Driver CPC survey

Driver CPC survey - your views needed

The Government has announced a consultation on proposed changes to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).

Key points on the proposals:

The proposed changes would only apply to drivers completing journeys within Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Drivers wishing to drive to, or within, the EU will still need to complete the existing DCPC training, due to EU law.
The proposed changes will only impact drivers who are renewing their DCPC.
The process of obtaining DCPC for the first time remains the same.

Summary of proposals

The proposed changes would create two parallel qualifications for driving in Great Britain:

a national DCPC (known as N-DCPC), for those wishing to drive only in GB & NI
an international DCPC (known as I-DCPC), the same as the current DCPC for those wishing to drive to and within the EU

The proposed reforms only apply to the ways drivers can maintain or regain their N-DCPC. The process for maintaining or regaining an I-DCPC remains the same as the current process.

For maintaining or regaining an N-DCPC, the key changes include replacing the current 35-hour training requirement (split into 7-hour courses completed over 1 or 2 days) with either:

A test option of 50 multiple choice questions, or
A training option requiring 35 hours of training, but with greater use of e-learning and more flexibility over course length or duration.

For those regaining an N-DCPC which has lapsed, this could be done via:

A test option - only available to those whose qualification lapsed within the last two years.
A training option - requiring completion of a seven-hour “Return to Driving” course, followed by 28 hours training completed whilst driving which must be completed within the next five years.

Full details of the Government consultation are available here.

Question Title

* 1. Select the description most appropriate for you now

A professional driver

Driver CPC trainer

A lorry driver employer

A bus and coach driver employer

A training provider

Question Title

* 2. Do you support the proposal to create 2 domestic routes for renewing Driver CPC?

Yes

Don't know

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* 3. Do you support the option of a 50-question multiple choice test as an alternative to completing 35 hours of training for renewal or maintenance of N-DCPC?

Yes

Don't know

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* 4. Do you support the proposed changes where the 35 hours of training can be delivered more flexibly? (for renewing DCPC)

Yes

Don’t know

Question Title

* 5. In your view how important is it that Great Britain and Northern Ireland have the same options for renewing DCPC?

Important

It makes no difference

Not important

Don’t know

Question Title

* 6. If there was a choice between taking the existing DCPC, the proposed 35 hours delivered more flexibly or the periodic test, which would you choose or recommend your drivers choose? (for renewing DCPC)

I-DCPC

N-DCPC reformed training

N-DCPC periodic test

Question Title

* 7. For the new periodic test do you think there should be:

a single test for both category D (bus and coach) and category C (lorry) licence holders?

different tests for each category, one test for category D (bus and coach) licence holders and another test for category C (lorry) licence holders?

don't know

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* 8. Do you think a mandatory course should be undertaken in addition to taking the test? (for renewing DCPC)

Yes

Don’t know

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* 9. In your opinion would having a test option mean drivers would be more likely to renew their DCPC?

Yes

Don’t know

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* 10. Do you think the proposed changes for returning drivers, whose DCPC has lapsed, whereby they complete a 7 hour 'return to driving' course will make it easier to attract drivers back to the sector?

Yes

It makes no difference

Don’t know

Question Title

* 11. In your view how many times should a driver be able to utilise a specific return pathway?

As many times as required

Only once

Don’t know

It should be limited, but for another amount of times. Please specify.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. Would you support the creation of an:

	Yes	No	Don’t know
Exchange scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications?	Exchange scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications? Yes	Exchange scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications? No	Exchange scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications? Don’t know
Recognition scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications?	Recognition scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications? Yes	Recognition scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications? No	Recognition scheme for non-GB and non-NI qualifications? Don’t know

Question Title

* 13. What is your view on having the DQC replaced by an electronic version?

I am in support of the DQC being replaced by an electronic alternative

I would want to keep the physical DQC

I am neither for nor against it

Don’t know

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* 14. Please provide any additional comments relating to the consultation

Question Title

* 15. Contact Information

Full Name

Email Address