Harry Monk:
I don’t think it will go away, but I do think the deadline will be extended or it will be dumbed down. There will be nowhere near enough drivers with the qualification by 2013 and the only other option would seem to be to have food shortages in the shops, which is fairly unthinkable.
Personally I think a better format would be for every driver to have had to sit an 2 hour exam on various aspects of transport. Those who pass gain the qualification, those who fail have to take a course.
That’ll be 2014 for us lot 
There are probably plenty of good ideas to alter the scheme but we are currently stuck with the one we have.
As for a driver shortage … The problem is that the authorities, me, you and anyone else has no idea how many people need the DQC. A lot of licence holders don’t need it.
The views you get on Trucknet are - in my opionion - missleading. Trucknet is a pretty small section of the licence holders. I rarely come across a Trucknet member out there. I also think a lot of the comments on here are just ‘bluster’ and some of those shouting from the rooftops that they won’t do it have actually been on a course or 2 already. I’ve come across a couple of drivers who have booked a DCPC with me but checked nobody else from their place was on it cos they didn’t want their mates to know. You might not want to believe that but it’s fact.
We all know we are losing drivers faster than they are entering the industry - but that isn’t all down to the DCPC. The job is not what it once was. profit margins are 3 - 5% at best in the real world, wages are rediculously low for drivers. I joined the industry at what I call the end of the good days … I saw a couple of years of good growth and good wages seeing where i worked go from 12 trucks to 75 but they are back down below 50 now.
I don’t believe any deadlines will be extended - that’d be the government giving in. Dumbed down? I’ll have that yes. But to what degree? According to the office of The traffic Commissioner initial enforcement will be simple - stop driving now and go get a course, no further action. For those ■■■■■■■■ few refusing to do the DCPC this will see them exit the industry - until they realise they miss driving and go get their DQC. The rest that will be caught are those that simply don’t know about the DCPC (I meet plenty - usually restricted Ops licence owners with a few 7.5tonners and one man bands) and they’ll get a course booked pronto and get back to work.
Whether we agree with it or not the authorities have already started leaning on Operators to sort it out and most will simply because they need their Ops licence to trade. VOSA and the TCs are apparently going to start speaking with Operators and also send letters to every single one. There is going to be a mad rush at some point and it is a proven fact that currently there aren’t enough training providers - courses will become difficult to find but according to official figures over half the number they think need the DCPC have made a start on it and completed ‘some’ training. Numbers attending are increasing. Latest DSA quotes (Motortransport this week) are that everything is just about on schedule.
Once the trade press is full of stories about PSV/PCV Operators being dealt with by VOSA and the TC’s the rest of the haulage world will jump into action by September 2014
I don’t agree 100% with the current scheme and I have written letters, sent emails and spoken to the DSA, JAUPT and even Beverley Bell regarding changes I’d like to see. But i do agree training is needed.
) I notice that you use PayPal. Are Paypal ok to use and do many drivers pay this way?
