CPC for existing lorry, bus and coach drivers

Temporary measures to allow drivers to continue driving

Most professional lorry and bus drivers must complete 35 hours periodic training every 5 years to maintain a driver qualification card (DQC). During the coronavirus outbreak it may be difficult for drivers to complete the required training.

The Department for Infrastructure has therefore put in place temporary changes to professional driver qualification requirements.

This means that drivers whose DQC expires in the period from 1 March 2020 to 30 September 2020 can continue driving.

Enforcement arrangements

Drivers will not be subject to enforcement action by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in respect of the DCPC regulations. We have informed PSNI of this position.

If you are stopped by an enforcement officer they can check to see that you have previously recently held a CPC.

Drivers should carry their expired DQC if they have it.

The drivers that this measure applies to will be required to comply with driver CPC rules from 1 October 2020.

Where this applies

These changes apply to Northern Ireland. Similar arrangements are in place in Great Britain.

For international road transport drivers should have a Driver CPC, unless the type of transport is exempt from the requirements.

The end date will be kept under review. The proposed schedule includes a substantial period to recover missed training, whose duration will need further assessment.

Insurance

Road transport operators will need to check insurance validity, but should not expect any significant change in premiums.

Remote training

Some training has now been authorised for remote delivery by approved Driver CPC training providers, via online video platforms. This will enable drivers to continue to undertake some training online.  Training should be kept up to date wherever possible, but not as an activity that needs extra travel and only in compliance with general government advice.

Details of all Driver CPC periodic training courses that have been authorised for remote delivery are updated daily on the JAUPT website  

Remote training providers

Details of all approved periodic training are on the JAUPT website.

Check your training record

You can find out how much periodic training you’ve already completed by emailing dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk 

Prepare for Brexit

You'll still need Driver CPC to drive professionally in the UK after Brexit. You must still complete your Driver CPC periodic training by your deadline.

The UK will still recognise Driver CPC qualifications from EU countries after Brexit.

To work for an EU company after Brexit, you will need an EU Driver CPC qualification. You can exchange your UK qualification but you need to do this before 31 October 2019.

Check out the Drive in the EU after Brexit: lorry and goods vehicle drivers page for updates on Driver CPC.

'Acquired rights'

Acquired rights (or 'grandfather rights') apply to drivers who already hold a full vocational licence to drive buses, coaches and lorries on the Driver CPC start date. However, any licence acquired before January 1997 which has a D1 (not for hire or reward), D (not for hire or reward) or 079 code does not qualify as 'acquired rights', nor do they provide any provisional entitlement.

Having Driver CPC through 'acquired rights'

You’ll have ‘acquired rights’ if you are a:

• lorry driver and got your vocational licence (C, C1, C+E and C1+E) before 10 September 2009
• bus or coach driver and got your vocational licence (D, D1, D+E and D1+E) before 10 September 2008 - this includes a restricted vocational licence D(079 of nfhr) issued after 1991 and D1(nfhr or 079) issued before 1997

When you need to do periodic training

If you’ve got your Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’ you must do 35 hours of periodic training by 9 September 2014 if you’re a lorry driver. Bus or coach drivers should have completed their training by 9 September 2013.

Checking your Driver CPC periodic training hours

You can check how many hours of Driver CPC training you’ve done or what courses you’ve attended by emailing dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Giving up driving professionally

If you give up driving professionally and let your Driver CPC expire, then you must complete 35 hours of periodic training to regain it before you can resume driving in the freight, bus and coach industries professionally.

The existing 'Transport Manager’s CPC' (also known as the 'Operator’s CPC') is a separate qualification and if you hold one and still drive professionally as part of your job, you will also need to hold a Driver CPC.

Driving a larger vehicle and adding trailer entitlements

Your ‘acquired rights’ don’t allow you to drive a larger vehicle of the same type with a trailer if this isn’t on your vocational licence. You’ll have to pass the relevant driving ability test to do this.

For example, you’d have to take the lorry driving ability test with a C+E vehicle combination if your vocational licence was only for a category C vehicle.

Driving a different type of vehicle

Your ‘acquired rights’ only counts for the type of vehicle you held your vocational licence for. You must get the Driver CPC initial qualification for any other type of vehicle.

For example, you’ll have to get the Driver CPC initial qualification for buses and coaches if your original qualification gave you ‘acquired rights’ for lorries.

Find training courses

Only approved courses taken with approved training centres count towards periodic training. It’s up to you to decide which to attend.

You only need to complete one set of training every five years if you drive both lorries and buses professionally.

• Driver CPC training for lorry, bus and coach drivers

Driver Qualification Card

Once you have completed your 35 hours of periodic training you will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). It will be sent to the address on your driving licence. You must carry your DQC while driving a large goods vehicle or passenger carrying vehicle.

• Driver Qualification Card and Driver CPC

Some periodic training in another EU member state

If you’ve done some of your periodic training in another EU member state you need to write to the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) to apply for your DQC.

You must have done at least the last seven hours of your periodic training in the UK to apply to do this.

You’ll need to include:

• your NI driving licence number
• your phone number
• evidence of the address and dates when you lived in that member state this can be a bank statement, utility bill or tax related document
• evidence of the names and addresses of your employers for that time
• the equivalent of your tax reference or national insurance number in the member states you worked in
• a £25 fee to add training taken abroad to your DQC

You must include the original documents - photocopies are not allowed.

Non-English training documents must be sent with a translation on headed paper from an educational establishment or embassy.

To get an application form you can contact us by:

• email: dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk (put 'DQC Enquiry' in the 'subject' field)
• phone: DVA helpline 0300 200 7861
• Application form for a Driver Qualification Card DQC1(NI)