CHANGES to the way in which HGV drivers can achieve their professional qualifications will give the logistics industry flexibility in how and when training is taken, according to business group Logistics UK.
For the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), currently drivers must undertake a block of 35 hours’ training, but as Chris Yarsley, senior policy manager, road freight regulation explained as we enter the next five-year cycle of training and qualifications, Logistics UK is heartened to see that the UK government’s new legislation will allow professional drivers to undertake training in smaller blocks of time (35 hours in blocks of 3.5 hours is now permitted, rather than blocks of 7 hours) and the changes will also provide more e-learning opportunities (12 hours of training will be permitted in the total of 35 hours).
“Under the new legislation, to be laid before Parliament in the spring, lapsed drivers will be able to start their return to the workforce with a seven hour course, providing driving rights for one year while they complete their full CPC qualification.”
The new Driver CPC regime will introduce two classes of qualification – a National CPC for those intending only to drive in the UK, and an International CPC, close in its parameters to the current national standard, which would permit driving in the UK and abroad.
However, Logistics UK does have a word of caution over another of the proposed reforms to Driver CPC legislation, which would replace training with a periodic test, of around 50 questions.
“In the opinion of our members, this will not provide sufficient assessment and evaluation to ensure drivers’ abilities are fully tested and should be discounted now,” said Chris Yarsley.
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