Those who wish to professionally drive a bus, coach or lorry in the UK are required to have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC). They are also required to have periodic proficiency testing to maintain their driving qualifications. Both initial and proficiency training is available at cpc uk facilities.
The Driver CPC requirement pertains to the drivers of regular sized coaches, minibuses that have at least nine passenger seats and lorries with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes. It was introduced in the UK in 2008, and as part of the EU Directive 92/26/EC, the previous national cpc standard has been replaced with a single syllabus covering both examination and qualification requirements. The purpose of Driver CPC is to improve the knowledge and skills of prospective professional drivers, with the ultimate goal of improving road safety. Driver CPC courses usually involve both classroom instruction and actual driving, and will cover such areas as fuel efficiency, defensive driving techniques, first aid, rules pertaining to driving hours and the use of tachograph recording devices. Another aspect of Driver CPC is maintaining driver proficiency, which is required for those who already possess a PCV/LGV entitlement and who desire to continue driving professionally.
Driver CPC training courses are comprised of four sections, each of which must be passed. The first half of the first section is in multiple choice format and requires that at least 85 of the 100 questions be answered correctly, while the second half is essentially a hazard perception test that requires correct answers in at least 67 of the 100 questions. The second section is a study of theoretical cases and of actual cases and scenarios, and the third section consists of a practical driving test lasting 90 minutes and involving a variety of road and traffic conditions. The final section is a practical examination that has drivers demonstrating their ability to ensure safety in the handling the vehicle and in dealing with loading safety and security issues. Drivers who pass the entire training program will receive a DCPC qualification card, and will then be subject to a periodic training examination that is 35 hours long and takes place every five years. Periodic training is intended to help drivers in their everyday work by honing their road skills and also to keep them apprised of the latest changes in vehicle codes and regulations.
Driver CPC training courses are available from a number of providers, and enrolment can often be done online. In order to provide a valid certification the Driver CPC courses must be approved by the Driving Standards Agency, while periodic training must meet the standards of the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT).
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