The UK Government has announced that it is carrying out a review of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). The aim of the review is to see how it can be improved to help with driver shortages that are impacting all sectors. The review will look at how it can be updated to reduce the burden on returning and new drivers and ensure it doesn’t act as a barrier to working as a professional driver whilst maintaining important road safety standards.

The review will consider a number of factors including:

• Different training requirements for more seasoned drivers. 
• Spreading the current requirement for 35 hours’ periodic training more evenly over the 5-year period.
• A specific range of topics for drivers new to Driver CPC.    
• Durations for each training course. 
• The scope of Driver CPC where it includes non-professional drivers. 
• Support from employers for drivers with the cost of training.
• Recognition of Driver CPC qualifications obtained in the EU. 

The review is probably long overdue and it is good to see that all drivers may not be treated the same with regards to their training needs.  The outcome or impact of the training should also be measured rather than hours spent training.

The Government will announce how you can have your say as the review progresses and recommendations are expected by the end of 2021.

For operators looking to manage their drivers’ CPC SmartAnalysis includes a CPC management module to track where your drivers are with the training required. Whilst SmartLicence verifies a driver's CPC with any driving licence check with the DVLA.

Source – Gov.UK