a five-year entitlement. Content would likely cover key safety topics such as drivers’ hours and tachograph, loading and unloading, and safe urban driving.

This route to maintaining an N-DCPC would cost an estimated £40 to £70 – low when compared to typical prices for 35 hours’ DCPC training of £250 to £500. It would run for five years from the date of expiry of the existing DCPC, not the date of the exami­nation. Those failing the test could only then drive for commercial purposes until the end of their ex­isting DCPC validity period – but test resits would be permitted.

Drivers not wishing to take the examination, or who failed it, could opt for ‘reformed training’, delivered in a more flexible man­ner than current DCPC training (for example, without minimum course durations or requirements to complete split courses over two consecutive days), but still totalling 35 hours over five years. There would also be more scope for remote e-learning than there is under the current Driver CPC.

Under the proposals, experi­enced drivers returning to the industry with a Driver CPC that expired more than two months but less than two years previ­ously might acquire an N-DCPC either by taking the test outlined above, or undergoing a ‘return to driving’ refresher course cover­ing topics such as working time, tachographs, load security and/ or passenger safety.

This would be delivered in seven hours, rather than the 35 hours faced by drivers currently returning with expired DCPCs.

The government is considering whether such returning drivers should then be able to maintain their qualification on an annual basis by taking seven hours’ train­ing in the following 12 months, or be given a five-year qualification, during which they would have to complete 28 hours of training to bring the total up to 35 hours, plus another 35 hours’ training to maintain their qualification.

Exemptions to Driver CPC rules could also be made by govern­ment under the proposals, to cov­er future crises such as pandem­ics or extreme driver shortages.

“DfT has also indicated that the proposals would result in more complexity within the DCPC regime itself, including a two-tier system for domestic and foreign driving qualifications, and that the new regime tabled would create confusion for drivers, lead­ing to switching of courses, and therefore increased training time and costs,” said Logistics UK’s Chris Yarsley. “The department’s own plan states that these chang­es have the potential to create higher overheads, ‘which would most likely be borne by drivers of employers in the form of test and possibly training fees’ – an unac­ceptable burden to place on our members.

“Logistics businesses have already faced a 12.6 per cent rise in vehicle operating costs, are facing a reduction in energy support and are investing in de­carbonisation technologies in line with government targets.

“Already operating on narrow margins, these businesses can­not continue to absorb yet more rising and unnecessary costs, which would ultimately be passed on to consumers.”

He said that the logistics indus­try had worked hard to ease the driver shortage via awareness campaigns such as Generation Logistics, and the creation of HGV driver bootcamps to boost recruit­ment.

“At a time when industry is trying to attract more people into the sector, and into such highly skilled jobs, any reduction in the professionalism required for the role would be a retrograde step and would devalue the skilled nature of the work required,” he added.

“Our members have never questioned the need for a Driver CPC regime, and welcome the reputation which attaining the current standard bestows on their businesses and their drivers.

“When providing a response to the DfT review of the training in January 2022, Logistics UK called for the flexibility for busi­nesses to deliver the training most suitable to their own drivers to be retained.

“Logistics is not a ‘one size fits all’ sector and there are huge advantages to businesses being able to tailor the drivers’ training content to suit their business needs.

“The proposed periodic test will potentially cover a wide range of issues, some of which might not be relevant to the driver, so could direct attention away from training that matters.

“Logistics UK will be undertak­ing urgent work with its members to respond to these proposals and identify worthwhile methods to improve, rather than compro­mise, road safety, while increas­ing efficiency for businesses and the wider economy.”

Taking a different view, the Road Haulage Association said: “The RHA has long called for government to reform Driver CPC and will be examining the detail of the proposals.

“The consultation options in­clude the potential for more flexi­ble training options, and a shorter ‘new periodic test’ which could re­duce time and cost for firms and drivers.

“Many RHA members across the haulage and coach sectors say the current Driver CPC ar­rangements are a barrier to re­cruiting and retaining drivers.”

RHA managing director Rich­ard Smith added: “We welcome the news that DfT is consulting on proposed DCPC reform to of­fer more choice and flexibility for drivers.

“This is a key priority for us as we continue to look for ways to tackle skills shortages in the transport sector. We look forward to reflecting our members’ views in the weeks ahead.”

Managing director of Driver Hire Training, John Keelan-Ed­wards, said: “At Driver Hire Train­ing we believe that whilst Driver CPC isn’t perfect, it is definitely a good thing. It helps to ensure that professional drivers are kept up to speed with ever-changing rules, and that is good for the safety of drivers and the wider public.

“But just as importantly it’s an opportunity for ongoing personal development. This is something that happens in lots of other fields of work and we don’t see any reason why drivers, who are just as skilled and professional as others, should miss out.

“We think the current arrange­ments can be improved in terms of convenience and accessibility but do think that some form of regular training regime should be maintained. We have our doubts about whether the wider benefits of Driver CPC could be sustained if the proposal to replace ongoing training with a single pass/fail exam was adopted.”

The DfT’s Driver CPC consul­tation is open until 11.45pm on Thursday 27 April.

Those wishing to contribute their views or read more about the proposals can do so at the government website, via the ‘poli­cy papers and consultations’ sec­tion at: www.gov.uk/drivercpc