1. What is Driver CPC?
   
   

Driver CPC is short for Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. It is a new qualification that all professional bus, coach and lorry drivers will need to have if they want to continue to drive professionally.

Driver CPC is being introduced in DVA Licensing with effect from 10th September 2008 for Bus and Coach Drivers (PCV) and from 10th September 2009 for Lorry Drivers (LGV).
This initiative will be implemented throughout the European Union and is mandatory for everybody who wishes to drive for hire or reward.

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2. What are the aims of Driver CPC?
   
   

The aims of Driver CPC are to:

• Improve the knowledge of lorry and bus drivers – helping:
  • Road safety (and thus all road users);
  • The road freight and passenger transport industries (better staff performance, better recruitment and retention, more economical vehicle usage);
  • The environment (reduced fuel consumption and vehicle wear).

• Recognise and accredit the knowledge and skills required for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers.
• Ensure drivers continually update their skills and knowledge.
• Raise the status of bus, coach and lorry drivers to promote driving as a career.

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3. Who will Driver CPC affect?
   
   

CPC will affect all professional drivers of lorries over 3.5 tonnes, buses, coaches and minibuses unless they qualify for an exemption.

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4. Who is exempt from Driver CPC?
   
   

There are exceptions from the Driver CPC qualification for drivers of vehicles:

• used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use;
• undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service;
• used in the course of driving lessons for the purpose of enabling that person to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC;
• carrying material or equipment to be used by that person in the course of his or her work, provided that driving that vehicle does not constitute the driver’s principal activity*
• with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h;
• used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order;
• used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions

*An example of a driver under exemption vii (also known as 'incidental driver') would be a brick layer who drives a load of bricks from the builder's yard to the building site and then spends their working day laying bricks. In this case, driving a lorry is incidental to their main occupation.

Drivers can move in and out of an exemption, depending on the circumstances in which they are driving. For example, a bus mechanic would be exempt while driving a bus to check that it had been repaired, but would need to hold a Driver CPC if they also drove a bus on a passenger carrying service.

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5. Can I work as a driver without a Driver CPC?
   
   

No, unless in exempted circumstances.

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6. What does Driver CPC involve?
   
   

As well as a driving licence, lorry and bus & coach drivers who drive professionally will have to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence which is renewable every 5 years. There will be an initial qualification for new drivers and periodic training for new and existing drivers whereby drivers will be required to complete 'periodic training' every 5 years to remain eligible to drive professionally. Driver CPC will come into force on 10 September 2008 for PCV drivers and 10 September 2009 for LGV drivers. These implementation dates apply to all EU member states.

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7. What is a Driver Qualification Card (DQC)?
   
   

A DQC is a card that is issued once a theory and practical test of competence is passed and / or the relevant 'periodic training' is taken. These cards are issued for a 5 year period.

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8. How much will a DQC cost?
   
   

The cost of the DQC is built into the cost of the initial qualification test / periodic training therefore there will be no further charge for issue of the DQC upon completion of these.

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9. What does a DQC look like?
   
   

SAMPLE DRIVER QUALIFICATION CARD

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10. What are the plans to enforce these measures?
    
    

PSNI and DVA enforcement will all be responsible for ensuring compliance within Northern Ireland. This will be to ensure anyone driving professionally in NI has a CPC. However, any EU enforcement body can ask a driver for proof that his or her training is up to date while they are driving in other Member States and can issue a penalty if a driver is in breach of the Directive.

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