Logistics UK urges DfT to withdraw periodic test from DCPC legislation as it could have “serious implications for road safety”

“Logistics UK has been involved with the development of the DCPC regime since the outset,” says Kate Jennings, Director of Policy at Logistics UK in her letter to Richard Holden MP, “including helping shape the framework Directive 2003/59 when the UK was a member of the European Union.  

“Our members have shared their views of the implementation of the DCPC rules in DVSA working groups, the stakeholder review conducted between November 2021 and January 2022 and, most recently, in the public consultation that concluded in April 2023.  

“We welcomed the consultation as it reflected a great deal of what the logistics sector has been calling for over the past years to improve the current situation for drivers, such as a much-needed easement in the strict requirements surrounding the length of course modules and a welcome move to electronic enforcement rather than through the Driver Qualification Card.  

“Our members remain committed to the principles set out in the driver training legislation and in no way wish to see it dismantled.  

“However, there was one element proposed in the consultation, the periodic test, that is not supported by industry.  

“If taken forward into legislation, this would give vocational drivers the possibility to bypass all periodic training entirely following the initial qualification and replace it with a 1-1.5hr test.  

“Our members believe that this is likely to be abused by unscrupulous operators and/or drivers and would have a serious detrimental effect on driving standards for vocational drivers and, by extension, for road safety.  

“A vocational driver is currently required to undertake 35 hours of periodic training to continue to drive in a professional capacity, taken in five blocks of seven hours.  

“Given the flexibility in the legislation, this allows the driver, possibly in agreement with their employer, to choose modules that fit the requirements of their driving. This is what the sector strongly supports and wishes to see continue.  

“The proposed test, comprised of up to 50 questions, would need to cover the whole range of subjects, some of which would be completely irrelevant to the driver taking the test and therefore would represent a misallocation of resource.  

“Anecdotal evidence from our members is that, by and large, drivers do not like exams and a pass/fail test would put many off and possibly worsen the shortage of drivers as they simply drop out of vocational driving.  

“We outlined our position on the periodic test in our response to the consultation and we await the outcome.  

“While the responses and subsequent policy decision are considered, I wanted to write to you directly to highlight our concerns with this test proposal and the very strong support we have from our members in our opposition to it.  

“We want to see the reforms to the DCPC legislation progressed, but the proposal for the periodic test withdrawn entirely on the grounds that it removes all training from the driver training regime and could have serious implications for road safety going forward,” Jennings concludes. 

Logistics UK awaits a response to the letter and an update on the Department’s plans for reforms to DCPC legislation. 

Vocational driver training is undertaken through the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) and is a key factor in improving road safety. It offers continuous professional development, attracts new and returning employees to the sector and aligns with the government’s support for the sector, as part of the 33 initiatives to help alleviate the driver shortage.  

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns        

Published On: 24/08/2023 13:00:00

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