Under a EU Directive, professional bus, coach and lorry drivers need to hold a Driver CPC in addition to a vocational driving licence. Any drivers of lorries over 3.5 tonnes and minibuses with 9 seats or more must usually obtain a Driver CPC. See exemptions below.

New drivers obtain their Driver CPC by passing a series of initial qualification tests – theory and practical. This must then be followed by 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years if they want to keep their Driver CPC after that period.

Bus and coach (PCV) drivers who hold a relevant vocational licence (D, D1, D+E and D1+E) gained before 10 September 2008, (including restricted vocational licence D(101) issued after 1991 and D1(101) issued before 1997) and lorry (LGV) drivers who obtained their licence (C, C1, C+E and C1+E) before 10 September 2009, do not need to take the initial qualification. This is because they are deemed to hold “grandfather rights”.  However, they will still have to complete periodic training to keep their Driver CPC.

New drivers who have qualified via the initial qualification route will receive a Driver Qualification Card (DQC).

Existing drivers with acquired rights will receive their DQC when they have completed their first 35 hours of periodic training. Drivers with licences for both PCV and LGV will be covered by one DQC.

Exemptions

Drivers do not need a Driver CPC if the vehicle they drive:

• has a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 kilometres per hour
• is used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
• is undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or is a new or rebuilt vehicles which * have not yet been put into service
• is used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions
• is used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC
• is used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use
• is carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver’s principal activity

• Road safety
• Secure transport operations
• Health and safety in transport
• Manual handling
• Load handling
• Safe economic driving
• Driver’s hours
• Digital Tachographs
• First Aid

Our experienced and accredited team will advise you on the correct vehicle licence required. And when it comes to the training, we are able to travel to your premises if required to carry out the training.