A Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a legal requirement for all professional lorry, bus and coach drivers in Cumbria and the rest of the UK.

The legal requirement for Driver CPC in the UK to drive a lorry, bus or coach, is to complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years in order to keep your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Drivers who fail to keep their CPC driver training hours up to date can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without it.

You can check your Driver CPC periodic training hours completed within the current 5-year period, via the gov.uk website.

Click here to check how many CPC hours you have done

Anyone who drives a lorry, bus or coach in Cumbria and the UK, as the main part of their job, is required by law to have a Driver CPC (certificate of professional competence). Additionally, drivers must also undertake 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every 5 years to keep it valid.

There are only a few circumstances where a driver can drive a lorry, bus or coach without holding a valid Driver CPC. These reasons are:

• The driver is carrying passengers for non-commercial carriage or goods for personal use.
• The driver is carrying materials or equipment for their job, where driving the vehicle is not the main part of that job.
• The driver is undertaking driving lessons or their CPC training.
• The driver is driving to or from pre-booked appointments at an official vehicle testing centre.
• The driver is driving within 62 miles of their base, the vehicle is not carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach is not their main job.
• The driver is maintaining public order, where the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority.
• The driver is carrying out rescue missions or in a state of emergency.
• The vehicle is limited to a top speed of 28mph.
• The vehicle is being used or controlled by the armed forces, police, fire & rescue service, prison service or people running a prison or young offender institution.

It is a legal requirement for drivers to have completed their Driver CPC in order to drive a 7.5 tonne truck professionally in Cumbria and the UK, even if they have a C1 entitlement on their driving licence.

Drivers issued with car licences before 1996 automatically had the C1 entitlement added to their licence, which previously allowed them to drive a vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes professionally. However, since the introduction of Driver CPC, the entitlement is only valid if the individual has also completed their Driver CPC.

Once you have gained your initial Driver CPC, it is mandatory to undertake 35hrs of periodic Driver CPC training every five years, in order to keep your Driver CPC card from expiring.

Whilst it is possible for new drivers to fail their initial Driver CPC, that is required in order to drive a large or medium-sized goods vehicle professionally, the 35hrs of periodic Driver CPC training courses, do not have a pass or fail result based on a candidate’s ability. In order to pass periodic Driver CPC training, you must simply undertake the minimum number of training hours required, with an accredited training provider, such as Total Compliance, in order to pass.

As long as you have passed all of the tests, you can drive professionally in Cumbria and the UK, while you are waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive. You will not be fined during this time, for not having your card with you. Your Driver CPC card should arrive within 20 days of passing the final test. If you have not received it after 20 days, you should contact the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).

Visit the DVSA Website for further information

It is a legal requirement for drivers to carry their Driver CPC card with them, while driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally in Cumbria and the UK. Failure to do so can result in a £50 fixed penalty fine for driving professionally without your card.

It is against the law in Cumbria and rest of the UK to drive a lorry, bus or coach professionally without an up to date Driver CPC. Drivers who are found to breach these rules, can be fined up to £1000.

There has been lots of speculation that once Brexit happens, Driver CPC will be scrapped in Cumbria and the rest of the UK. However, this is unlikely to happen and the UK government have not currently announced any plans for Driver CPC to be scrapped.