Solly:
Those were the days eh?
Amen to that, and glad they’re but a memory from the dimly lit (with those lights… 
) past.
tachograph:
Agreed, but why is it necessary to attend a course for these subjects, surely a driver should be able to study either in his/her own time or on their companies course where applicable then take a test.To improve knowledge it’s study that’s required not course attendance, and study can take place anywhere at any time, it’s only a test of the drivers knowledge that requires attendance.
I’m only thinking in line with the requirement for x amount of hours training.
tachograph:
Personally I can see no reason why accredited training such as Hiab, Moffet and ADR are not automatically counted as part of the DCPC training without it having to be approved by JAUPT.
Hi tachograph,
That same point was raised by ADR training providers when the periodic DCPC very first came out.
As far as the money trail for approvals goes, I can’t speak for the other courses you’ve mentioned, but I can say what happens with ADR.
In the UK, the DfT is the designated “Competent Authority” (CA) for all things to do with ADR
The CA function is to oversee everything to do with ADR in the UK, but the DfT subs out many of the responsibilities to other organisations who have the necessary knowledge.
For instance, the DfT aren’t an examining/awarding body, so the whole of the educational stuff is subbed-out to SQA.
The issuing of ADR licences is subbed out to DVLA, Swansea.
There’s then a lot more that isn’t relevant here.
Before JAUPT/DSA were created, a provider wishing to put on ADR courses would apply to SQA for approval.
The approval fees were paid to SQA, who state that they collect the fee on behalf of the DfT.
So now the ADR provider is approved by both the DfT and SQA as required by the SQA Manual of Practice for providers.
When JAUPT/DSA and the periodic DCPC came along, many of the ADR providers thought that their receipted invoices (issued on behalf of the DfT) from SQA and approval granted by the DfT would cover them for DCPC, but this was not to be.
JAUPT/DSA collect quite hefty registration fees (on behalf of the DfT) for what is essentially a Government double-whammy on ADR providers.
The fees can be seen by everybody here on the JAUPT website:
http://www.drivercpc.org/en/approval-fees/
The current position is that ADR providers who wish to provide periodic DCPC for an ADR course have no choice other than to effectively pay the DfT twice over for the same thing.
It’s also the reason that periodic DCPC hours are NOT automatically included on an ADR course, and that’s quite apart from the extra “upload” fee.
As stated many times on here, the DCPC in its present form isn’t fit for purpose, it looks like a rip-off, and it is a rip-off, but let’s please not forget that the training schools didn’t invent it and they’re just as much a victim as the drivers.
On a personal note, I applaud shep532 for his attempt at doing something constructive. 
As pointless as the current Dcpc is, I think we would be well advised not to rock the boat too much shouting about how it could be improved, how it should be upgraded to involve various types of examinations and study requirements and how many more subjects it should contain etcc.
I personally have absolutely no interest in home study nor study in any classroom, nor do I have any desire to be tested on my theoretical knowledge of any subject - including lorry driving.
At present all we have to do is shell out some hard earned, turn up, endure the bull and get signed off - expensive, boring and pointless. As soon as this thing starts requiring study, writing stuff down, exams and the like the costs will go through the roof. As well as becoming ridiculously more expensive it will also immediately discriminate against a good number of drivers who have little or no formal education, who are semi literate and who have little or no skills with a computer.
Anyone who thinks that by making the Dcpc more complex and time consuming that it will improve drivers wages is quite frankly not living in the real world. There are a good number of drivers who hold the ADR qualification, the majority do not earn a solitary cent extra for doing so.
I would add to my previous post that anyone who needs “training” in order to change a headlight bulb, check the oil and coolant etc really ought to go get a job flipping burgers or stacking shelves in a supermarket - if you havent the nouse to do such simple tasks then please ask your God for help.
no to repeat courses say 3 year gap
yes to first aid module
shep532:
turbot:
It is pointless box ticking in its current format.35 hours of “training” which may or may not be any use to you, which you may or may not understand but will pass anyway as long as you turn up for the hours.
It is seen as a waste of time by everyone that I have spoken to that has done any of it.It would be better if there was a test that you needed to take every five years that you could fail. Then you would need to actually prove your knowledge was adequate or improve it. The test could be done at the current driving theory test centres and the the theory provided online. No need at all for the current system where you can waste time and money and potentially learn nothing.
So you go along to take your test on Saturday (saves a day off work and you had to wait 8 weeks for the booking anyway) - FAIL it by just one point, go back to work Monday to be SACKED as you are no longer qualified to drive.
Sounds like an administrative nightmare for employers (although the current DCPC will already be worse than a nightmare come 2014)
Currently DSA test centres (the ones where theory tests etc are done) are taking bookings way in advance. A lot of them are just sub-contractors to the DSA and are private companies - therefore making money out of it. Either way in some areas they are very busy. Add to this 750,000 + HGV (and 170,000 PSV) drivers now needing to take an extra test … I doubt the current structure could cope and they would need more facilities.
So then - they could recruit all the DCPC training centres (that now have no work) and they could run the tests. They already have facilities etc that are to a ‘certain standard’. Mmm … I quite like the sound of this. I install a bit of IT stuff that connects me to the DSA. I have a nice little room setup. Driver books online - pays me about £50, comes in, does a half hour test and off he goes. I could probably do 60 - 100 people a day @ £50. WOW - much better than the current DCPC - where do I sign up? Oh and there would be te-test fees as well?
