The Department for Transport has released an official deadline for completing the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). In accordance with the deadline, operators must obtain certificates by Monday, September 9, 2024. This date is only a short time away in the world of haulage.
High Demand Expected
The demand for this training is expected to be high this year, according to the DfT. 2024 marks the 15th anniversary of the Driver CPC. As each qualification only has validity for five years at a time, a large number of CPCs will expire this year.
Operators are encouraged to play an active role in the proceedings to ensure drivers receive training in time for their certificates to come in before the deadline. The Department for Transport is asking all operators to encourage those people who have a certificate nearing the expiry date to check if they have completed the mandatory 35 hours of periodic training before the deadline approaches. Those who do not do the training before the deadline are at risk of losing their qualification, which would have serious consequences for firms.
The rules surrounding the Driver CPC are clear. Any driver who misses the deadline for getting their training done is not allowed to drive in a professional capacity until they have received the correct training. Furthermore, drivers will be fined up to £1000 if they are found to be driving in any professional capacity without having their training certificate.
Get Qualified!
The Department of Transport has had a lot to say about the current state of things. They released a statement which is as follows:
‘Data shows that lots of drivers leave their training until the last six months. In 2019, there were, on average, five times more training hours done a month compared to the same time in the previous year.’
It’s understandable for businesses to want to put off doing their training until the last minute. When business is booming, and you’re under tight schedules to get things done, of course, training is the last concern on anyone’s mind. However, consider this. Failing to get trained in time will do more harm than you might imagine - you could wind up with a dozen drivers unable to work in a professional capacity. If the demand for training is going to be higher due to the deadline approaching, then it’s sensible to get it done earlier.
There’s no way around this training - we’re all going to have to make sure it’s done and that drivers are up to spec if they want to keep working. There’s a lot of sense in acting now rather than kicking the can down the road again and again. Drivers need to take some responsibility for their training as well - if they know their certificates are due to expire, then they need to get in touch with training providers and have those conversations. The rules are clear, so there’s no defence by claiming ignorance - get recertified now.