Ask the MAC

Play your cards right

Q. A few of our drivers have recently completed their 35 hours of periodic training for their Driver CPC qualification. Their Driver Qualification Card (DQC) expires on 9 September, but if their existing DQC expires before they receive their new replacement card, can they continue to drive in-scope of Driver CPC?

A. Drivers can still drive vehicles in-scope of Driver CPC if they have completed 35 hours of periodic training and the hours have been uploaded to DVSA’s portal to check the amount of completed periodic training, while waiting for their new DQC to arrive. Training providers are permitted up to five working days to upload any periodic training, so you should ensure the hours have been uploaded to the portal. It may be worth printing a screenshot of the portal as evidence of the completion of the training until the drivers' updated DQC arrives.

Test of time...

Q. Please can somebody confirm our legal standing with our 12-month-old trailers in relation to when they need their annual test?

A. Goods vehicles exceeding 3.5t Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) must normally take their initial test before the end of the first anniversary month of their date of registration. For example, a vehicle registered in August 2024 must be submitted for testing by 31 August 2025. For trailers and semi-trailers, the relevant date is when the chassis was first sold or supplied by retail, even though it might not have been put into operation immediately, for example, if it was subsequently sent to bodybuilders.

Published On: 29/08/2024 12:53:52