Dan Punchard:
Does anyone know if the driver of a 3.5 tonner needs a dcpc to tow a trailer ,he pasts his test at 17 in 2003 and took a trailer test at 18 ,he doesn’t have a hgv licence.thanks Dan .
No, he doesn’t need the DCPC for a vehicle unless it category C1 or over which what he’s driving isn’t.
The GVW listed on the vehicle plate determines what category it comes under
On a 2 axle vehicle the plate will show in this order … I have used made up figures
GVW 3500
GTW 6000
Front axle 1800
Rear axle 1800
Both axles when added together will always be more than the GVW to allow for some flexibility when loading
If over 9 seats in total then it will come under a PCV category but if less than 10 seats total then the category depends on the GVW
Vehicle GVW
not more than 3500 = B
more than 3500 but not more than 7500 = C1
more than 7500 = C
If any C1 or C has a trailer on which is more than 750 kgs plated MAM then the +E will be required
For B licence vehicle towing its a little different for licencing laws - if the trailer is over 750 kgs MAM and the vehicle GVW added to the trailer MAM totals more than 3500 then a B+E is required
oops double posting
Thanks,he is 7 tonne gross train weight ,I did my 4 th dcpc today with prompt training,the instructor was a fresh one to me,he said that a 3.5 tonner with trailer would require dcpc,I didn’t think this was correct ,but as the transport manager for the lad in question I thought I’d better check.
Dan Punchard:
Thanks,he is 7 tonne gross train weight ,I did my 4 th dcpc today with prompt training,the instructor was a fresh one to me,he said that a 3.5 tonner with trailer would require dcpc,I didn’t think this was correct ,but as the transport manager for the lad in question I thought I’d better check.
Info from a dcpc trainer with prompttraining.co.uk/about.html - perhaps that is one to avoid …
ROG:
Dan Punchard:
Thanks,he is 7 tonne gross train weight ,I did my 4 th dcpc today with prompt training,the instructor was a fresh one to me,he said that a 3.5 tonner with trailer would require dcpc,I didn’t think this was correct ,but as the transport manager for the lad in question I thought I’d better check.Info from a dcpc trainer with prompttraining.co.uk/about.html - perhaps that is one to avoid …
As has been said…he may need tacho. when towing but DCPC not reqd. unless he ALSO drives bigger vehicles >3.5t GVW.
And if he is also driving vehicles >3.5t GVW then he will need Cat. C1 minimum on his driving licence - again, this was in earlier post. Without this category - he can’t access Periodic DCPC training - even if he wanted to (he’s not eligible).
Dan Punchard:
he is 7 tonne gross train weight
Is there a 3.5 than can tow 3.5 ? - or was that the total of the plated weights?
Canter ,iveco, are 3.5 & 3.5 ,mercs need so many horses and a lower diff to go to 7 tonne train,as mercs vary from 5.5 ,6.3’and 7 tonne train.
Cheers Daz ,yes he uses tacho,we are normaly up to speed on things,as we knew of the olicence ,requirement 3 months before vosa did ( dec 4 th 2011 when the law change came in ),but today just didnt sound right,as you can imagine a young lad 3.5 tonne with trailer 40 plus long he is regular target for vosa ,and running abroad too,so we like to keep things right ,as they don’t get many who are fully compliant with this type of set up.
luv26t:
I have over heard some drivers say the CPC is to be scrapped in 2014 - Is this true ?
My company pay for it - done 14 hrs so far more next week… but classroom - Yawn
Interesting and a refresher day here and there (I passed nearly 6 yrs ago) and maybe somebody with me in the cab (Nights) ok but I am losing overtime and a day in the week.
Have to swap from Nights then day off then onto days the the following day on nights - worn out… Ha
No, it’s staying. They powers that be are pushing for the authorities to accept 3 hours as opposed to 7, they’re saying 7 hours is too long and boring and impacts on the business and driver too much. 3 hours could be incorporated into the working day with less down time. They’re also pushing for the other EU members to fall into line with the UK in the way its delivered, a universal approach is being asked for by our Transport Minister which is going too annoy member states, some of which havn’t got the resources or money to actually set up a system like our JAUPT. They are also asking for EU drivers who havn’t got a DQC after September 2014 to be turned away from our borders (as a suggestion) in an effort to get EU member states to get their acts together. As bad as a lot of people think the DCPC is, along with our government, we (the UK) have to do it, 1. because we can afford it, 2. because we can, and 3. because were the best. If you don’t like it, don’t do it and leave the industry.
fleettraineruk:
luv26t:
I have over heard some drivers say the CPC is to be scrapped in 2014 - Is this true ?
My company pay for it - done 14 hrs so far more next week… but classroom - Yawn
Interesting and a refresher day here and there (I passed nearly 6 yrs ago) and maybe somebody with me in the cab (Nights) ok but I am losing overtime and a day in the week.
Have to swap from Nights then day off then onto days the the following day on nights - worn out… HaNo, it’s staying. They powers that be are pushing for the authorities to accept 3 hours as opposed to 7, they’re saying 7 hours is too long and boring and impacts on the business and driver too much. 3 hours could be incorporated into the working day with less down time. They’re also pushing for the other EU members to fall into line with the UK in the way its delivered, a universal approach is being asked for by our Transport Minister which is going too annoy member states, some of which havn’t got the resources or money to actually set up a system like our JAUPT. They are also asking for EU drivers who havn’t got a DQC after September 2014 to be turned away from our borders (as a suggestion) in an effort to get EU member states to get their acts together. As bad as a lot of people think the DCPC is, along with our government, we (the UK) have to do it, 1. because we can afford it, 2. because we can, and 3. because were the best. If you don’t like it, don’t do it and leave the industry.
