Driver CPC the following article relates to LGV drivers only.

The 9th September 2014 is a very important date if you are a lorry driver. By this date you will need to hold a "Driver Certificate of Professional Competence" to continue driving professionally. Following this and throughout your driving career you will need to complete periodic training courses to maintain this competence.

The periodic training is designed to:

1)..Complement your work.

2)..Be relevant to your everyday job.

3)..Keep you up to date with changes to regulations.

There is NO test to pass and courses can be either practical or classroom based.

Course subjects may include:

1)..Defensive driving techniques.

2)..Eco-safe and fuel efficient driving.

3)..First aid.

4)..Health and Safety.

5)..Drivers hours rules.

6)..Use of Tachographs.

You MUST do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep driving professionally. However it is up to you to decide..

1)..Which courses to attend.

2)..When you attend them.

If you have Driver CPC by "acquired rights".

If you are an existing professional driver, you will already have valuable experience in your work and therefore you will have "acquired rights" for five years, this means that you will be deemed to have Driver CPC. This only applies to you if you are a lorry driver and you obtained your vocational licence (C, C1, C+E and C1+E) before September 10th 2009. However to continue driving beyond the five year period you MUST have completed your 35 hours of periodic training by September 9th 2014.

Obviously this sounds a long way off, and to a degree it is, being over 3 years away, however, forewarned is forearmed as they say and therefore it is worth considering sooner rather than later to avoid any "last minute rush".

Contact has been made with a Mr John Pepperell of Phoenix Training who are members of the RHA, FTA and CPT and hold quality assurance ISO BS EN9001:2008 so quality training can be expected. Phoenix has 19 centres throughout the UK which means of course that you are never very far away from one. The required training can be tailored to suit individual companies and it would be possible for training to take place at Members premises and potentially outside normal working hours if suitable.

The cost is considered to be economically viable at £35.00 per head per day, plus the DSA registration fee, which currently stands at £8.75 per head and this could conceivably be reduced for larger groups of over 20, or for training over consecutive days. Each course would be subject to minimum numbers if held at member’s premises and the price is held until 2014 irrespective of outside influences or increases.

Please confirm your interest if applicable to the BVSF office in the usual way by email to

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01689 855583.