Driver CPC Scope & Syllabus

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) came into effect for Bus & Coach drivers on 10 September 2008 and for HGV/LGV drivers on 10 September 2009.

Those HGV, LGV and PCV drivers who initially held the relevant licence entitlement to drive these types of vehicles prior to 1st January 2007 were gifted 'Acquired Rights'. Acquired Rights means that a licence holder is granted the rights to continue to drive Heavy Goods (HGV), Large Goods (LGV) and Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) and others without the need to take a higher-level driving test. This allowed the new Driver CPC rules to come into effect from 10th September 2008 for PCV and September 2009 for HGV/LGV allowing the market to continue without disruption.

As a result of setting the initial date for those drivers having 'acquired rights', the CPC renewal dates are subject to completing 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years unless allowed to lapse. Therefore as the last renewal for HGV/LGV was 2019, the next CPC renewal date for HGV/LGV drivers is 9th September 2024.

The Driver CPC also introduced a new Initial Qualification for drivers entering the industry after the 9th of September 2009 which drivers had to complete in order to drive professionally.

Scope and Training

Driver CPC applies to professional drivers of vehicles on public roads, where a driving licence is required. Drivers must hold any of the following category entitlements:

• LGV/HGV - licence holders of categories C1, C1+E, C or C+E
• Coach & Bus - licence holders of categories, D1, D1+E, D or D+E

These entitlements must be held by drivers who are nationals of EU member states or nationals of a non-EU member state providing their employer is an organisation based in any EU member state.

The aims of the Driver CPC

The main aim of the Driver CPC is to improve road safety by providing better-qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties and improve driver safety and awareness.

The Driver CPC also brings improved professional standards and a positive image to the industry, thus attracting more people to drive commercial vehicles for a living. Driver CPC training is also aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of HGV drivers, ensuring skills are maintained and developed throughout the driver's working life.

The qualification also enables young people to enter the haulage industry and promotes it as a safe and professional market for work. A young person of 18 years of age may drive professionally but is subject to the 'Minimum Ages' section under Driver CPC evidencing enforcement and exemptions.

In order to maintain their Driver CPC, all category C, and D licence holders (including C, C1, C1E and D, D1, DE, and D1E) are required to undertake 35 hours of Periodic Training every 5 years from the initial date of obtaining their driver CPC qualification.

It is important to remember that any lorries (LGV's) over 3.5 tonnes and minibuses of 9 seats or more are also covered by the Driver CPC.

Subject Areas

Both the initial qualification and periodic training for the Driver CPC will be based on the same syllabus. A syllabus has three main subject areas, which are:

• Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations.
• Application of regulations.
• Health, road, environmental safety, service, and logistics.

Periodic training should be varied and expandable on the subject matters but it should suit the needs of the driver's job requirements at that time.

 

Syllabus and		Drivers CPC	Driver's knowledge of Objective	Modules applicable (coloured)
Reference
Syllabus 1		Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations		M1	M2	M3	M4
All Licenses
	1	Objective: To understand the characteristics of the transmission system in order to make the best possible use of it	Curves relating to torque, power, and specific consumption of an engine, area of optimum use of revolution counter, gearbox ratio cover diagrams
	1	Objective: To understand the technical characteristics and operation of the safety controls in order to control the vehicle, minimise wear and tear and prevent disfunction	Specific features of hydraulic vacuum servo brake circuit, limits to the use of brakes and retarder, combined use of brakes and retarder, making better use of speed and gear ratio, making use of vehicle inertia, using ways of slowing down and braking on downhill stretches, action in the event of failure
	1	Objective: The ability to optimise fuel consumption	Optimisation of fuel consumption by applying to know-how as regards points 1.1 and 1.2 (above)
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
	1	Objective: Ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use	Forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox-ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, calculation of total volume, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity, types of packaging and pallets; main categories of goods needing securing, clamping and securing techniques, use of securing straps, checking of securing devices, use of handling equipment, placing and removal of tarpaulins
Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E
	2	Objective: The ability to ensure passenger comfort and safety	Adjusting longitudinal and sideways movements, road sharing, position on the road, smooth braking, overhang operation, using specific infrastructures (public areas, dedicated lanes), managing conflicts between safe driving and other roles as a driver, interacting with passengers, the needs of certain groups of passengers (disabled persons, children)
	2	Objective: The ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use	Forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity
Syllabus and		Drivers CPC	Drivers knowledge of Objective	Modules applicable (coloured)
Reference
Syllabus 2		Application of Regulations		M1	M2	M3	M4
All Licenses
	2	Objective: To know the social environment of road transport and the rules governing it	Maximum working periods specific to the transport industry; principles, application and consequences of Regulations (EEC) 561/06 and 3821/85; penalties for failure to use, improper use of and tampering with the tachograph; knowledge of the social environment of road transport: rights and duties of drivers as regards initial qualification and periodic training
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
	2	Objective: To know the regulations governing the carriage of goods	Transport operating licences, obligations under standard contracts for the carriage of goods, drafting of documents which form the transport contract, international transport permits, obligations under the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, drafting of the international consignment note, crossing borders, freight forwarders, special documents accompanying goods
Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E
	2	Objective: To know the regulations governing the carriage of passengers	Carriage of specific groups of passengers, safety equipment onboard buses, safety belts, vehicle load
Syllabus and		Drivers CPC	Drivers knowledge of Objective	Modules applicable (coloured)
Reference
Syllabus 3		Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics		M1	M2	M3	M4
All Licenses
	3	Objective: To make drivers aware of the risks of the road and of accidents at work	Types of accidents at work in the transport sector, road accident statistics, the involvement of lorries/coaches/buses, human, material and financial consequences
	3	Objective: The ability to prevent originality and trafficking in illegal immigrants	General information, implications for drivers, preventive measures, checklist, legislation on transport operator liability
	3	Objective: The ability to prevent physical risks	Ergonomic principles; movements and postures which pose a risk, physical fitness, handling exercises, personal protection
	3	Objective: Awareness of the importance of the physical and mental ability	Principles of healthy, balanced eating, effects of alcohol, drugs or any other substance likely to affect behaviour, symptoms, causes, effects of fatigue and stress, the fundamental role of the basic work/rest cycle
	4	Objective: The ability to assess emergency situations	Behaviour in an emergency situation: assessment of the situation, avoiding complications of an accident, summoning assistance, assisting casualties and giving first aid, the reaction in the event of a fire, evacuation of occupants of a lorry/bus/coach passengers, ensuring the safety of all passengers, a reaction in the event of aggression; basic principles for the drafting of an accident report
	4	Objective: The ability to adapt behaviour to help enhance the image of the company	The behaviour of the driver and company image: importance for the company of the standard of service provided by the driver, the roles of the driver, people with whom the driver will be dealing, vehicle maintenance, work organisation, commercial and financial effects of a dispute
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
	4	Objective: To know the economic environment of road haulage and the organisation of the market	Road transport in relation to other modes of transport (competition, shippers), different road transport activities (transport for hire or reward, own account, auxiliary transport activities), organisation of the main types of the transport company and auxiliary transport activities, different transport specialisations (road tanker, controlled temperature, etc.), changes in the industry (diversification of services provided, rail-road, subcontracting, etc.)
Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E
	4	Objective: To know the economic environment of the carriage of passengers by road and the organisation of the market	Carriage of passengers by road in relation to other modes of passenger transport (rail, private car), different activities involving the carriage of passengers by road, crossing borders (international transport), organisation of the main types of companies for the carriage of passengers by road.
The link below will take you to the EC policy document concerning the Driver's CPC.