In September 2009, the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) came into effect in the UK. CPC covers professional bus, coach and HGV drivers and was introduced with the objective of improving road safety and maintaining high standards of driving. The Driver CPC must be renewed every five years and drivers must complete 35 training hours to be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). Without a current CPC qualification, professional drivers are legally prohibited from driving and could face a fine of up to £1,000. Professional drivers must complete their mandatory training and renew their CPC in time. The deadline is fast approaching for those companies that operate HGVs and other vehicles that fall under CPC. The current training period comes to an end on 9th September 2019, so drivers don’t have much time left to renew if they haven’t done so already! Minimise and manage risk Given that the CPC has to be renewed every five years, companies need a robust and foolproof method of verifying licences and driver CPC at the same time. This is essential as we approach the September 9 deadline as some drivers may not complete their 35 hours in time and if an operator is using agency drivers how would they know? With Descartes’ SmartLicence, businesses have access to a comprehensive online tool to manage employee driving licences. Once setup, SmartLicence conducts licence checks and verifies a drivers’ CPC with the DVLA in accordance with the risk profile of a driver. More points equals more frequent checks. It will also provide automated email alerts to any issues that may need your attention, such as new points on the licence. With a history log of licence and CPC checks and detail changes, this clearly demonstrates to the authorities that the business is taking its duty of care seriously, ensuring employees are licensed and have completed their CPC on time. With solutions such as SmartLicence, employers can take a consistent and proactive approach to check the validity of drivers’ licences and CPC and identify those drivers at risk. Don’t leave it until the last minute ...