Thinking of doing Operator CPC or the old “O” Licence in the old days!
Any good reading material to look at before going on a course?
But more importantley any good training providers within or around the M25 or further to look at?
Did mine at the local college, in 1992. I think it was one evening a week for about twenty weeks. Having tried to study at home I discovered this was the only way to get it done.
Passed first time and have never used it. One other point if you stay as a driver don’t mention you have one, it doesn’t go down very well.
Fincham:
Did mine at the local college, in 1992. I think it was one evening a week for about twenty weeks. Having tried to study at home I discovered this was the only way to get it done.Passed first time and have never used it. One other point if you stay as a driver don’t mention you have one, it doesn’t go down very well.
I passed the exams first time a couple of years ago.
Worked as a transport manager/coordinator for a year. It broke me working in an office.
So decided to start driving a lot less stress n hassle.
It’s on my cv but I don’t tell anyone iv done it as I haven’t got 20 years haulage experience to back the ticket up with.
Why doesn’t it go down well?
In some cases you are better qualified than your supervisors and it might give them an inferiority complex. In one instance, I was asked when it expired and I replied when I do.
If I ever put it on a job application that was the kiss of death, it seems to be a threat that you might know something about the job.
skypilot:
But more importantley any good training providers within or around the M25 or further to look at?
I did mine with this co who are based in Leatherhead. They have been going years and I was really happy with the course.
eptraining.co.uk/course/cate … erator-cpc
They used to be at Sandown Park Racecourse when I got my home study pack. I found them very helpful but having young children and working long hours made studying difficult.
J Coates run a course in St Albans I believe.
Ian58:
skypilot:
But more importantley any good training providers within or around the M25 or further to look at?I did mine with this co who are based in Leatherhead. They have been going years and I was really happy with the course.
eptraining.co.uk/course/cate … erator-cpc
And me, I did mine via their correspondence course, very good and very helpful…
EP are my normal first place to go as Ed & Sean run a good company.
Did Driver CPC & HIAB through them, just wanted to see what others views were.
skypilot:
EP are my normal first place to go as Ed & Sean run a good company.
Sadly, Ed died in 2013. archive.commercialmotor.com/arti … d-pargeter
Fincham:
In some cases you are better qualified than your supervisors and it might give them an inferiority complex. In one instance, I was asked when it expired and I replied when I do.If I ever put it on a job application that was the kiss of death, it seems to be a threat that you might know something about the job.
Passed mine in 84, have always put it on job applications since ceasing trading.
It has always came up in interviews both here and in Europe, and it has never stopped me getting a job.
Ian58:
skypilot:
EP are my normal first place to go as Ed & Sean run a good company.Sadly, Ed died in 2013. archive.commercialmotor.com/arti … d-pargeter
Oh that is sad. 
a sad loss.
Had Ed for four days of my Drivers CPC in December 2012.
He made it fun and came out with some good stories from his experience in LGV training & life.
Shows how much of the loop i’m out of these days, thats going to change!!!
To answer the question as to why not divulge that you have a CPC, Most TMs have never been on the road and really do feel threatened when drivers with CPCs apply for a job. best keep it to yourself…
I’m currently in a non-driving role out of choice but the company i’m with is a big logistics arm of a major retailer.
Getting Operator CPC would enable me to move more in to transport management & not back in to driving.
Depends how far from the m25 you want to go (personally 2000 miles wouldn’t be far enough 
), but novadata at Braintree are first class with all their training, and well recommended.
yoyo5:
To answer the question as to why not divulge that you have a CPC, Most TMs have never been on the road and really do feel threatened when drivers with CPCs apply for a job. best keep it to yourself…
That is the position I was in, none of the office staff had been on the road and one had failed the CPC.
I didn’t make a big thing about having one I simply did the job by the book and this didn’t meet with their approval.
A lot of drivers inc myself have done their opperator CPC but never use it.
I did both the national and international CPC’s, (when it was 2 separate exams) and tbh unless you intend to head into the office environment I wouldn’t bother doing it, due to the intense level of study and concentration required. I’d advise taking the course 100+ miles from home, booking into a hotel and isolate yourself from the world, this will allow you focus on the task.
I’ve always stated that anyone who does the course will need a brain transplant and a weeks holiday afterwards, as you’ll have burned out the brain you started off with doing it
I have nat and int cpc. I am now on 4 (the max permitted) O-licences as external TM. The TC’s requirement for minimum hours available per week per O-licence prohibit me from continue to work (drive) so I no longer drive. Suits me as I am past retirement and this is a nice home-based job which just demands organization and filing. Two problems arise. What is fair remuneration for the job? As far as I know, there is no association for external TMs which would reduce the vulnerability of isolation.
skypilot:
Thinking of doing Operator CPC or the old “O” Licence in the old days!
Any good reading material to look at before going on a course?
But more importantley any good training providers within or around the M25 or further to look at?
firstly, the Operators CPC is NOT the “O” Licence in the old days, or, even the new days for that matter
you require a Freight CPC to be eligible to gain an operators Licence, if you do not posses a Freight CPC yourself, you may hire in an external Transport Manager with the relevant qualification
when you can get your head around that little fact, then, you may proceed with the Freight CPC course
as for Freight CPC training providers, i did mine last year with the RHA at Peterborough, passed both parts first time
also, the RHA can give a full 35 hours towards the Driver CPC too, which most other training providers can’t
that alone, is worth thinking about 
Wallace based in Wembley. Found them very good.