I personally don’t have a problem with the DCPC, no matter how long one has been driving there is always something new to learn.
My only issue with it ( DCPC ) is that the E.U. should have set aside ££££,s to cover the training costs, rather than expecting driver/companies to pay for it out of their own pockets.
I paid £2,500 for my Class 1&2 over 10 yrs ago and certainly have no intention of paying for it again every 5 yrs.
I was made redundant at Christmas and will be looking for work outside of the haulage industry until the DCPC either goes away, or is funded by the E.U., neither of which are likely to happen, so the industry has lost ( IMHO ) a reliable, hard working, conscientious driver.
It doesn’t matter what their feedback is it doesn’t negate the pointlessness of the DCPC compulsory training attendance.
I challenge you to name one topic covered by your classroom based courses that with the will to learn cannot be learned for free without attending a training course.
Totally agree. I’ve followed your comments on dcpc for a while on various threads and don’t have an issue with most of them. BUT, we have the system that is imposed on us - certainly for the time being. That being the case, it’s surely my job to make the day as least painful and enjoyable and educational as possible. We shouldn’t use our dislike of the system as an excuse for poor training.
I’m not going to attempt to defend the current dcpc. I’ve stated dozens of times that it needs revamping. My only point in this thread is that not all training is a waste of a day and I’ve offered to demonstrate that.
If that was directed at me then I would say … scrap the periodic but keep the initial mod 4 as is but change mod 2 to a test on the regs
So many are not gaining from blanket type training it makes logical sense to scrap it
If the powers really want to check drivers have the required knowledge then set them a test and make compulsory targetted training to those that fail the test that way only those who need it get it and pay for it
I would start the the beginning and ensure that the initial driver training was much more thorough and comprehensive. That would include stage testing to make sure that new drivers have an understanding of vehicle checks, safe loading and drivers’ hours as examples. Clearly there’s plenty more to put on that list. No-one would be except from the full regime of training and testing - regardless of their future occupation. (eg why should someone driving their own 18t horsebox not need to know how to check the vehicle properly?)
I would introduce a regime of periodic testing (a suggestion borrowed from another respected forum user). If the driver fails the test, then training should be available to get him back up to speed. I would ensure that there was a driving assessment included somewhere down the line. I would abolish the periodic training in it’s present form.
In many occupations, mine included, performance is constantly monitored and knowledge updated. Looking at some of the questions asked on the forum it’s clear that the current offering isn’t working.
But, until such time that the powers that be actually take any notice of people in the driving and driver training professions, we’ve got what we’ve got. So we may as well accept that - at least for the time being.
A lot of us dont claim to know everything…if you have experience of differant aspects in haulage …ive done everything from…driver training hgv and psv…to tipper work.conny mixers…fridges…tauts.general etc.the list goes on…i didnt sit in a classroom and pay good money for what i regard as utter rubbish and robbery, i had the learning and advice passed on and got on with the job…make it part of the course as is for new lads with no experience at all…but dont kick people in the balls that have and done the job inside out for yrs…as ive said how many do you think if it were free ! would waste there time and in there own time at a weekend take it on…not many i would guess, as a company or training body why not put forward the critisism its getting…that wont happen will it ? because it does make money and if it didnt it wouldnt get a second chance …so therefore its just another tax , i did consider it but cant justify the cost for one , im not going to pay to listen and not learn and with all the crap that comes with the job these days ill stick with my retirement.
Why can’t we have a certificate that says “5 years service, equal to 7 hours DCPC”, “10 years service, equal to 14 hours DCPC” etc etc. THat way, the bods with 25+ years experience completely side-step the whole thing… I wouldn’t be one of them btw, I’m still on 23 years. I reckon I could live with a single 7 hour module to make up my numbers on say, LBTS and that’s my lot.
The DCPC is supposed to be a vocational qualification - which at present, fails to recognise AT ALL a driver’s years of experience, clean licence, abilities in other areas such as office & computing, and doesn’t even offer bumped-up pay for those who have the full 35 hours credit in hand already!
What a fiddle!
Beats me how all the foreign drivers are going to get the credit in time for a year from now when some of them won’t even have full command of the English on the papers…
At present, I’ve only met drivers with full blue cards who have been sent on the courses by the firm… Perhaps everyone not in full time employment like myself is hanging it out, adamant they won’t be paying for the damned thing themselves!
Done a module yeasterday with Transport Training Services,Dave Holmes and Christine Scott.
The day flew in.Friendly & knowledgeable team and I learned alot.
We’re Pro’s.I think these measures will weed out the idiots
Now we’re even more qualified let’s drive up the rates .
Crawler:
Done a module yeasterday with Transport Training Services,Dave Holmes and Christine Scott.
The day flew in.Friendly & knowledgeable team and I learned alot.
We’re Pro’s.I think these measures will weed out the idiots
Now we’re even more qualified let’s drive up the rates .
