Driver CPC changes given green light by Parliament

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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"Changes to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC), which were given Parliamentary appproval this week, have been hailed by Logistics UK as a move which will improve road safety in the UK.

The amendmends include a cut to the minimum length of the training modules from seven to 3.5 hours. However, the length of the entire course remains unchanged at 35 hours.

Other changes include the decoupling of e-learning from trainer-led courses and moves to encourage more flexibility in end of module assessments, as well as the introduction of an accelerated pathway for returning drivers.

Responding to the changes, Chris Yarsley, Logistics UK senior policy manager for road freight regulation, said: “The revisions to the Driver CPC ensure road safety is maintained while introducing much-needed flexibility into the training regime that will help retain drivers and ease the process for those returning to the industry.

“Our members have never questioned the need for the Driver CPC regime and welcome the reputation which attaining the current standard bestows on their businesses and their drivers"
Changes to HGV Driver Certificate of Professional Competence given green light by Parliament | Motor Transport
"“The revised DCPC still requires 35 hours of training but now that the minimum course length has been reduced from seven hours down to three-and-a-half hours, it will make scheduling training less burdensome for drivers and operators, while ensuring training material is focused and relevant.”

He added: “Reforming the role of e-learning will increase flexibility for operators and the option to retain full trainer-led periodic courses means that those drivers who are not comfortable with e-learning will still have access to face-to-face training.

“Logistics is not a ‘one size fits all’ sector and there are huge advantages to businesses being able to tailor drivers’ training content to suit their business needs.

He also welcomed the decision that qualified drivers, with a lapsed DCPC, will be able to access an accelerated pathway to return to driving instead of the previous requirement of completing 35 hours of training.

However, Yarsley warned: “It is, however, critical that any form of ‘return to driving’ module is of the same rigorous standard as other DCPC modules to ensure returning drivers are aware of any changes in safety-critical legislation such as drivers’ hours and load security.

“Logistics UK supports the principle of ‘outcome-based learning’ and is ready to work with DfT and DVSA to help encourage training to include some form of summative assessment at the end of the training module.

“However, our members have always been adamant that a periodic ‘pass/fail’ test as an alternative to periodic training is a sure way to exacerbate driver shortages and could see another wave of departures from the sector, which would put the supply chain at risk"
Changes to HGV Driver Certificate of Professional Competence given green light by Parliament | Motor Transport

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So it’s going to improve road safety eh?
Or at least maintain it according to the… ‘‘Logistics UK Senior Policy Manager For Road Frieght And Legislation’’…
(wow he sounds to have a job full of importance eh?)

Great news, I say.

Especially when you look at how road safety professionalism and calibre of driver, has improved vastly already, from since the DCPC started, and how successful it has clearly and obviously proven to be.
Yep bring it on.

Or maybe even improve driver training at grass roots level, stiffer penalties including re.tests and periodic tests after driving offences, particularly habitual and regular ones.

In THEORY which is all these types only know and work on, the DCPC should have been a roaring success, and should be obviously so…
Look around you today, it hasn’t, and it isn’t.
Unless I’m missing something here of course.

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Wonder if “me no speaky englaisy” will be addressed.

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Ha ha, a cry mirrored across the Atlantic where they have a much more serous problem with drivers who have limited or no English language skills.

I, who have never taken a course or passed an exam to drive the very heaviest and outsized of lorries in my life, sit back here reading this in my smug retirement, and wonder how I would have done in those first days when I didn’t have a clue about lorry driving. :rofl:

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Yep, a mandatory requirement here in our industry yet to make a driver PROFESSIONALLY COMPETENT the individuals ability to have an understanding of English seems totally insignificant. Sit there, look interested, don’t fall asleep, add the odd one liner (if able to), no need to understand the content of the DCPC and hey presto you are good to go and fully PROFESSIONALLY COMPETENT.

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So on one hand they say the DCPC is a good thing for road safety but then go on to say that introducing a pass/fail test to prove you actually have some knowledge of the subject you’ve just learned shouldn’t be done because of the number of drivers who will fail will be so high it’ll impact the driver shortage? Surely if you fail the test then you’re not up to a minimum standard that the DCPC is supposed to ensure, therefore are a danger to other people and shouldn’t be on the road?

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I think it’s more of a thing that a lot of people aint quite academic, and not good with exams.
I’ve known one or two drivers in my time like that, good honest capable drivers, not too great on the educational academic side.

You would maybe get a large group who know the theory inside out, and pass with flying colours, but as a drivers non starters.

Even me, …for me to actually take something in I need to be either interested in the subject, interested in doing the exam or both…I have a low concentration threshold in stuff I aint interested in…
as the DCPC.:joy:
At school I excelled in those subjects, others…thick as pig sh, or so it appeared. :grin: