The Vehicle Operator Service Agency and the Driving Standards Agency are advising drivers that they do not need to buy a card to prove they are exempt from driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) regulations.

The warning follows the implementation of Driver CPC legislation for LGV drivers in the freight industry on 10 September. Being sold for £49 on the internet and described as 'Driver Qualification Exemption Cards' or DQEC the cards have no legal validity.

VOSA's Traffic Enforcement Policy spokesman Peter McIntyre said: "Our enforcement officers would not use this card to check driver exemption.  We don't want drivers to be spending money on something they don't need."

Under the current legislation drivers who gain their initial Driver CPC after 10 September 2008, Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV), or 10 September 2009, Large Goods Vehicles (LGV), are required to complete four modules before they are eligible for their Driver Qualification Card which they must keep with their driving licence. To retain the Driver CPC, 35 hours of periodic training must then be completed within a 5-year period, and every subsequent 5 year period.

Drivers who had LGV or PCV entitlement on their driving licence at the implementation dates will need to complete 35 hours of training within five years of the implementation date to receive their Driver CPC qualification card and then complete 35 hours of training every subsequent five years, if they wish to continue to drive professionally.
 
Courses, which must satisfy the 7 hours of periodic training, include Digital Tachograph and Drivers’ Hours, Driver as Ambassador (customer relations), Health & Safety and DGSA, all of which are available from Novadata. . See our training section.

Story By: Derek Broomfield

Date : 15-09-2009