What!!! 
if the training in the UK is the best that the whole of Europe can deliver, maybe it should be scrapped.
I can understand the vast majority not liking the idea of this CPC malarkey, and I don’t blame you to be honest, after all alot of you will of already been doing this job for years, maybe even decades and feel that the courses wont benefit you in any way, they probably wont… after all, when the trainer can only drive a car is crazy and isulting in teaching professional drivers what’s what and so on…
If you want to earn money for a living and drive professionally, you must do the course… As a fairly new driver, from my point of view, alot of you have it easy… You only have to do the 35 hours required by September 2014… whereas I had to do the Practical demonstration part of the cpc test, and also do my 35 hours.
As I hold a Bus/Coach licence too aswell as lorry, I had to do it twice over, once for Cat D & C… but I wouldn’t swap it for the world. My CPC is now valid until November 2020, I just have to give up one Saturday (or 7 hours) of my time every year from 2015 onwards, then my card will expire in 2025… Its really not that hard, and for cost issues, you can pick up a CPC course for as little as £49 these days, including the upload fee!
I say get yourself down to an approved centre, have a chill out, interact and have a laugh, after all… its not much time to give away considering all the hours you will be earning professionally… 
ryan worsley:
I can understand the vast majority not liking the idea of this CPC malarkey, and I don’t blame you to be honest, after all alot of you will of already been doing this job for years, maybe even decades and feel that the courses wont benefit you in any way, they probably wont… after all, when the trainer can only drive a car is crazy and isulting in teaching professional drivers what’s what and so on…If you want to earn money for a living and drive professionally, you must do the course… As a fairly new driver, from my point of view, alot of you have it easy… You only have to do the 35 hours required by September 2014… whereas I had to do the Practical demonstration part of the cpc test, and also do my 35 hours.
As I hold a Bus/Coach licence too aswell as lorry, I had to do it twice over, once for Cat D & C… but I wouldn’t swap it for the world. My CPC is now valid until November 2020, I just have to give up one Saturday (or 7 hours) of my time every year from 2015 onwards, then my card will expire in 2025… Its really not that hard, and for cost issues, you can pick up a CPC course for as little as £49 these days, including the upload fee!
I say get yourself down to an approved centre, have a chill out, interact and have a laugh, after all… its not much time to give away considering all the hours you will be earning professionally…
^^^^^ Well said Ryan!!! We (the experienced driver’s) do have it relatively easy - gaining our 35 hours followed by DQC - much more straight-forward than for newcomers & a hell of a lot cheaper. Periodic Training is not exactly hard labour…attend, enjoy & maybe, just maybe learn something or even just ‘network’ with other drivers. A few on two of the courses I did sorted possible job opportunities from fellow LGV Drivers in attendance!!!
I do worry where the new blood such as Ryan are going to appear from - our industry is not exactly appealing to most youngsters - it’s no X Factor!!! It’s very expensive to make yourself only just about possibly employable, providing someone is short-handed or willing to give new drivers a chance!!! And then as we know there are drawbacks with just about every driving job, some more than others!!!
It’s quite funny at the start of a dcpc session as you get the cheque shirt scania brigade who’ve done this and done that ,once the session gets going it turns out their knowledge is some what limited .apolgies if you wear a cheque shirt and drive a scania and actually know your stuff .
I would agree with Ryan 100%, the job is, or can be easy. My reasons for not doing CPC are varied. I’ve got nothing against training or learning, I learn something on here virtually every week & spent 8 years in the army training. My gripe is the way it’s set up & run, I’ve said before that training without testing is pointless. There is no pass/fail so how does the instructor know the students have learned anything? He doesn’t. You can do the same module 5 times, yes I know, why would you, but the point is you can. From the posts on here you can see some of the instructors are less than experienced at driving lgv and are not fully conversant with their subject. It’s an absolutely pointless exercise in seeing if lgv drivers can sit in a class for 35 hours & someone paying someone else for the privilege.
What I like about the CPC equivalent (FIMO/ FCOS)in France is:
All the instructors are experienced in the job, whether it’s a driver talking about hours, a mechanic talking about vehicule mechanics or a gendarme talking about accidents.
All courses are pass/fail, with written exams at the end.
You spend time out on the road, to look at practical ways of economising fuel for instance.
This of course costs money and time with the initial FIMO being 4 weeks long and costing about 1800€. After that every 5 years the FCOS, 35 hours long and done in one hit.
I don’t think I agree with the comment about the UK training being the best. I cannot speak for other european countries, but I think the training I have had in France is of very high quality, interesting and very much worth it.
Like Slackbladder I’m not against training, we can always learn things and it should be a good way to deal with the constant changes in regulations and the way the authorities expect us to carry out the job.
I will be doing my DCPC I like my job and my my boss is paying and its done during work time. But from what I’ve seen so far I’m very unimpressed with the training. It seems to me that instructors are desperately trying to fill in hours, because they have to provide 7 hours blocks, instead of providing a far better but shorter course.
Also can somebody who has been out of the classroom for many years be expected to take in loads on information in a 7 hour block? And why do they need to, there is no test, its a typical UK fudge.
As for it being the best in Europe, it surprised me when I first read it as I’d heard stuff about the French training and I believe other european countries have been doing similar things for many years either as entry level training or continuous training.
If the UK DCPC training industry believe they are the best then its quite obvious that training will not improve as they have thier heads up thier arse. 
I’m thinking the 1,2 & 3 from fleettraineruk are intended as a wind up or a joke, nobody in their right mind could believe that.