Hauliers warned not to leave driver CPC until the last minute

Hauliers and drivers have been warned not to leave their driver CPC training until the last minute, as the deadline for the second phase is now just a year away.

HGV drivers are legally required to complete 35 hours training over a five-year period to remain legally compliant. Failure to do so will result in the loss of their Driver Qualification Card (DQC) and they won’t be allowed to drive. DVSA can issue fines of up to £1000 for anyone caught driving professionally without a DQC.

With the second phase deadline approaching – it’s on 9 September 2019 – the Road Haulage Association (RHA) is concerned that if companies leave it to the last minute to book the training, they may struggle to get their drivers onto courses in time.

RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said: “If you leave it to the last few months you might struggle to find suitable courses or enough spaces to book for your drivers. I’d urge hauliers to arrange driver training days now. Having drivers who can’t drive is disastrous for an operator.”

The RHA also notes that DCPC will still be required post-Brexit on 29 March, 2019. The organisation says that a number of hauliers believe that it won’t be, but this isn’t the case.