Frequently Asked Questions

Who is SaNaa Global Solutions Ltd?

SaNaa Global Solutions Ltd is a consortium member of NLTC, which has over 25 years' experience offering transport training solutions throughout the UK using their Head Office based in Elsmere port Cheshire, the major base of operations and a leader in the training industry and now being 1 of 13 UK JAUPT Driver CPC Consortium member, SaNaa Global Solutions can offer some of the best Driver CPC Courses targeting both drivers and operators throughout the United Kingdom.

What is the Driver CPC?

In line with the EU Directive 2003/59, the European Union introduced new legislation which incorporates the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). The Driver CPC is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV & PCV drivers throughout their working life.

For PCV Bus and Coach Drivers (driving licence category D1 and above), this new law came into effect from 10th September 2008. For LGV Lorry drivers (driving licence category C1 and above), the law came into effect from 10th September 2009.

The Driver CPC Qualification is split into two parts:

• Initial Driver CPC Qualification
  For more information on the Initial Qualification, click here
• Periodic Driver CPC Training
  For more information on the Periodic Training, click here.

How will the Driver CPC affect me?

An individual’s circumstances will ultimately determine not only how they need to gain the Driver CPC Qualification but also, whether they need to gain the qualification at all.

Initial Driver CPC Qualification

• Existing 'Old' Drivers
  All LGV or PCV licence holders who held their licence before the legislation came into affect (10th September 2009 for LGV and 10th September 2008 for PCV), will obtain 'grandfather' or acquired rights. If you come into this category and obtain the acquired rights, you will not have obtain the Initial Driver CPC Qualification.
  
  NOTE: If you obtained your car licence before 1st January 1997, you automatically received both a D1 licence and a C1 licence. You were therefore a holder of an LGV/PCV licence before the Driver CPC legislation come into effect and also obtain acquired rights.
   
• New Drivers
  Drivers who obtain an LGV or PCV licence after the legislation came into affect (10th September 2009 for LGV and 10th September 2008 for PCV), will have to obtain the Initial Driver CPC Qualification if they wish to drive professionally.

For more information on the Initial Qualification, click here.
 

Periodic Driver CPC Training

• All Professional Drivers
  all drivers (new or existing) who wish to drive professionally must complete a total of 35 hours Periodic Training every 5 years following either their 'acquired rights' or Initial Qualification to keep their Driver CPC valid.
  
  This means that all existing drivers that have obtained 'acquired rights' have 5 years from when the legislation came into effect to complete their 35 hours training.
  
  PCV Deadline = 9th September 2013
  LGV Deadline = 9th September 2014

For more information on the Periodic Training, click here.

Are there any exemptions?

Although generally the Driver CPC Legislation affects all professional LGV and PCV drivers, there are some exemptions to the rulings. These are as follows:

• Vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 45kph.
• Vehicles used by or under the control of the armed forced, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order.
• Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or new/rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service.
• Vehicles used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions.
• Vehicles used in the course of driving lesions for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or Driver CPC.
• Vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods. i.e. Personal Use
• Vehicles used for carrying materials or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, providing that driving the vehicles is not the drivers' principle activity.

What does the Initial Driver CPC involve?

The Initial Driver CPC Qualification is made up of 4 modules, 2 of which are simply the normal theory tests (Test of 100 multiple choice questions & Hazard Perception showing 19 hazard clips) and the standard practical driving test. These are now known as Module 1 and 3 respectively.

The additional Module 2 and 4 are the new Driver CPC Modules which have been added.

Module 2 - Case Studies

Module 2 is another theory based test which is carried out at the current Theory Test Centres that DSA manage.

The Case Studies are designed to suit the profile of the candidate and is screen-based showing diagrams and pictures and simply ask questions about a scenario or situation.

Module 4 - Driver CPC Practical Test

Module 4 is an addition to the practical driving test and is based on 'show me, tell me' questions. A demonstration trolley is also used at time for a candidate to show an examiner how to appropriately strap and ratchet a type of load to a vehicle.

NOTE: Unlike the Periodic Training, the Initial Driver CPC is specific to the type of licence. If you wish to drive an LGV, you will need to sit the LGV Case Studies and pass the LGV Driver CPC Practical Test. Likewise if you wish to drive a PCV Vehicle.

