PCV/LGV CPC for Drivers

[Terranger]

Not sure if this subject has been raised before?
This subject is driving me demented. So much so, I've been to see my local MP. Basically been told that this European Directive has been implemented since 2008.

From what I've been told about this course, someone gives out a blah-blah intro, then, you're given a questionnaire to fill out, and, if you don't know the answers, you get told them anyway. Then the inspector/tutor says thank you and pockets the cash.

But, and here's the rub, it's not just a one-off, you pay out every year to keep hold of your respective licence.

As far as I'm concerned, I've paid for my Licences, albeit 20 years ago.
I'm not a new-start!!

I've spoken to other drivers, of a similar age, who are also incensed with this bull#### ruling, which, surprise, surprise, has come from Europe.

I've told the dole office that I'm not prepared, nor, can I afford to pay this out of my wages, as I earn little or nothing, and, they've told me I'll get nothing from the DHSS/DWP if i sign on. It's like paying a tax to keep me in a job???????? I DON'T GET IT???????????

If anyone can enlighten me on this subject, maybe I can calm down, although I don't know any other unskilled sector who needs to pay for to stay in their respective jobs.
Help me understand Mud-Clubbers.

[Drift]

I was asked to take it in work last week, told them Im 45 this year and Im letting my PCV and HGV go...cant wait been promising myself it for years now.
(I work in the office now so dont need the licences, good riddance.)

[frosty]

  as you say, its just another bullship rule from europe.. ill put mine off until the last minute, which i think a lot of drivers are going to do, then when 2/3rds of drivers dont have it hopefully the country will grind to a holt!

[MuddyDiscoveryJay]

I have done one section in Jan this year, it is the 1st of 5, 7 hour sessions to be completed over 5 years. The cpc is designed to give the driver a qualification. All members of the dispatch team and drivers are to complete the course.
I personally found it a chance to put my feet up, eat free food and get some sleep. It's all about company management, tachographs and coffee. It is bloody expensive for what it is and everyone should be helped out in order to complete the course. Afterall it is compulsory and your license is worth diddly squat if you dont have it. Straight after the first day I was prepared to hang up my keys after being what i felt was 7 hours of pure patronising.
Have fun, I didnt  :dance:

[muddyjames]

I am going to add a different light to it. I actually found mine quiet interesting, mainly due to my other hobbies it helped me with that too.

You DO NOT loose your lisence after 2015, you just can not drive commercially. If you have a horse box that can take 8 horses and tow a caravan behind for personal reasons only then you can still do that, no problems.

The courses arent set out as 1 course that it is end of. There are many courses that covers many things, as long as it is based around health, driving and safety. So yes there are courses about tacho ahours, there are some that are about healthy eating, driving more economically where an assessor takes you out on the road and points out ways that could bebetter fuel consumption etc. My 7 hours was all about safety of refuse collecting, eg banksman, what to look out for when reversing, safe lifting, writing risk assesments. This last 1 was very handy as I have never quiet grasped writing them and had grey areas which are now not grey.

I do agree it is a con and another stealth tax but if it means some drivers hang up thier keys as they dont want to do the hours cpc etc, then surely it will just mean the drivers who are out there, are the ones who want to be driving and not just driving because they have to and have done for x amount of years and has been working for jo bloggs and is un happy doing what they are doing and has had no push to do something else? It will open up jobs for those who want to work for Jo Bloggs too.

After the full 35 hours wyou will get a green card like your digi cards and driving license to carry around with you. If you do all 35 hours say next week, then the 5 years your card lasts is from the end of next week. do 1 day every year you string the card out longer. eg

35 hours now in 2010, card starts in 2010 lasts until 2015 and you have to do the stuff all over again.
7 hours over next 5 years, card starts in 2015 and you can drive for 5 years, and expires in 2020, so in theory by doing 7 hours each year you save yourself alot of money.

I am fairly sure that in 10 years time all this money will have been spent and the hgv business will be on its knees with no drivers and they will drop it. Having heard what new hgv drivers have to do now is beyond belief before they can sit thier driving test. They have cpc stuff to do before hand.

1 final thing. you can not pass or fail the cpc. It is purely a training / refresher scheme where as long as you attend the full amount of hours you will get the ticket.

I didnt get free food and annoyingly everyone else got sent home due to snow but 7 of us had to sit in the cpc course wishing we were the session the week before so we could be home too!

[mobi]

35 hours now in 2010, card starts in 2010 lasts until 2015 and you have to do the stuff all over again.
7 hours over next 5 years, card starts in 2015 and you can drive for 5 years, and expires in 2020, so in theory by doing 7 hours each year you save yourself alot of money.

if you have had your psv/lgv since last year then you get grandfather rights, so the you don't need to all the courses till 2014 but if you do all 35 hours before then it last till 2019. but you can do another 35 hours after that (say the week after) and you add another 5 years to it (2024)

[sv130]

    terranger said;
                 "But, and here's the rub, it's not just a one-off, you pay out every year to keep hold of your respective licence."

