If you are a professional driver, whether in the freight transport sector, passenger transport sector, or handling the delivery of goods on a local basis, then you need to complete a set number of CPC driver training hours.
This training is an essential part of being legally able to drive for work, with drivers needing to complete 35 hours of training every five years. Failing to complete the required number of training hours can result in the licence being taken away from a driver.
Thus, knowing what CPC training is and how best to manage it as part of your professional development, is crucial. So, how many courses do you need to complete?
Hours > Courses
CPC training is not so much about the number of courses completed; rather, it’s about the number of hours undertaken and signed off. Every course has its own timeline, with drivers needing to complete 35 hours – whether that consist of ten 3.5-hour short courses, five 7-hour courses, or a combination of the two and eLearning.
And there’s more. Drivers cannot simply complete the same course over and over again, and have it contributed towards their overall hours. Rather, training courses need to be notably different in content with no ‘unnecessary repetition’ tracked over a five year period. Finally, drivers need to understand the difference between International and National CPC training – with the former enabling a driver to complete any journey, while the latter is only for UK-based journeys.
What Kind of CPC Courses are Available?
Drivers will be pleased to know that, with 35 hours of different training required every five years, there are plenty of interesting topics and programmes to choose from!
From driving safety to first aid, and handling some of the more complex and unexpected challenges that can meet professional drivers, CPC training is versatile with courses that are designed to upskill drivers as well as equip to handle challenging situations.
Some of the lesser known but popular courses include:
- Actions after an accident or breakdown
- Terrorist threat and driver security
- Safe Eco driving
- Driver wellbeing including drugs and drink awareness
- Dangerous goods awareness course
Alternatively, for ease, drivers can book onto a 5-day CPC course that aims to equip them with everything they need to remain compliant and safe on the road for a five year period.
How Do I Access CPC Training?
Many of the leading CPC training courses and programmes are available for both in-person training and remote or online training, both contributing towards the same number of hours including eLearning.
Some organisations find that the easiest way to access training for their entire fleet of drivers is to schedule on-site sessions, bringing the expertise of training providers to your own depot. Alternatively, groups can head to an external site for training or access the training remotely for ease and convenience.
To build the right programme for your own team of drivers, get in touch directly.
