Government reveals latest Driver CPC developments as training deadline looms

Driver CPC needed just to take vehicles for annual test, VOSA confirms Just over 18 months to go for truck drivers to complete DCPC training Individuals driving trucks and trailers to their annual test will need to hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence and undertake 35 hours of approved training every five years, VOSA has confirmed. Although a Driver CPC is not needed if the driver is carrying out a road test for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or is in a new or rebuilt vehicle that has not been put into service, the agency is adamant that the qualification is required for all drivers who take large goods or passenger vehicles to its testing stations, or designated premises or ATFs for roadworthiness tests. This is likely to pose problems for companies which have previously relied on workshop staff to take the vehicles for annual test. Some firms responsible for large numbers of vehicles effectively employ a single person just to fulfil the task, while in many small and medium fleets with in-house maintenance, the workshop manager will take vehicles for test himself. Although these individuals hold the right licence, in many cases neither they nor their staff have been undertaking Driver CPC training, because other workshop-related driving tasks (fault finding and testing for example) are specifically exempted by law. VOSA does not accept that the run to the test station could also be counted as a last-minute road test. “Whilst it is appreciated that this journey may be similar to those mentioned in the exemption, it is travelling to a statutory test of the vehicle where the vehicle should have been road-tested prior to being presented for annual or statutory test,” the organisation said.