Once you have passed your driving test and both the Driver CPC Module 2 and Module 4, you will receive your new driving licence along with your Driver CPC Qualification Card. This forms part of your driving licence and must be kept with you at all times.

For more information on the Initial Qualification, click here.

What does the Periodic Driver CPC involve?

All drivers (new or existing) who wish to drive professionally must complete a total of 35 hours Periodic Training every 5 years following either their 'acquired rights' or Initial Qualification to keep their Driver CPC valid.

This means that all existing drivers that have obtained 'acquired rights' have 5 years from when the legislation came into effect to complete their 35 hours training.

LGV Deadline = 9th September 2014
PCV Deadline = 9th September 2013

So what training counts?

Basically, any training covering any particular topic can count towards the Driver CPC provided the training is carried out by a JAUPT (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training) approved training centre and is a JAUPT approved course. JAUPT is the governing body which manages the approval process.

All training must be carried out in 7 hour blocks. Once each course is completed, the approved training provider uploads your driver information onto the Driver CPC National Database. This then means that DSA (Driving Standards Agency) have a record of your training.

In the case of drivers that have obtained acquired rights, once you have completed the full 35 hours Periodic Driver CPC Training, you will then be sent a Drivers Qualification Card, same as what 'new' drivers receive when they passed their Initial Driver CPC Qualification.

For more information on the Periodic Training, click here.
For a full list of our Approved Courses, click here.

I hold an Operator CPC to be a Transport Manager. Do I still need to do any training?

Without a shadow of a doubt, there is definitely confusion within the industry which has been caused by the resounding 'CPC' phase.

The Operator CPC (Transport Manager) is a completely separate qualification to the Driver CPC. Any person wishing to drive an LGV/PCV vehicle for professional reasons, whether they are drivers or transport managers, will need to carry out the Periodic Driver CPC Training.

Therefore, if for example you an Owner Driver who has a CPC for your Operators Licence, you will also now need to complete 35 hours Periodic Driver CPC Training to maintain your ability to driver an LGV/PCV vehicle on a professional basis.

I hold a PCV and LGV licence. Do I need to complete the Periodic Training twice?

The answer is no.

The regulation states the holder of both a PCV and LGV licence only need complete the 35 hours Periodic Driver CPC Training once within the 5 year period.

NOTE: If you were the holder of a PCV and LGV licence before 10th September 2008, then your 5 yearly cycle ends of that of the first deadline. I.e. 9th September 2013.

I am told I should not wait to do my 35 hours training. Why not?

The way the legislation has been laid out means that you can carry out the 35 hours Driver CPC Periodic Training without any yearly restrictions as long as the total amount of hours is completed within 5 years. This means you can do 7 hours a year, 35 hours at the start, 35 hours at the end; however you wish.

However, there are still not enough Approved Driver CPC Centres offering training and still not enough drivers taking the training up. Many drivers and operators are waiting till the last minute which will mean:

• Cost of Driver CPC Course will rise exponentially.
• You will not be able to get in on a course due to volume of drivers and may risk losing your licence if you do not complete the full 35 hours in time.
• You will lose out on a choice of courses which may be more beneficial to you.

SaNaa Global Solutions Ltd. recommends that you carry out 7 hours Driver CPC Training a year to gain the full power of the training in providing continuous improvement of knowledge and skills.

If you are running a bit behind, then we recommend getting up to date.

For dates and for more information on the courses we run, click here.

What if I do not complete 35 hours training within 5 years?

If you do not complete the full 35 hours Periodic Driver CPC Training before the end of the designated 5 year period, you will lose your Driver CPC Qualification and you will no longer be able to drive in a professional capacity.

NOTE: The designated 5 year period is the period in which the Driver CPC Qualification Card is valid or, in the case of drivers who have obtained Acquired Rights, the period from the time the Driver CPC Regulations came into effect and the deadline being 9th September 2013 for PCV licence holders and 9th September 2014 for LGV licence holders.

If after you have lost the Driver CPC Qualification, you wish to gain it back in order to continue driving for professional reasons, you will need to complete the full 35 hours Periodic Driver CPC Training in order to gain a New Driver CPC Qualification card. Your next 5 years (to complete the next 35 hours) will then start from the time you complete the last course.