Following a very lengthy consultation period on this matter launched in early 2023, Parliament finally debated the “Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) (Amendment) Regulations 2024” on Tuesday 29^th October 2024.  The Minister of State at the Department for Transport Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, who himself holds a PSV TM CPC put the motion that the draft regulations which had “been laid before the House on 16^th May 2024 be approved”.

The new reforms are being implemented in part to address the shortage of HGV drivers within the country by introducing more flexibility in the training process which is hoped will give drivers more options during the qualification and renewal of qualifications process and assist the industry to both retain and recruit drivers.

Following a short debate, during which the Lords also discussed the poor provision of roadside facilities that still exists across the country for HGV drivers and the affect that has on recruitment, the motion was agreed.

The new reforms will therefore come into law on 3^rd December 2024.

From that date drivers will be able to choose to stay qualified using 2 routes:

• International Driver CPC
• National Driver CPC

The International Driver CPC is the new name describing how the Driver CPC regime previously worked.  That is to say that as a holder of this qualification drivers will still need to take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training every 5 years to be allowed to drive in the EU and the UK.  The way the training is delivered will remain as it was previously; courses taken must be at least 7 hours long, if the course is split over a day drivers must complete it on 2 consecutive days and drivers are only allowed to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards their overall 35 hours of training goal.

The National Driver CPC is the area where the reforms will be felt.  Drivers holding this qualification will only be able to drive within the UK.  There is still a requirement that 35 hours of National Driver CPC training will be completed every 5 years.  However, qualifying training courses can be much shorter at 3 hours 30 minutes long and there will not be a need to complete training on 2 consecutive days if it is a split course.  This will allow course providers to set their own time limits for completing courses and free drivers and their employers to arrange training for drivers that is not detrimental to their business.  The new reforms also allow training to be e-learning only rather than in person, again to provide flexibility to the industry but the number of hours of e-learning that is allowed to go towards the overall 35 hours of training is still capped at 12 hours.

The measure to speed up the process for drivers looking to return to driving a lorry, bus or coach in the UK if their Driver CPC has expired up to 2 years ago will come into force on 1^st February 2025.

You can find out more about the qualification routes by going to the dedicated Driver CPC reforms page on the government website by clicking here.

If you have any questions about the training standards or how these changes might affect your transport operation then call us now on 01279 818280 or click here to send an email.  We are here to help.

© Richard Pelly, November 2024