The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation about proposed reforms to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) qualification.

The consultation follows the review into DCPC which took place between November 2021 and January 2022 in response to acute driver shortages in the road haulage and passenger transport industries.

The DfT is seeking views on options for how the DCPC qualification is maintained and, in the case of returning drivers, regained, taking advantage of the greater autonomy to regulate following Brexit.

Potential measures being considered include: reducing minimum DCPC course lengths; the option of a new periodic test as an alternative to periodic training, which will be delivered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; and an accelerated route for former drivers to return to the sector more easily.

If implemented, reforms will establish a National DCPC for use in Great Britain and possibly Northern Ireland should Northern Ireland ministers agree (as DCPC is a devolved matter).

The existing International DCPC will remain for travel to, from or within the EU, including the Republic of Ireland, and will continue to be recognised for journeys within the UK.

You can read and respond to the consultation here. The closing date for responses is 11:45pm on Thursday, 27 April.