The UK parliament has passed amendments to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).

According to the transport trade association Logistics UK, the revisions will ensure road safety is maintained while introducing much-needed flexibility into the training regime that will help retain drivers and ease the process for those returning to the industry.

Logistics UK, Senior Policy Manager - Road Freight Regulation, Chris Yarsley commented: “The revised DCPC still requires 35 hours of training but now that the minimum course length has been reduced from seven hours down to three and a half hours, it will make scheduling training less burdensome for drivers and operators, while ensuring training material is focussed and relevant.”

He added: “Reforming the role of e-learning will increase flexibility for operators and the option to retain full trainer-led periodic courses means that those drivers who are not comfortable with e-learning will still have access to face-to-face training.”

He welcomed the decision that qualified drivers, with a lapsed DCPC, will be able to access an accelerated pathway to return to driving instead of the previous requirement of completing 35 hours of training. “It is, however, critical that any form of ‘return to driving’ module is of the same rigorous standard as other DCPC modules to ensure returning drivers are aware of any changes in safety-critical legislation such as drivers’ hours and load security.”

Chris said that Logistics UK supports the principle of ‘outcome-based learning’ and is ready to work with the Department for Transport and DVSA to help encourage training to include some form of summative assessment at the end of the training module. “However, our members have always been adamant that a periodic ‘pass/fail’ test as an alternative to periodic training is a sure way to exacerbate driver shortages and could see another wave of departures from the sector, which would put the supply chain at risk.”

Photo:  Chris Yarsley.