Driver CPC Deadline Reached
| The deadline for lorry drivers with acquired rights to finish their first 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training has now passed. |
| The 9th September 2014 was the deadline for existing lorry drivers to finish their first 35 hours of training.
This means that from the 10th September 2014, all professional lorry, bus or coach drivers on Great Britain’s roads should have proved their skills and taken training to keep themselves up to date. Most drivers met the deadline The latest figures show that 664,000 drivers have now completed their first block of training. This compares to industry estimates suggesting there are between 425,000 and 675,000 professional drivers in Great Britain. Drivers who haven’t finished their training If a driver had acquired rights and hasn’t yet completed 35 hours of periodic training, he / she is not allowed to drive professionally again until they have completed it. Any training that has already been completed stays valid for 5 years from the date they took the course, and isn’t lost because of the deadline. Drivers can check their Driver CPC periodic training hours and find approved training courses online. Driver qualification card A driver should receive a qualification card (DQC) when they pass the Driver CPC initial qualification or complete 35 hours of periodic training. This MUST be carried whilst driving a large goods vehicle or passenger-carrying vehicle professionally. Drivers can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without having their DQC with them whilst driving. Waiting for the DQC Persons can still drive professionally if they have just completed their periodic training and are waiting for the DQC to arrive. They should contact the training centre where they completed their training if it isn’t showing on their record after 5 days of completing the course. Lost, stolen or damaged DQC Drivers must email DVSA if their DQC has been lost, stolen or damaged. Enforcing Driver CPC Driving without a DQC, or failing to produce it within the specified time frame, carries a maximum fine of £1,000 for both the driver and the operator licence holder. These offences will be referred to the Traffic Commissioner who will then consider what action to take. This could include suspending the driver’s licence and/or the operator’s licence.
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