The proper one not the “sleep in the classroom, nice coffee” one…
My boss’ Dad is our CPC holder but is generally retired from day to day involvement with the business, and my boss has asked if I’d be interested in “going for it” (cpc), after having input with getting customers, organising work etc.
I know there’s a home study course etc, but is this advisable considering I have a young family at home?
I know bits and pieces about the undertakings of a TM etc but if you have to have great accountancy/book keeping knowledge etc I’m a bit stuck.
Any help appreciated gents, it’s only a three truck local tipper operator if that’s relevant…
Muckaway:
The proper one not the “sleep in the classroom, nice coffee” one…
My boss’ Dad is our CPC holder but is generally retired from day to day involvement with the business, and my boss has asked if I’d be interested in “going for it” (cpc), after having input with getting customers, organising work etc.
I know there’s a home study course etc, but is this advisable considering I have a young family at home?
I know bits and pieces about the undertakings of a TM etc but if you have to have great accountancy/book keeping knowledge etc I’m a bit stuck.
Any help appreciated gents, it’s only a three truck local tipper operator if that’s relevant…
Hi muckaway, I have recently done my CPC as a home study. My main reason for choosing this method was cost! I have a 3 and a 4 year old so finding time to study wasn’t easy but I managed to stay disciplined and work through the study pack bit by bit. (Study pack was £160 from the RHA and the exams were roughly £100 each)
There is quite a lot on the business side of things, this is mainly for the multi choice paper but it is not overly complicated, I think most people pass this first time. As for the case study exam, there will always be questions on driver scheduling, costing and operator licensing, but the study pack advises which modules carry the most weight.
I work in a transport office at the moment so working with the TM at my place was a huge help as I had a fairly sound knowledge of rules and regulations anyway, so I don’t think the intensive course would have been value for money. In my opinion the home study is the way to go but only if you can stay focused and are prepared to put the time in. Also, you can work at your own pace, have a look at the study pack and then decide when to do the exams.
Also, it’s not relevant what you do now as everybody has to do the same exam anyway.
Good luck with whichever route you take,feel free to as me any questions, I took my exams last December and thankfully passed them both (I was convinced I had failed the case study) 
Adam
I did my standard national cpc in 1999/2000.these days you can only do the international,which is a bit more involved. The home study stuff is based round a course by “friendberry” (other providers may be available…).i did mine at a local F.E college,2 nights a week for 13 weeks. It wasn’t much dearer than the home study and used the same study material. I did this because I felt it would be better to “study” in an actual classroom environment.
If you gain the cpc and become TM,with your name on the O’licence–Remember that if the ■■■■ hits the fan,It’s YOU up in front of the TC,getting your trousers taken down & your arse spanked.
I have met candidates who did this course with Friendberry, some guys really struggled
with some topics, mainly the mock scenarios and had to do the exam a few times.
There is a lot of information to absorb, not easy, but everyone has different revision techniques.
In my opinion I would attend the course with everybody else in a classroom , gaining tips from them, and advice.
Training providers arrange the accomodation,and have a laugh and a pint at night with the others on the course.
A hearty meal by the log fire, watching the top totty going by.
Did mine last September and would recommend a classroom based course. (I used Wallace in Wembley). I was sent the stack of notes a few weeks beforehand, which I read through thoroughly, then spent a week being talked through them in a classroom. That gave the opportunity to query details and discuss topics.
As always in these classrooms you usually find a few who are loads better than you and a few who seem clueless which helps to boost confidence.
Importantly, being in a classroom means you are shown which bits are most important and how they expect you to answer the questions. On exam day spoke to a couple of homestudy blokes who didn’t seem to understand the first thing about what was expected.
Everyone is different of course so homestudy may suit. I just wanted to be sure I passed first time.
Obviously being in and around transport as you have for a while you won’t find it too hard. Some people I did it with were office types or daughter of bloke setting up a skip lorry who really struggled with basics. Don’t worry about figures either. It doesn’t go beyond basic adding and subtracting and is very straight forward.
You will enjoy it! It gives a great overview of how to run a transport business.
I did mine classroom based about 10 years ago. I’d record doing it this way Personaly as I would struggle to concentrate at home especaly with a little one in the house.
Did mine in college …course was 2evenings a week do think you learn more that way …
Did mine a few years ago now - I really enjoyed it if I’m honest. My maths isn’t fantastic but I found the scenarios etc. straight forward enough. I wouldn’t say it is too difficult to pass what is difficult is remembering the amount of info you need to pass if that makes sense! I did a day a week for a few weeks at the RHA in Peterborough then tests were on the last day.
Also - just a thought - if you have the time to spare why not do a JAUPT approved classroom course and get the hours accredited towards your DCPC? 