Personally, as a new driver who has done the french version of the DCPC (the FIMO) which is 140 hours long I thought it was excellent. I learnt plenty of things that would have perhaps have taken many months of time “on the job” to learn. It was taught by real drivers who had many many years experience behind them, except for the mechanical bit which was taught by a time served mechanic. I was with 14 other drivers all with varying levels of experience and we all learnt from each other as well. 4 weeks of my time well spent. I would thoroughly recommend it to all drivers.
ROG:
shep532:
ROG:
skypilot:
The fact that ADR & HIAB training can count towards the hours is a good moveHang on … we had both of those before the dcpc but now they cost extra just to gain some dcpc hours - where is the extra actual training gain in that?
Then do the ADR or HIAB without the CPC then - no cost increase.
So you agree with me that the only purpose fo the dcpc to be added to those courses is to make money for somebody without any training benefit to the driver ?
If the DCPC was about training those courses would automatically count towards the periodic training, but we all know the DCPC is not about raising skill levels, it’s about making money and nothing more.
ugt:
Love this idea that trainers are ‘minted’. I know many trainers who still drive as well including myself.
Love the idea you defend the financial gain to trainers aspect of it, and ignore my main point about it’s necessity and relevance. 
…
This^^^ many many times! 
robroy:
ugt:
Love this idea that trainers are ‘minted’. I know many trainers who still drive as well including myself.Love the idea you defend the financial gain to trainers aspect of it, and ignore my main point about it’s necessity and relevance.
What’s the point in giving my opinion. It is blatantly obvious some 220 posts later you have one opinion, us ‘minted’ trainers have another opinion and the only thing we can ever agree on is to differ. At the end of the day, drivers who are against it won’t do it, and therefore are choosing not to continue driving after sept 2014. That is their choice and one of the advantages of living in a democracy. The DCPC has many flaws and inconsistencies and trainers ARE trying to tackle the issues. But no doubt, this will be rubbished by some posters, which is fair enough on a forum. So we will both continue to sit on our fences on different sides of the field throwing the occasional ‘insults’ at each other and not getting anywhere. Ever heard of the term ‘treading water’. 
I reckon one of the main issues between drivers and dcpc trainers is the fact that drivers do not want to do or pay for un-necessary training and the trainers are not helping that situation
Drivers have nothing against paying good trainers when they need specific training in something
All sorts of different professions from doctors to domestic gas fitters either currently have to or shortly will have to undergo periodic training or competence testing.
People only started complaining about this long after it was written into law. I wonder why so much hot air is being expended now, when it’s far too late to do anything about it.
GasGas:
All sorts of different professions from doctors to domestic gas fitters either currently have to or shortly will have to undergo periodic training or competence testing.People only started complaining about this long after it was written into law. I wonder why so much hot air is being expended now, when it’s far too late to do anything about it.
I do not know if the UK govt had the option to veto this when it was proposed but if they did have that option and did not use it then a lot of responsibility is on them
If they had no option then only the EU parliament is responsible
Easy way to get rid - leave the EU and change UK law to suit what the UK wants
i’ve already got 21 hours with my adr but i’m loathed to give up any of my own time on a weekend to do the rest. the boss pays for the course but they’re all on a saturday. my weekends off are precious to me to spend time with the family/friends so it’s a catch 22 for me. the only solution i can see is to find some-one who will mark me as being there in return for several beer tokens.
i’m in the durham area just in case.
humbug:
i’ve already got 21 hours with my adr but i’m loathed to give up any of my own time on a weekend to do the rest. the boss pays for the course but they’re all on a saturday. my weekends off are precious to me to spend time with the family/friends so it’s a catch 22 for me. the only solution i can see is to find some-one who will mark me as being there in return for several beer tokens.
i’m in the durham area just in case.
defo +1
ROG:
GasGas:
All sorts of different professions from doctors to domestic gas fitters either currently have to or shortly will have to undergo periodic training or competence testing.People only started complaining about this long after it was written into law. I wonder why so much hot air is being expended now, when it’s far too late to do anything about it.
I do not know if the UK govt had the option to veto this when it was proposed but if they did have that option and did not use it then a lot of responsibility is on them
If they had no option then only the EU parliament is responsible
Easy way to get rid - leave the EU and change UK law to suit what the UK wants
I think that most of the public would support periodic training for gas fitters, doctors, lorry drivers and various other professions where failings in competence impact directly on public safety.They would expect the cost of that training to be born in some way by the price they pay for the service (tax in the case of the NHS, the fees of the gas engineer etc).
Similar training/qualification schemes have been operating in construction for years, and there has been a significant decline in construction industry deaths since the 1970s, when the only qualification you needed for ‘a start’ on a site was to impress the foreman with a suitable pair of dirty work-boots (been there, done that).
Both this Xmas and last we had reported on here deaths of experienced drivers doing routine tasks like dropping trailers or unloading groceries. In the face of real events like this it’s very hard to argue against compulsory periodic training.
The main grouse really is who should pay for it. All the other issues, including complaints about quality, delivery, course content etc stem from the fact that drivers are generally expected to pay for it all themselves, and the consequent ‘rush to the bottom’ on pricing and impact on quality and content.
If you look on the Mercedes-Benz website, there are some brilliant Driver CPC courses, including trailer roll-over etc, which would make anyone a better driver. The problem is with prices north of £500 a day hardly anyone is going to do them.
I don’t work for Merc, or in the training business…just my take on things.
GasGas:
I think that most of the public would support periodic training for gas fitters, doctors, lorry drivers and various other professions where failings in competence impact directly on public safety.
I think you’ll find that neither gas fitters nor doctors have to attend compulsory training sessions, let alone training sessions held in some cases by people who are not themselves qualified to either do the job or teach it.
Anyway who would compare gas fitters and doctors with drivers 
Gas fitters have to do a periodic competence check, and docs are going to have to do the same.
As I say, I think you’d have a job to convince the public that periodic training was a bad thing.
robroy:
If you really think you are on some vocational crusade to make us more professional, why have you not lobbied the powers that be about some of the futility about it in it’s present form, for instance how is it beneficial for me to cover the exact identical sylllabus every session which would render me “Qualified” at the end of them,
How do you know some of us haven’t?
Nurses have to do 35 hours training every 5 years. Sounds familiar
ugt:
Nurses have to do 35 hours training every 5 years. Sounds familiar
Yes! But do the Nurses pay for it out of their own wedge! I don’t think so! HTH 
tachograph:
GasGas:
I think that most of the public would support periodic training for gas fitters, doctors, lorry drivers and various other professions where failings in competence impact directly on public safety.I think you’ll find that neither gas fitters nor doctors have to attend compulsory training sessions, let alone training sessions held in some cases by people who are not themselves qualified to either do the job or teach it.
Anyway who would compare gas fitters and doctors with drivers
how does a crop sprayer grab ya for a comparison? i drive one and have a form of periodic training to do.
i agree with all gasgas has wrote
MOT testers need a refresher every 5 years
GasGas:
Gas fitters have to do a periodic competence check, and docs are going to have to do the same.As I say, I think you’d have a job to convince the public that periodic training was a bad thing.
Sorry mate, but you really have swallowed the official blurb/propoganda/ bull sh… hook, line, and sinker , the more cynical amongst us don’t believe everything we are drip fed, and see the true hidden agenda for what it really is, but fair play to you if you are making a few quid on the side out of it.
robroy:
GasGas:
Gas fitters have to do a periodic competence check, and docs are going to have to do the same.As I say, I think you’d have a job to convince the public that periodic training was a bad thing.
…or maybe it’s just pointless trying to put an opposing point of view to a conspiracy theorist