The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has taken a robust approach towards those who have failed to meet the requirement of the Driver CPC after the deadline passed on September 10.
It is now an offence for many truck drivers to continue driving if they have not completed 35 hours of approved training in the past five years. The rule applies to professional truck drivers who gained their vocational licence before September 2009.
The Road Haulage Association said it agreed with the DVSA’s position. “Basically, those involved in professional road haulage have got this issue sorted out in good time,” said an RHA statement. “If there are firms that have still not done so, we have to question whether they are suitable to be operating large, heavy vehicles.”
The Association said drivers who are not qualified can become qualified in one week, so they can get back to delivering goods legally. “That should not be an insurmountable burden,” it said.
“Drivers and their employers have had plenty of time to get the necessary training completed. Some drivers are having problems as a result of licence renewal delays at DVLA, but enforcement bodies are taking account of that.”