Nice review for your first post…
BUT, how will the dcpc weed out the idiots? there is no pass/fail and there is no way it will weed out anything apart from your wallet
For my two-penneth, until there’s a test where you pass or fail its not worth having! Now that would drive rates up, some of the knuckle dragger’s I’ve come across would struggle to write their own name. Thinking about it further, that’s probably why we haven’t got to sit a test, too many drivers would fail and we’d end up with a REAL driver shortage! straps on tin hat
If they did have a pass or fail test, there could well be a lot of drivers fail the test, but that wouldn’t necessarily mean that the ones who failed where not safe to be on the roads as there is a lot of bollox that as a driver you don’t need to know to be able to do the job safely , And 35 hrs every 5 years sat in a class room , is far too long
The drivers hours rules don’t get changed that often and certainly doesn’t take 35hrs to explain the changes, In it’s present form the DCPC is just a government stealth tax on proffesional drivers , A short refresher course each year on the current & new legislation is all that is really needed,
If training is needed in respect of safe loading of different types of goods, such as steel tubing or sheets or other loads that are not palletised then IMO it’s the employers responsibility to make sure drivers are trained (on the job training )
tommy t:
If they did have a pass or fail test, there could well be a lot of drivers fail the test, but that wouldn’t necessarily mean that the ones who failed where not safe to be on the roads as there is a lot of bollox that as a driver you don’t need to know to be able to do the job safely , And 35 hrs every 5 years sat in a class room , is far too long
The drivers hours rules don’t get changed that often and certainly doesn’t take 35hrs to explain the changes, In it’s present form the DCPC is just a government stealth tax on proffesional drivers , A short refresher course each year on the current & new legislation is all that is really needed,
If training is needed in respect of safe loading of different types of goods, such as steel tubing or sheets or other loads that are not palletised then IMO it’s the employers responsibility to make sure drivers are trained (on the job training )
I aggree tommy…same as adr you only get your ticket if you show that you understand whats been told to you and need a percentage for pass or fail…this makes a mockery of it all…any cloth head can sit there nodding his head as if he understands what its about pay his money walk out with a smile and think ah well ive got me card …that says im good to go, people have differant apptitudes and take things in pretty quick others you mite as well not bother ( knock on wood ) hows that possible ? i just dont see it.
Peter Smythe:
Two Trucknetters have taken up my offer - I suggest we wait for their feedback, over which I have no control.
Pete
The feedback would be more interesting if the two said candidates were against the dcpc rather than for it. I’m against it personally (ignoring THE FACT it is primarily a money making/industry creating scheme) because of the amount of time and much varied experience I have in the job, but would maybe agree in principle (although not in it’s present format) with it for new drivers with a timeline of say 3yrs experience to raise driver standards generally which have definitely dropped over the last 10 years or so.
I also ask myself if all this jumping through hoops and b/s legislation is really worth the bother for £7+ an hour .
Oh! and a good idea to raise your co. profile by creating this debate and offering the free sessions
yes, obviously its not compulsory to do the same course 5 times…the point I am making is that you dont need to do each individual module to get the cpc card, so in theory you can sit the same module 5 times and be qualified, makes a mockery of the whole thing! does it not?
Peter Smythe:
Two Trucknetters have taken up my offer - I suggest we wait for their feedback, over which I have no control.
Pete
The feedback would be more interesting if the two said candidates were against the dcpc rather than for it. I’m against it personally (ignoring THE FACT it is primarily a money making/industry creating scheme) because of the amount of time and much varied experience I have in the job, but would maybe agree in principle (although not in it’s present format) with it for new drivers with a timeline of say 3yrs experience to raise driver standards generally which have definitely dropped over the last 10 years or so.
I agree entirely. In my opinion the DCPC is nothing more than state sponsored extortion. All they are doing is selling us back our own credentials to do the job we’ve all been doing. We’re getting nothing for it other than the right to carry on as before. There would be absolutely no difference in principal between the DCPC and if upon my return to Heathrow airport this December my passport was taken from me and sold back to be again by a corrupt official. Its my passport, its always being my passport and will be mine again once I’ve handed over the cash, but without the passport I can’t continue in to my own country.
Another shocking aspect to this farce is just how mis-led so many drivers have now become due to so called professional training providers telling them false truths. In the past two years I’ve had 4 or 5 different drivers swear blind that Vosa will fine you X amount of pounds per turn of the trailer winding leg handle. I’ve had others tell me until they’re red in the face that you are no longer allowed to use a 3+9 split shift etc, all because they were told so on their CPC course! I know this is all nonsense and I’m not even on that side of the Atlantic any more. I’m convinced that a good many of these so called trainers received their 5 minutes of education at the same Tesco waiting room that we all keep reading about on here.
I reckon I could live with a single 7 hour module to make up my numbers on say, LBTS and that’s my lot. 
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