In 2023, the UK government launched a consultation to reform the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) requirements, aiming to address the ongoing shortage of drivers and improve retention. The consultation explored ways to make the training requirements less of a barrier to the industry.

Under EU regulations, professional drivers of Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCVs) — essentially trucks, coaches, and buses — must complete 35 hours of periodic training every five years to maintain their Driver CPC qualification, with training delivered in 7-hour blocks.

So, what’s changed?

• Reduced the minimum course length to 3.5 hours. Drivers can now complete 10 x 3.5-hour courses instead of 5 x 7-hour courses.
• Allowance for up to 12 hours of training to be completed online through e-learning.
• More flexibility for returning drivers, enabling them to return to the industry without completing all 35 hours (effective from February 2025).

A potential option for drivers to pass a test instead of undergoing periodic training was also discussed but remains under consideration.

The New Reality: More Flexibility, but More Confusion?

Whilst these changes sound promising on the surface, their implementation introduces a complex set of challenges.

Two types of driver CPC

A significant complication stems from the fact that the UK can only amend Driver CPC rules for domestic drivers, not those driving internationally. Consequently, two separate qualifications are being introduced: the National Driver CPC and the International Driver CPC.

• International Drivers: Those who require an EU or international Driver CPC must continue to complete the standard 35 hours of training as before. However, from February 2025, returning drivers can complete a 1-day “returning to driving” course to get back on the road, with the remaining 4 days to be completed within a year.
• National Drivers: UK-only drivers will benefit from the reduced course lengths and the ability to take 12 hours of e-learning. However, they still need to complete 35 hours of training over five years, but they can now attend shorter sessions

The Key Problem: Different CPCs

Here’s where the confusion lies. The National and International Driver CPCs are now treated as separate qualifications. This means drivers can’t mix and match between the two different courses to meet their 35-hour requirement. A driver who completes some international courses cannot later combine them with the shorter National courses to make up their hours — a critical point that has not been made clear!

For example, if a driver has been keeping their qualification up to date with 7-hour courses, they can’t simply switch to 3.5-hour National courses to meet the 35-hour requirement. Drivers must commit to one or the other for the entire five-year period.

This is a potential ticking bomb for drivers who inadvertently mix the two types of training, with the issue not becoming apparent until their qualification expires!

The Bigger Picture

Whilst the Driver CPC reforms do offer more flexibility, they may not address the root cause of the previous challenges. The tendency for drivers to leave their training until the last minute could still undermine the benefits of shorter courses. According to DVSA

“Data shows that lots of drivers leave their training until the last 6 months. In 2019, there were, on average, 5 times more training hours done a month compared to the same time in the previous year.”

The reality is that many drivers wait until their qualification has reached expiration and then attend a full five-day course — meaning the flexibility of 3.5-hour sessions will have little impact for this majority.

Additionally, the issue of poor-quality training remains unresolved. The reforms don’t raise the bar for course providers, leaving drivers more focused on box-ticking exercise as opposed to developing meaningful knowledge and skills.

How can Traxion Training help?

We’re committed to providing high-quality CPC training, ensuring our drivers benefit from relevant course content which is only delivered by experienced Transport Managers and industry experts.

We can help drivers navigate the new system and avoid costly mistakes.

We’ll be keeping up to date with any future changes and we urge the new government to provide clarity on these issues soon to prevent bigger problems for drivers in the future.

Please note that this information is correct at the time of writing, DVSA may move the goalposts again in the near future.

You can find out about our 5-star rated CPC training on our website at https://traxiontraining.co.uk

Craig Wilson - Head of Centre, Traxion Training