Professional Driver Forum

Stuart makes a number of very valid points. There are other considerations which affect recruitment and retention, including unsocial hours and the attitude of the average motorist to professional drivers of large commercials.

I too hold LGV C+E as well as full PCV entitlement and I will have to think carefully about whether to let them lapse. It is not only the CPC aspect, but also the nonsensical situation where DSA apparently have no provision for me to synchronise my compulsory medicals. Until a few years ago I also held a Private Pilots Licence which also required a unique medical so I was checked over quite frequently - a mixed blessing!

I think the driver CPC will put a lot of small companies out of business, it they are owner drivers or have only one or two drivers they may not have the funds available to them to pay for or take time off to do the courses. Companies that they contract to will not pay for it. Many companies contract a large number of owner drivers in their 60's and this could be the nudge for those drivers to retire.

In addition some drivers are not academically inclined, which is no slur on their driving capabilites or professionalism, however the classroom training could put them off and push them out of driving.

There have been many changes within the Transport industry in the last decade I am sure you would all agree. Driver culture has changed quiet dramatically. New technologies in vehicle design (transmission etc..) and also in-cab tracking which the driver has to be trained in, in order to provide feedback to the controlling Transport office. I have been involved mainly in retail, however, I did spend some time in general/hazardous distribution. Here we have the 40+ drivers passing ADR which I know some struggle with but get through it periodically.

 I feel the new training will be invaluable and disagree that some or many would leave the industry because of the DCPC. Just look at the 'driver hours regulation', I remember reading them for the first time before leaving the Army - and they have just had an overhaul, the older more senior drivers have once again adjusted. WTD and digital tachograph which came in recently, which no doubt will be part of DCPC, areas in which drivers are pro-active in daily, weekly and monthly.  As I said earlier, there have been many changes - and the professional driver will adjust accordingly - have a little faith.

On agency drivers, if they are full time agency, the agency will no doubt pay. Self employed or casual they will have to pay themselves. There are many perks to being an agency driver (thats why many do it). They can avoid weekend work, shift work and choose  when to work. There is far more scope for flexibilty, its a life choice and good luck to the drivers who choose it.

As for the industry grinding to halt - not sure about that. Comments welcome.

 Good news everyone, I just got the medical form in from DVLA for my PCV License, I called them to inform them that my LGV is due in 3.5 years time, could I have the medical applied to both PCV & LGV Entitlement at the same time?

I was informed by DVLA that because I have had a medical within the previous 5 year period my LGV renewal would not require a new medical.

So do not give up tour entitlement for the sake of a medical.

Kind regards

Brian

I am responsible for all of the Training for a fairly large Transport company that employs over 500 drivers. Whilst I have many personal and professional opinions with regard to the DCPC I have to face the reality that it is happening regardless.

My concern (and I welcome thoughts, ideas or feedback) is how our Company is going to train the large amount of drivers that we have in the time frame that we have considering costs and also considering 'GrandFather rights'?

Whether I can discuss the positives and negatives or not - looking at the CPC this way, only gives me cause for concern.

I am very keen to know how other Companies are tackling it. I acknowledge that it is the responsiblity of the Driver to gain this qualification, however see it as paramount that we provide this Training ourselves.

Hello Paul

With such a large driver pool that you have, without knowing the inside bits & pieces I would look at this as a 2 pronged problem.

1. You have until (with grandfather rights applied) 2014 to complete your training for all drivers.

2. How do we go about it?

In simple arithmetic terms, 2 drivers training a week for 5 years you will have solved your problem.

The cost: The cost will need to be covered in one of two ways.

1. Send the drivers on a training course for a week (costly).

2. Employ a trainer(s) for the specific job. Costly to start up, cheaper over the Long Haul (pardon the pun). Do your own in house training.

I would, subject to funding, prefer to do the training in house. The capital outlay in the setup would be high but the diminishing rule of costs would be applied over the term and would make it cheaper to operate than sending drivers for outside training.

I hope this cures your insomnia for this problem, I have looked in detail at this for over a year now and still cannot get anyone to give me a definative cost for the training.

Kind regards

Brian