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Drivers must check their individual Driver CPC expiry dates, says Novadata


The first block of Driver CPC has left some drivers confused about when and how to renew their periodic Driver CPC training, says transport training expert Novadata. It is vital, says the company, for drivers to check the renewal date on the front of their Driver Qualification Card (DQC), also frequently referred to as a Driver CPC card. Driver CPC applies to most professional drivers of haulage vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes or passenger vehicles with more than nine seats.

"When Driver CPC was first introduced, there were two universal deadlines for existing drivers; 9th September 2013 for PCV drivers; and 9th September 2014 for LGV drivers," explains Novadata Managing Director Su Winch. "If you are clear about your expiry date, renewing your DQC regularly is simple, you must attend 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every five years. Knowing exactly when to renew Driver CPC may be a bit more complicated, however. Many PCV drivers had a renewal date of 9th September 2018 - but not all - so you must check section 4b of your DQC for the correct expiry date. Many PCV drivers and most LGV drivers have a renewal date of 9th September next year. But just because a colleague tells you what their renewal date is, doesn't necessarily mean that yours is the same."

Those who passed their ordinary car driving test before 1st January 1997 were granted additional vocational entitlements which has given them what is known as 'acquired rights'; this gave some PCV Drivers an additional year to renew. This means that many PCV drivers, as well as most LGV drivers, are required to renew their periodic Driver CPC training by 9th September 2019. Those without acquired rights had to renew by 9th September 2018, so if you haven't done so, and you've passed your renewal deadline, you must act now and don't drive until you've renewed. You won't be able to drive professionally until you do, advises Novadata.

Drivers who gained their vocational entitlement after 9th September 2008 (PCV) or 9th September 2009 (LGV) are required to complete Initial Driver CPC qualification. This consists of two tests, for which training is recommended but not compulsory; as opposed to Driver CPC, which is attendance-only training, with no tests to pass. Their renewal date will depend on when they first took their Initial Driver CPC. To renew their DQC, they are then required to attend 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every five years.

Since the first block of Driver CPC training, many more drivers have entered the profession, and whether they had acquired rights or not, they will have an individual renewal date shown at section 4b on their DQC.

"If you wait until the expiry date to start thinking about attending Driver CPC courses, you'll find won't be legal to drive until you have completed all 35 hours," warns Su Winch. "Leaving your training until the last minute is also a bad idea, as courses close to the most common renewal dates in September always fill up fast."

Novadata says it's never too early to plan renewing your Driver CPC, because you can attend and log your hours at any time in the five years before renewal. Many drivers now opt to take one seven-hour module a year across the five years, as this only takes them off the road for one day at a time. It is also an approach favoured by The Traffic Commissioners, who are pleased to see an ongoing commitment to continuous professional development among drivers.

Once you have checked your renewal date, you can book PCV and LGV Driver CPC courses online here.



Story By: Novadata

Date : 07-09-2018

Driver CPC
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