Gov wants your views on proposed Driver CPC reforms

The Department for Transport is asking truck drivers, operators and driver trainers to give their opinions on proposed reforms to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) qualification.

The new consultation follows a review into DCPC which took place between November 2021 and January 2022 in response to acute driver shortages in the road haulage industry.

DfT said they are seeking views on options for how the DCPC qualification is maintained and, in the case of returning drivers, regained.

It said the options would “take advantage of the greater autonomy to regulate following EU-exit.”

Potential measures being considered include:

• reducing minimum course lengths for more flexibility when delivering periodic training,
• the option of new periodic test as an alternative to periodic training, which will be delivered by DVSA
• an accelerated route for former drivers to return to the sector more easily.

If implemented, DfT said the reforms will establish a National DCPC for use in Great Britain and possibly Northern Ireland should Northern Ireland ministers agree.

The existing International DCPC regime will remain for travel to, from or within the EU, including the Republic of Ireland, and will continue to be recognised for journeys within the UK.

DfT emphasised the proposals are all “subject to consultation” and no final decisions have been made on which reforms may be taken forward, as proposals on which they are consulting will require amendments to legislation.

You can read and respond to the consultation on GOV.UK, as well as read through the DCPC review report.

The closing date for the consultation is 11:45pm on Thursday 27 April.

To find out more about the proposed changes and how they might affect you, DfT is holding a free webinar on Tuesday 14 March from 6pm – 7pm.

The webinar is an opportunity for a DfT representative to talk you through the proposals. There will also be a question and answer session.

Book your free place on the webinar here. 

DfT said a recording of the session will be made available after the event for those who can’t make the live broadcast.