Driver CPC - What is it all about?

You may have already heard murmurings about The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) which is a hot topic at present within the haulage industry. But what does it mean for fleet insurance clients?

Developed as a requirement of the EU Directive 2003/59, the Driver CPC is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life. This in turn should lead to safer driving, subsequently safer roads and, in theory at least, reduced fleet insurance premiums.

The Driver CPC for PCV drivers was implemented on 10th September 2008, and for LGV drivers it will be implemented on 10th September 2009.

• From 10th of September 2009, any newly licenced LGV driver must have a Driver CPC. They get this by passing the Driver CPC theory and practical tests. These are in addition to the tests they must sit to get their LGV driving licence.
  
• Anyone already licenced to drive a goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes before 10th September 2009 does not have to sit the initial Driver CPC tests However, all LGV drivers will have to complete 35 hours of Driver CPC training every five years, or they will no longer be allowed to drive professionally.

So what should hauliers do? It would be advisable to get their drivers trained sooner rather than later because if they leave it too late, they could find there aren't enough approved Driver CPC training centres to cope with demand. As we know haulage companies can't operate without drivers.

Secondly hauliers who begin training immediately will automatically stand out: showing their customers and their fleet insurance provider that they care about the safety of their drivers and other road users.

There is a number of Driver CPC exemptions associated with the Directive. These are listed below:

• Vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 45 Kph
• Vehicles used by the armed forces, civil defence, and emergency services
• Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance
• Vehicles used in states of emergency
• Vehicles used in the course of driving lessons or examinations
• Vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passenger or goods – for personal use
• Vehicles used for carrying material of equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, providing that driving the vehicles is not the drivers’ principle activity

Ultimately, it is up the driver and their employer to decide if they are covered by these exemptions, and if necessary, justify it to the competent authority.

For more information on fleet insurance and fleet risk management, please visit http://www.alanboswell.com/.