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Driver
Certificate of Professional Competence
A new qualification
for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers - the Driver Certificate of Professional
Competence (Driver CPC)
Driver
CPC for bus, coach and lorry drivers
A new qualification for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers - the Driver
Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is coming. In future, just
holding a vocational driving licence will not be sufficient for someone who wishes
to drive these vehicles for a living.
The Driving Standards Agency is taking the lead in implementing EU Directive 2003/59
which requires all professional bus, coach and lorry drivers to hold a Driver
CPC in addition to their vocational driving licence. It comes into force across
all European Union member states on:
• 10 September 2008 for bus and coach drivers
• 10 September 2009 for lorry drivers
In order to maintain their Driver CPC, all category C and D licence holders (including
C, C1, C1E and D, D1, DE, D1E) will be required to undertake 35 hours Periodic
Training every 5 years.
Driver CPC also introduces a new Initial Qualification for drivers entering the
industries after these September dates which they must complete in order to drive
professionally.
The main aim behind Driver CPC is to improve road safety; providing better qualified
drivers to help reduce road casualties. Driver CPC should also bring an improved
professional and positive image to the industries, attracting more people to drive
buses, coaches and lorries for a living. It is aimed not only at improving the
knowledge and skills of LGV and PCV drivers when they first start work, but also
ensuring those skills are maintained and developed throughout the driver’s working
life.
The DSA is working closely with trade associations for the freight, bus and coach
industries, the Sector Skills Councils and other government agencies to ensure
Driver CPC is implemented in a way that suits the needs of the industries.
Please Note:
Any lorry of 3.5 tons and upwards and minibuses with 9 seats or more are covered
by Driver CPC.
Driver CPC will enable young people to enter these sectors in a safe and professional
manner, from 18 years of age, subject to any licence restrictions for category
D drivers (see ‘Minimum ages’ section under Driver CPC evidencing, enforcement
and exemptions).
The existing ‘Transport Manager’s CPC’ also known as the ‘Operator’s CPC’ is a
separate qualification and anyone holding one, who still drives professionally
as part of their job, will also need to hold a Driver CPC.
Driver
CPC syllabus 2 and 3
Driver CPC applies
to drivers of vehicles on roads open to the public and for which a driving licence
in any of the following categories is required:
i. C1, C1 + E, C or C + E
ii. D1, D1 + E, D or D + E
All drivers of the above categories who are either:
i. nationals of an EU member state or
ii. nationals of a non-EU member state but who are employed or used by an organisation
based in an EU member state
will have to hold Driver CPC if they wish to drive professionally.
Driver CPC Syllabus 1
Both the initial qualification and periodic training for Driver CPC will be based
on the same syllabus.
The syllabus has three main subject areas. These are:
• Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
• Application of regulations
• Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics
Periodic training should revise and expand on the subjects and should suit the
needs of the driver at that time.
For the initial qualification, a test plan has been developed that shows in which
module the various syllabus areas will be tested (See link to PDF at bottom of
the page).
Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
All licences
1.1 Objective: to know 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
1.2 Objective: to know the technical characteristics and operation of the safety
controls in order to control the vehicle, minimise wear and tear and prevent disfunctioning:
• specific features of hydraulic vacuum servobrake 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
1.3 Objective: ability to optimise fuel consumption:
• optimisation of fuel consumption by applying know-how as regards points 1.1
and 1.2
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
1.4 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
1.5 Objective: 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)
1.6 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, load distribution,
consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity;
Syllabus 2
Application of regulations
All licences
2.1 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) No’s 3820/85 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
2.2 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
2.3 Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of passengers:
• carriage of specific groups of passengers, safety equipment on board buses,
safety belts, vehicle load;
Syllabus 3
Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics
All licences
3.1 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,
involvement of lorries/coaches/buses, human, material and financial consequences;
3.2 Objective: ability to prevent originality and trafficking in illegal immigrants:
• general information, implications for drivers, preventive measures, check list,
legislation on transport operator liability;
3.3 Objective: ability to prevent physical risks:
• ergonomic principles; movements and postures which pose a risk, physical fitness,
handling exercises, personal protection;
3.4 Objective: awareness of the importance of 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, fundamental role of the basic work/rest cycle;
3.5 Objective: 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,
reaction in the event of fire, evacuation of occupants of a lorry/bus/coach passengers,
ensuring the safety of all passengers, reaction in the event of aggression; basic
principles for the drafting of an accident report;
3.6 Objective: ability to adopt behaviour to help enhance the image of the company:
• 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
3.7 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 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
3.8 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.
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