Much better scheme for me
Those that struggle to pass - I could offer one-to-one training … more money
The current medical renewal system works fine, pass and you drive fail and you don’t.There is no logical reason for the DCPC to be any different
Denis F:
Dave55:
Happydaze:
I want to actually learn something I didn’t already knowI agree. I was looking to do a First Aid sort of thing, but is not available. Also, I think the courses ‘overlap’ too much.
I’ve done first aid as part of DCPC , trying to get a telehandler course sorted this year
If you choose the right courses it can b useful
5 year old thread bump!
Hi Denis, did you manage to find telehandler training that could be uploaded to the DCPC? We’re struggling to find one at work, but it would be pretty handy.
Regards,
Tony
It needs a proper centre set up in current transport companies, where perhaps us old hands can teach what others dont know, instead of sending us with over 50 years experience, to teach what we already have.
How to rope and sheet
to strap, especially difficult loads or objects using corner boards…anti slip mats etc
How to secure drums etc
in fact to teach a driver especially newbies how to do a specific job for a specific company.whether it be flats, tauts, tanks, tippers etc.instead of a newbie spending money on a test, only to be turned down for not having enough experience ( 2 yrs is the norm )
the dcpc should be for awareness of present and past legislation, and taught by those who have been in the trade, not college kids trained on how to train.
make planners also attend a course, to make them aware of what a driver has to go through on a daily basis.
Make manufacturers and freight forwarders attend a course on packaging materials for transport by road…using extra strength wrapping and shrunk wrapped, to avoid damage, and putting the onus on the drivers for damaging it…because it wasnt suitably packaged.
I agree with a first aid course too
and how to use a fire extinguisher
tacho courses, there are many who dont know the ins and outs of this fandangled machine…what it does, how to do it etc.
Of course many practical routines would be beneficial, as would written details…Fridge settings for various products, and how to set them on the fridges themselves, with a take away card to keep for eg.
thats enough for now.
GCR2ERF:
Denis F:
Dave55:
Happydaze:
I want to actually learn something I didn’t already knowI agree. I was looking to do a First Aid sort of thing, but is not available. Also, I think the courses ‘overlap’ too much.
I’ve done first aid as part of DCPC , trying to get a telehandler course sorted this year
If you choose the right courses it can b useful
5 year old thread bump!
Hi Denis, did you manage to find telehandler training that could be uploaded to the DCPC? We’re struggling to find one at work, but it would be pretty handy.
Regards,
Tony
Dennis f hasn’t been on here for a long time. He Last visited:Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:02 pm
I think the CPC if done correctly would be a good idea. The way it is at the moment is probably not as good as the old cycling proficiency test I would say more like the tufty club. To sit going over things that you already know is totally ridiculous and not in the least one bit constructive, it needs to be more interesting and informative to those having to attend. Therefor subjects on Topics that are relevant to a driver and not normally taught would be a good start, such as driving in the wind and different weather conditions, refrigerated transport and set temperatures of different goods, what temperatures produce pathogens and dangerous bacteria, benefits of cab cooking and menu choice, in short there are numerous topics that are relevant to a driver that 7 hours could be better spent on than what is currently on offer and probably everyone knows already. The CPC should not be looked upon as a government scam or a day off driving because at the moment that is exactly what it is. Combating stress or road rage is another couple of topics that drivers could do with a few pointers on, personally I would like to see more refrigeration brought into it as at the moment 90% of drivers have no idea other than look at their paperwork or ring their office for the answers. I think map reading exercises could be another good 7 hours well spent as the majority of drivers simply follow satnavs and have no idea of how to actually read a map.
What we have in France is very comprehensive 35 hours on informative subjects .The handbook given to me for the training is 140 pages .
28 hours in a classroom and 7 hours on the road for the obligatory eco driving test . That’s 1 hour 50 for each driver in a team of 4 .
The first day starts with a 40 question test and a highway code test .A good chance to see how much has been forgotten in the last 5 years .
- Rational driving ,braking systems ,ABS ,gearbox ,retarders , speed limiters .Adblue systems ,vehicle daily checks ,extinguishers, security distances , tyres, coupling /uncoupling , loadings and centrifugal forces .
2)All official paperwork from work rights ,work, breaks, limits tacho stuff, ferry movements, working time directive ,cards, permits, CMR and international stuff .
3)Health, road safety and environment ,Especially Alcohol limits !! ,Tunnels, A brief dip into ADR, accidents and statistics. Fire in the Mont Blanc video.
4)Everything else relating to transport industry image ,protocols of security , own account / public transport and more statistics and then another test .
I don’t know what you get in the UK but from the comments on this forum not what we get here .The week cost about 650 euros.
1st aid.
There is a good chance that oe of us has or will be "first on scene " at an emergency so it makes sense that we have a thorough knowledge of first aid.If we must have DCPC then it ought to major on that.
As i have always said 35 hours is a p1ss take 7 hrs is long enough to cover all the changes in legislation drivers hours ect and that’s all this dcpc crap should be about