pierrot 14:
You’ve got it easy-peasy in the UK. Come do the FIMO (for new drivers) or the 5 year FCO refresher here in France,
FIMO - 4 weeks intensive course
FCO - 35 hours in “one” week ( and you can’t do the same 7 hour syllabus 5 times lol )
I know pierrot. As another who has done the FIMO and who needs to do the FCO this year, I have often said on here those based in the UK should be careful what they wish for.
I find it strange how the rha and rta support this as it’ll just mean drivers are off the road not earning money for longer with adr not counting towards it. Personally I don’t mind doing the course, why would I as you just sit there drinking coffee and eating biscuits all day, but I do question the worth of them I’d get as much, probably more, out of receiving a periodic booklet I could read through at my leisure.
They’ll be moaning about an adr driver shortage next as general hauliers cut back on putting drivers through a 3 day course that’s only worth 1 day of CPC.
Another thing, the point made by our extremely knowledgeable friend 
about changing the dcpc to an exam pass qualification.
You have never had to be a academical genius to drive a truck, a lot of lads will struggle with an exam scenario through no fault of their own, even if they have proved themselves more than capable of doing the job they may fail the theory exam.
So we will be left with a load of gob ■■■■■ s boasting about having this that and the other, but with no real substance to practicalities in the job.
I have known many lads who are shall we say not too well educated and been excellent drivers in all aspects of the job.
I have also met those with good education, loads of qualifications, but in real terms proven to be as thick as pig ■■■■, or a case of ‘All the gear but no idea’’ .
There have also been a combination of the two, so there is no ‘One size fits all’ answer.
I hate to say it but generations of drivers managed quite well before any money making, industry making bs was devised in the guise of a qualification…
…said the …quote; …‘‘Stick in the mud steering wheel attendant’’’ 
Juddian:
My first DCPC module the trainer (lorry instructor) waxed on and bloody on about how good modern lorry brakes were so no need to use engine/auxilliary brakes any more, ask that young lad in the 8 wheeler at the Bath tragedy how GTGBTS is working out for him.It’s a handy easy day wheeze if your company pay for the course and your time to attend, but from the industry/govts point of view it ticks boxes and moves some money and tax around so no it isn’t going away.
No it’s not going away, it’s going to be used as a bigger and bigger stick to beat the driver with when things go wrong. 
And the firms will just wash their hands of said employee, as their training records say they did their bit… 
If I was in charge of improving standards in the industry, the first thing I would do is cut off the cheap supply of agency labour, and force firms to either pay through the nose for them, or do the sensible thing and properly employee their workforce, and thus weed out the screwdrivers.
Currently we have a labour market where the driver is a disposable item, and when a firm finds one is, or has become defective, it chucks it in the bin and breaks out a fresh one. One that possibly has just deemed to be defective by its last employer… 
Im absolutely with your ambitions for the industry. . . .BUT. . .It aint about to happen. More and more people talk about the “Gig Economy”. More are being sold the lie of independence when its more about insecurity for the workers with more flexibility with less responsibility for the employers. I/We could rant for ages about that, and we/I have. This is the truth about "being competitive in the global market place". . .Employers want disposable employees. It will need stricter (restrictive?) legislation to make own labour worth more, and employers would fight against that, so I really cant see it happening.
Franglais:
tommy t:
The DCPC is bollox It does nothing apart from tell drivers to ■■■■ eggs, 35hrs should be no more than 2-3 hrs every 5 yrs, just to cover any amended revised or new laws added to the drivers hours Regs, so it is a refresher course like other trades have so over 30hrs of mind numbing bs.why?
And why they are so bothered about someone sitting the same module 5 times i don’t know, as most bring a pillow & ear plugs anywayIsn
t that what this is about: there are tick-box repeat boring lectures; there shouldnt be. There should be courses that are genuinely useful and interesting. OK, OK, maybe cloud cuckoo land to talk about what “should be”. . .We can see what is being aimed at, but youre right it aint working yet.
Yes,and there is no way on this planet that we should have to waste 35hrs of our lives every 5 yrs and be also out of pocket too , there is no need for 35hrs as said 3-4hrs once in any 5 yrs to catch up on any changes in the regs that is all we need the rest unless you are gaining other skills from it is a waste of time & money therefore bollox
I think you should be grateful it’s currently only 35 hours, as it’s only going to get longer as it becomes more and more of a push the crap/responsibility down the food chain mechanism…
The firms won’t be fighting against that will they Franglais?
The DCPC appears to be a good idea we could all benefit from some training from trainers that know their stuff but unfortunately in my experience the people involved in the transport training industry do not have the necessary knowledge and are on the whole people who have seen the chance to make easy money. On the courses I have done for CPC the trainers had little or no experience of the transport industry. This includes ADR courses, of which I have done five, on one of these courses the so called trainer was giving wrong info but brushed of my pointing out his errors and just carried on . I think the problem is that most drivers would not go into training because of the drop in wages although the hours worked would be very appealing and we therefore end up with training companies employing people who are full of bull
I agree with Robroy’s opinion on the DCPC.Is that earlier contributor implying that a new licence and dcpc makes some young feller better qualified than someone with 30 or 40 years experience?The DCPC day a couple of years ago was a good time for me to decide that enough was enough for reasons seen many times on this forum.My last shift ended up with me being paid 8 hours for 30 mins.hanging around from 1830 until 1900 and being sent home.Various senior people couldn’t make their minds up whether the DCPC requirement came into force at midnight the day before or midnight of the actual date.Don’t miss it one bit.
Evil8Beezle:
I think you should be grateful it’s currently only 35 hours, as it’s only going to get longer as it becomes more and more of a push the crap/responsibility down the food chain mechanism…The firms won’t be fighting against that will they Franglais?
More responsibility for the properly trained and qualified driver? IF coupled with the ability to say “no” to a manager would be good for us. BUT that wont happen because in the "gig economy" wed be worried that saying no would mean a loss of shifts. I wont say loss of a job because those unscrupulous employers dont offer permanent jobs if they can avoid it. You wanna work? You do as youre told. Get a bad name with too many agency clients and youre in arrears on the mortgage.
There are good employers out there, and I reckon Ive got one of the better ones. Not great money, not great kit, but straight hours, interesting work, salary in bank without fail, dealer maintained trucks. Any probs you talk to the boss. Any major problems hell listen. He wont always agree, but hell listen.
So I aint talking about the good ones. But the good ones are in competition with the "screw em down tight" companies, and so we all suffer. Big business make a song and dance about their green and social credentials, but that only applies to their own employees. Big business directly employ fewer and fewer, but sub out services etc, so putting at arms length the penny pinching antics they are responsible for.
(Good Grief Beezle you hit the start button. . ) Ill shut up soon. Maybe some employers will pay for loads of extra training, but put clauses into contracts, so it must be repaid in blood if the employee leaves before their first born achieves 21years old? I dunno. I aint gonna guess. I know what Id like to happen, but that dont count for much.
Franglais:
(Good Grief Beezle you hit the start button. . ) I`ll shut up soon.
That’s alright, I’ll tell you to stop when I disagree with you, so keep going!
Evil8Beezle:
Franglais:
(Good Grief Beezle you hit the start button. . ) I`ll shut up soon.That’s alright, I’ll tell you to stop when I disagree with you, so keep going!
Don`t encourage me. I got a date with bottle of scrumpy, a lump of smelly cheese and some crispy baguette.
Franglais:
Evil8Beezle:
Franglais:
(Good Grief Beezle you hit the start button. . ) I`ll shut up soon.That’s alright, I’ll tell you to stop when I disagree with you, so keep going!
Don`t encourage me. I got a date with bottle of scrumpy, a lump of smelly cheese and some crispy baguette.
That should be Français not Franglais
Bon apetit
You know I think I might just be on the wrong forum here. I can’t believe how stubborn drivers are about improving standards. Especially Rob who has taken everything I have said so personally you would have thought I’d shot his first born or something.
CPC is a good thing, they will get it right and when they do it will improve the industry. It won’t go away so moaning about 3-5 hours and leaflets and the wrong biscuits is pointless. This topic is just indicative of the problem with the entire industry. We are in a super-computer world but staffing with Abacus users. Its 2017 guys, catch up.
pierrot 14:
Franglais:
Evil8Beezle:
Franglais:
(Good Grief Beezle you hit the start button. . ) I`ll shut up soon.That’s alright, I’ll tell you to stop when I disagree with you, so keep going!
Don`t encourage me. I got a date with bottle of scrumpy, a lump of smelly cheese and some crispy baguette.
That should be Français not Franglais
Bon apetit
Je vous remercie, mon amis. Et un bon soiree a vous.
nsmith1180:
You know I think I might just be on the wrong forum here. I can’t believe how stubborn drivers are about improving standards. Especially Rob who has taken everything I have said so personally you would have thought I’d shot his first born or something.CPC is a good thing, they will get it right and when they do it will improve the industry. It won’t go away so moaning about 3-5 hours and leaflets and the wrong biscuits is pointless. This topic is just indicative of the problem with the entire industry. We are in a super-computer world but staffing with Abacus users. Its 2017 guys, catch up.
CPC could be a good thing. It isnt yet. "Moaning" could be re-termed "feedback" to give hints about improvements needed? "They"? are also in a super computer world, with access to better kit and better brains than us, but "they" cant even organise a meaningful training program. Too boring and pointless for even us abacus users.
I do applaud your ambition for a better qualified, respected and better paid cadre of drivers, but the current course isnt bound for there Im afraid.
I have never met a driver with any thing positive to say about the DCPC.My last module involved driving 20 miles to watch you tube videos that I had already watched at home.I can honestly say that I have learned a lot more on this forum than I have from attending so called training.
nsmith1180:
Especially Rob who has taken everything I have said so personally you would have thought I’d shot his first born or something.
.
How personal does it get mate, calling me a steering wheel attendant …I never usually go down the boring ‘old driver’ adage of ‘‘I’ve reversed more miles’’ but for you might make an exception.
You come on here pontificating to guys that know the job inside out with your list of ‘‘qualifications’’ and telling us how we should be doing it, after 5 mins in the job yourself, I mean mate ffs!
I’ll do what my ex. Royal Marine mate does in these situations to illustrate a point, I’ll use a military analogy.
If you were cut off in a war zone, surrounded by guys intent in cutting off your ■■■■■■■■ followed by your head, who would you rather have watching your back?
A battle hardened experienced NCO, who had done active service in most campaigns.
or
A wet behind the lugs Junior officer with 6 months experience behind a desk?
In that analogy, (and I’m being generous to myself here btw ) I would be Andy McNab armed ro the teeth and like a coiled spring, and you would be Captain Ashwood of ‘It aint half hot Mum’ with your list of academic qualifications.
Yeh, I took it personal.
How much has the standard of driving improved since the introduction of the DCPC? We all know the answer to that one.Give it more time?How long?
Gidders:
How much has the standard of driving improved since the introduction of the DCPC? We all know the answer to that one.Give it more time?How long?
If it had been done a better way, with an exam at the end!! Who knows ho beneficial it could have been.
In my opinion it has been thrown into the industry without any forethought at all to comply with a request from Europe, that drivers must have a periodic training session.
I think now, the powers that be have seen how much of a hotch-potch it is and suddenly someone has thought, best we try to improve it.