  If its a necessary work related cost can you claim for tax relief, the same way we can claim an allowance for boots, tools etc?


 Gaz 


 

[muddyjames]

35 hours now in 2010, card starts in 2010 lasts until 2015 and you have to do the stuff all over again.
7 hours over next 5 years, card starts in 2015 and you can drive for 5 years, and expires in 2020, so in theory by doing 7 hours each year you save yourself alot of money.

if you have had your psv/lgv since last year then you get grandfather rights, so the you don't need to all the courses till 2014 but if you do all 35 hours before then it last till 2019. but you can do another 35 hours after that (say the week after) and you add another 5 years to it (2024)

Are you sure as the way my trainer was saying, was that the moment you did the 35 hours, your 5 years started from that point. You are right in that you dont need to do the courses until 2014 but companies are starting the 7 hour lesons each year now instead of a huge payment in 4 years time.

[frosty]

  its still a big crock of pooh! ill probably end up shelling out for it myself which is not a happy thought..id rather spend the money on shiny bits for the landy!

[beast5680]

what they dont tell you is you can sit exactly the same course 5 times and it still counts , the content does not need to vary, which sort of makes a mockery of the whole thing anyway
out of curiousity how much is everyone being charged for the 7 hour teabreak?

[mobi]

borrowed from truck net.

THE PERIODIC (ongoing) DRIVER CPC

There are TWO types of DRIVER CPC and it has nothing to do with the OPERATOR CPC (National & International).

The PERIODIC (ongoing) for when you have the C1, C or C+E licence & the INITIAL (Which goes with a C or C1 licence acquisition)

The INITIAL driver cpc which goes with a C or C1 licence acquisition can be found HERE

The medical requirements will not change.

The upgrading to a C+E licence will not change.

THE PERIODIC (ongoing) DRIVER CERTIFICATE of PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE ( PDCPC )

If you have a C1, C or C+E licence on 10 Sept 2009 then you have 'acquired rights' (AKA 'Grandfather rights')
The 35 hours will need to be completed by Sept 2014 to retain your right to continue as a commercial LGV driver.
This does NOT affect your right to retain your LGV licence. (The licence and the PDCPC are seperate issues)

Effectively, the PDCPC is akin to any other vocational qualification that needs to be revalidated every so often, such as ADR, First Aid at Work, HIAB or FLT licence etc. IMHO, any confusion arising from the idea of a PDCPC comes from the fact that it is a new concept. The qualifications I've mentioned above have all been 'periodic' ever since they were introduced.

Another way to think of the PDCPC is that you already hold the relevant LGV driving licence, but the PDCPC is intended to allow you to continue to practice the trade or profession of a paid LGV driver in that it's your proof that you're trained and qualified in the other elements of the job, apart from driving the vehicle.

The PDCPC is an ATTENDANCE of 35 hours of training over a set 5 year period at an approved centre with an approved trainer and can be done in 5 x 7 hour sessions - each 7 hour session can be split over 2 consecutive days.

The Driver CPC Qualification Card (DQC) will not be issued until the 35 hours has been completed and the driver does not have to produce one for the first 5 years if they have 'acquired rights' on 10 Sept 2009.
There is no need to carry your UK licence if driving in the UK during this period as the authorities can check via the DVLA database to see if a driver should have a DQC or have got aquired rights.

Once the full 35 hours has been completed at any time before 10 Sept 2014 the DQC will be issued and the expiry date on the DQC will be 10 Sept 2019.

NOTE: - If all of the 35 hours is not completed by the DQC expiry date or, in the first instance, by 10 Sept 2014, then any training already done is lost and the whole lot of the 35 hours must be started again and completed before a DQC is issued.

This next bit may seem daft but it is OK under the regulations -
If a driver does 35 hours in the week before the DQC expiry date and then does 35 hours in the week after the DQC expiry date then they could have almost a 10 year gap before having to do another 35 hours :!:
Example -
35 hours done in the week prior to 10 Sept 2014 gets a DQC with expiry date of 10 Sept 2019.
35 hours done in the week after 10 Sept 2014 gets a DQC with expiry date of 10 Sept 2024. The DQC for this will get issued when the 2019 DQC expires.
The next 35 hours could be done in the week prior to Sept 2024.
So almost a 10 year gap in training from 2014 to 2024.



http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=40314

[muddyjames]

imagine doing the same 7 hour course for 2 weeks in a row. how very boring!

[MuddyDiscoveryJay]

imagine doing the same 7 hour course for 2 weeks in a row. how very boring!

HA HA  :P