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Driver
CPC for bus, coach and lorry drivers
A new qualification for professional bus, coach and lorry
drivers - the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence
(Driver CPC) is coming. In future, just holding a vocational
driving licence will not be sufficient for someone who wishes
to drive these vehicles for a living. |
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The
Driving Standards Agency is taking the lead in implementing EU Directive
2003/59 which requires all professional bus, coach and lorry drivers
to hold a Driver CPC in addition to their vocational driving licence.
It comes into force across all European Union member states on:
• 10 September 2008 for bus and coach drivers
• 10 September 2009 for lorry drivers
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In
order to maintain their Driver CPC, all category C and D licence
holders (including C, C1, C1E and D, D1, DE, D1E) will be
required to undertake 35 hours Periodic Training every 5 years.
Driver CPC also introduces a new Initial Qualification for
drivers entering the industries after these September dates
which they must complete in order to drive professionally.
The main aim behind Driver CPC is to improve road safety;
providing better qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties.
Driver CPC should also bring an improved professional and
positive image to the industries, attracting more people to
drive buses, coaches and lorries for a living. It is aimed
not only at improving the knowledge and skills of LGV and
PCV drivers when they |
first
start work, but also ensuring those skills are maintained and developed
throughout the driver’s working life.
The DSA is working closely with trade associations for the freight,
bus and coach industries, the Sector Skills Councils and other government
agencies to ensure Driver CPC is implemented in a way that suits
the needs of the industries.
Please Note:
Any lorry of 3.5 tons and upwards and minibuses with 9 seats
or more are covered by Driver CPC.
Driver CPC will enable young people to enter these sectors in a
safe and professional manner, from 18 years of age, subject to any
licence restrictions for category D drivers (see ‘Minimum ages’
section under Driver CPC evidencing, enforcement and exemptions).
The existing ‘Transport Manager’s CPC’ also known as the ‘Operator’s
CPC’ is a separate qualification and anyone holding one, who still
drives professionally as part of their job, will also need to hold
a Driver CPC.
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Driver
CPC syllabus 2 and 3
Driver
CPC applies to drivers of vehicles on roads open to the public
and for which a driving licence in any of the following categories
is required:
i. C1, C1 + E, C or C + E
ii. D1, D1 + E, D or D + E |
All
drivers of the above categories who are either:
i. nationals of an EU member state or
ii. nationals of a non-EU member state but who are employed or used
by an organisation based in an EU member state
will have to hold Driver CPC if they wish to drive professionally.
Driver CPC Syllabus 1
Both the initial qualification and periodic training for Driver
CPC will be based on the same syllabus.
The syllabus has three main subject areas. These are:
• Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
• Application of regulations
• Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics
Periodic training should revise and expand on the subjects and should
suit the needs of the driver at that time.
For the initial qualification, a test plan has been developed that
shows in which module the various syllabus areas will be tested
(See link to PDF at bottom of the page).
Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
All licences
1.1 Objective: to know the characteristics of the transmission system
in order to make the best possible use of it:
• curves relating to torque, power, and specific consumption of
an engine, area of optimum use of revolution counter, gearbox-ratio
cover diagrams
1.2 Objective: to know the technical characteristics and operation
of the safety controls in order to control the vehicle, minimise
wear and tear and prevent disfunctioning:
• specific features of hydraulic vacuum servobrake circuit, limits
to the use of brakes and retarder, combined use of brakes and retarder,
making better use of speed and gear ratio, making use of vehicle
inertia, using ways of slowing down and braking on downhill stretches,
action in the event of failure
1.3 Objective: ability to optimise fuel consumption:
• optimisation of fuel consumption by applying know-how as regards
points 1.1 and 1.2
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
1.4 Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety
rules and proper vehicle use:
• forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox-ratios according
to vehicle load and road profile, calculation of payload of vehicle
or assembly, calculation of total volume, load distribution, consequences
of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity,
types of packaging and pallets; main categories of goods needing
securing, clamping and securing techniques, use of securing straps,
checking of securing devices, use of handling equipment, placing
and removal of tarpaulins
Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E
1.5 Objective: ability to ensure passenger comfort and safety:
• adjusting longitudinal and sideways movements, road sharing, position
on the road, smooth braking, overhang operation, using specific
infrastructures (public areas, dedicated lanes), managing conflicts
between safe driving and other roles as a driver, interacting with
passengers, the needs of certain groups of passengers (disabled
persons, children)
1.6 Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety
rules and proper vehicle use:
• forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox-ratios according
to vehicle load and road profile, calculation of payload of vehicle
or assembly, load distribution, consequences of overloading the
axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity;
Syllabus 2
Application of regulations
All licences
2.1 Objective: to know the social environment of road transport
and the rules governing it:
• maximum working periods specific to the transport industry; principles,
application and consequences of Regulations (EEC) No’s 3820/85 and
3821/85; penalties for failure to use, improper use of and tampering
with the tachograph; knowledge of the social environment of road
transport: rights and duties of drivers as regards initial qualification
and periodic training;
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
2.2 Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of
goods:
• transport operating licences, obligations under standard contracts
for the carriage of goods, drafting of documents which form the
transport contract, international transport permits, obligations
under the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage
of Goods by Road, drafting of the international consignment note,
crossing borders, freight forwarders, special documents accompanying
goods;
Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E
2.3 Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of
passengers:
• carriage of specific groups of passengers, safety equipment on
board buses, safety belts, vehicle load;
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Syllabus
3
Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics
All licences
3.1 Objective: to make drivers aware of the risks of the road
and of accidents at work:
• types of accidents at work in the transport sector, road
accident statistics, involvement of lorries/coaches/buses,
human, material and financial consequences;
3.2 Objective: ability to prevent originality and trafficking
in illegal immigrants:
• general information, implications for drivers, preventive
measures, check list, legislation on transport operator liability;
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3.3 Objective: ability to prevent physical risks:
• ergonomic principles; movements and postures which pose a risk,
physical fitness, handling exercises, personal protection;
3.4 Objective: awareness of the importance of physical and mental
ability:
• principles of healthy, balanced eating, effects of alcohol, drugs
or any other substance likely to affect behaviour, symptoms, causes,
effects of fatigue and stress, fundamental role of the basic work/rest
cycle;
3.5 Objective: ability to assess emergency situations:
• behaviour in an emergency situation: assessment of the situation,
avoiding complications of an accident, summoning assistance, assisting
casualties and giving first aid, reaction in the event of fire,
evacuation of occupants of a lorry/bus/coach passengers, ensuring
the safety of all passengers, reaction in the event of aggression;
basic principles for the drafting of an accident report;
3.6 Objective: ability to adopt behaviour to help enhance the image
of the company:
• behaviour of the driver and company image: importance for the
company of the standard of service provided by the driver, the roles
of the driver, people with whom the driver will be dealing, vehicle
maintenance, work organisation, commercial and financial effects
of a dispute;
Licences C, C+E, C1, C1+E
3.7 Objective: to know the economic environment of road haulage
and the organisation of the market:
• road transport in relation to other modes of transport (competition,
shippers), different road transport activities (transport for hire
or reward, own account, auxiliary transport activities), organisation
of the main types of transport company and auxiliary transport activities,
different transport specialisations (road tanker, controlled temperature,
etc.), changes in the industry (diversification of services provided,
rail-road, subcontracting, etc.);
Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E
3.8 Objective: to know the economic environment of the carriage
of passengers by road and the organisation of the market:
• carriage of passengers by road in relation to other modes of passenger
transport (rail, private car), different activities involving the
carriage of passengers by road, crossing borders (international
transport), organisation of the main types of companies for the
carriage of passengers by road. |
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