Gist People Services Driver CPC training - time to get started

Anyone who wishes to drive a bus, coach or lorry for a living will need to hold the driver CPC (driver certificate of professional competence) qualification in addition to their vocational driving licence under EU directive (2003/59.)

To meet this requirement, all bus, lorry and coach drivers must complete a minimum of 35 hours of periodic training before September 2014. This can be made up of seven hours training per year.

The Driver CPC course is designed to improve on existing driving skills and knowledge and is a mandatory requirement for all drivers.

What is periodic training?

Drivers are required to complete 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training within five years. The minimum length of a course (or module) to count towards this total is seven hours. By completing the Driver CPC training in modules of seven hours 'periodically', the driver ensures they are obtaining ongoing professional development.

Why start now?

Delaying the start of periodic training is of no benefit to a driver as they may find that they struggle to complete the 35 hours within the five years. The sooner the driver engages on the training, the sooner their skills are refreshed and their knowledge and skills are updated, enhancing their professionalism.

Who is affected by the Driver CPC training requirement?

Professional drivers of Category C or D vehicles (including subcategories C1, CE, C1E, D1, DE, D1E) must complete 35 hours of approved training. Drivers of lorries over 3.5 tonnes and minibuses with nine seats or more must obtain a Driver CPC. Holders of a CPC for transport operations (also know as the Operator's CPC) also need to complete approved Driver CPC training if they are driving Category C or D vehicles. The CPC for transport operators is a different qualification. New drivers wishing to obtain a vocational licence to drive professionally will need to pass the Driver CPC initial qualification.

Why choose Gist People Services as your Driver CPC training provider?

Gist People Services are an RTITB consortium member and an award winning training company sharing the Gist values of:

• Customer Partnership
• Innovation
• Excellence in Delivery
• People Focus

We create high quality, cost effective, operationally aligned solutions consistent with our reputation within the logistics industry. We are constantly and consistently delivering high quality training to all of our own drivers and this makes our training not only useful and relevant, but interesting and innovative. We train from experience and can tailor our training to ensure all drivers gain added value from our courses.

Our seven hour periodic training courses are competitively priced and include the DSAupload, lunch, refreshments, certification and course materials. Courses are held frequently throughout the country and can take place either in our Gist training centres within our depots, or on your own premises.

• Module 1

  Module 1: Drivers' Hours and Tachographs

  1a  Analogue tachographs

  • EU regulations, the use of tachographs and drivers responsibilities for keeping records
  • Break periods, maximum daily driving time & daily rest periods
  • Maximum weekly driving time & weekly rest periods
  • Maximum fortnightly driving time & split daily rest.

   

  1b  Digital tachographs

  • Governing regulations and the operating system
  • Unit main features, memory functions, pictograms, types of cards and their uses
  • Universal coordinated time (UTC) and the manual entry procedure
  • Login/logout procedures, displays and messages
  • Printouts and printer operating procedures and record keeping when using both digital and analogue tachographs.

• Module 2

  Module 2: Safe Vehicle Operations and Loading

  2a  Vehicle & load handling systems

  • Vehicle braking systems, vehicle control, minimising wear and tear, prevention of failure
  • Trailer coupling systems and safe operating procedures
  • Different systems used to contain loads
  • Handling equipment for loading and unloading vehicles.

   

  2b  Safe vehicle loading

  • Procedures for loading a vehicle with due regard for the safety of persons coming into contact with the vehicle or its load
  • Distribution of vehicle loads, calculation of axle weights; consequences of overloading; penalties, fines and prohibitions
  • Different methods for securing loads
  • Principles of vehicle stability.

• Module 3

  Module 3: Safe and Economic Driving

  3a  Principles of safe, defensive and economic driving

  • Safe and defensive driving techniques
  • Fuel efficient driving techniques
  • Procedures for daily vehicle checks, fault finding and reporting of faults.

   

  3b  Techniques of safe, economic and defensive driving

  • Conform with safe driving procedures
  • Apply defensive driving techniques
  • Apply economic driving techniques.

• Module 4

  Module 4: Health and Safety in Transport Operations

  4a  Health and safety in transport

  • Issues relating to health and safety policies, awareness of risks, risk assessment, working with moving equipment, other hazards
  • Types of accidents in the workplace, legal requirement for reporting accidents, danger associated with the use of mobile phones
  • What trained personnel should do at road traffic collision scenes, basic principles of accident report writing.

  4b  Personal wellbeing, transport health and safety

  • Manual handling techniques, ergonomic principles, risks associated with incorrect body movements and postures
  • Importance and benefits of physical fitness; importance of healthy balanced eating; effects of alcohol and drugs; dealing with fatigue and stress
  • Common causes of slips, trips and falls and preventative methods
  • Different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the importance of correct use.

• Module 5

  Module 5: Safe, Efficient and Secure Transport Operations

  5a  Company procedures and customer care

  • Efficient systems and procedures for dealing with company documentation, e.g. time sheets, delivery notes, incident reports
  • Working time regulations
  • The importance of professional behaviour in protecting and enhancing a companies' image
  • Route planning; techniques for accurate assessment of journey times.

  5b  Secure transport operations

  • The operator licensing system.
  • Driver responsibilities for vehicle and load security.
  • The main terms of contracts for the carriage of goods and other legal documents and obligations in international transport operations
  • Effective strategies to combat the trafficking of illegal immigrants.