What is Driver CPC?

Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is compulsory training introduced by the European Parliament and Council. It's designed to improve drivers' awareness of road safety, fuel efficiency and career development. The regulations apply to new drivers acquiring a pcv (passenger carrying vehicle) license and/or lgv (large goods vehicle) licence. However, under Driver CPC regulations, all drivers who hold a vocational licence must complete 35 hours periodic training every five years.

Review of Driver CPC

Department for Transport (DfT) held a consultation in 2023 to review the Driver CPC to see how it could be improved to help ease HGV driver shortages. The review will be informed by input from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of drivers, road transport operators, employers, trainers and road safety groups. The review explored whether:

• Different training requirements should apply for experienced drivers.   
• The current requirement for 35 hours periodic training should be more evenly spread over the five-year period.
• Drivers new to Driver CPC should cover a specific range of topics.    
• Seven hours (or 3.5 hour sessions split across two days) for each training course is too rigid
• Driver CPC should include non-professional drivers.  
• There should be more of an obligation for employers to support drivers with the cost of training.
• Driver CPC qualifications obtained in the EU should continue to be recognised in the UK for drivers moving to live and work here.   

Logistics UK responded to the consultation in April 2023 after holding multiple discussions with members through the Freight Council process. In general, the consultation was welcomed as an opportunity to introduce some flexibility into the legislation that would respond to long-held industry concerns over the rigidity of the training blocks, and the requirement for any split courses to be held within a 23-hour period. The Department for Transport (DfT) was advised of possible unintended consequences of this divergence from EU legislation and the ability of GB operators to access training that would allow for operations in the EU. However, Logistics UK strongly disagreed with one proposal to remove all mandatory periodic training from the law, to be replaced by a one-hour exam, and asked DfT to not pursue this amendment. 

Download the Driver CPC chapter of the Yearbook of Road Transport Law