I can’t for the life of me find out who came up with the idea for cpc. Was it dreamed up by some EU bureaucrats or did the FTA push for it or the DfT or some other Government/Government agency or some combination of the above ? I resent the time/cost/ineffectiveness of it so would like to know who is responsible.
Someone in Brussels…
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) was introduced throughout
the European Union by Directive 2003/59/EC.
The aim of DCPC is to raise the standards
of new drivers and to maintain and enhance the professionalism of existing lorry and bus drivers throughout the European Union, through a continuous update of their capabilities.
How can you ‘update someones capabilities’ if they can fall asleep during the course/module/period of boredom/torture/lesson and still pass?
Do other EU countries subject their drivers to this pointless waste of time?
They call us professional yet pay amatuer rates.
rant over i had a ■■■■ day at work
I suspect we all know how the driver cpc has raised standards!
It was already in use in parts of Europe, the FOCA/FIMO in France and Diploma in Holland. Something had to be done but the government took the cheapest(for them) option. No pass or fail, non of the tuition is controlled or uniform, as long as you can stay awake for 7 hours in a classroom or if you can make a copy of a Ladybird book of Lorries last for a week you become a super trucker. [emoji23]
yourhavingalarf:
Someone in Brussels…The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) was introduced throughout
the European Union by Directive 2003/59/EC.The aim of DCPC is to raise the standards
of new drivers and to maintain and enhance the professionalism of existing lorry and bus drivers throughout the European Union, through a continuous update of their capabilities.How can you ‘update someones capabilities’ if they can fall asleep during the course/module/period of boredom/torture/lesson and still pass?
Do other EU countries subject their drivers to this pointless waste of time?
They call us professional yet pay amatuer rates.
rant over i had a [zb] day at work
Yes and I believe Romania was one of the first to introduce it in the early 2000s.
I think Winseer is the man to answer this… 
As posted it came into force in 2003 as an EU directive. The UK was pretty much the last country to implement it, even the French did before us, and the UK government implemented as near a rubber stamp scheme as they could.
Sadly the government didn’t realise that such training was actually sorely needed.
Conor:
Sadly the government didn’t realise that such training was actually sorely needed.
The problem is that it isn’t training. When I did mine I spent an entire afternoon learning what the driving licence categories are for mopeds, lawn mowers and track laying vehicles steered by their tracks.
Naturally I had forgotten it all by the time I got home, but even if I hadn’t how would this knowledge improve my ability as a truck driver? The instructor had never even driven an HGV.
Conor:
Sadly the government didn’t realise that such training was actually sorely needed.
Absolutely! Can’t believe that there are still some idiots out there who not only believe that a driver can do a maximum of two 15 hours days between weekly rests but also have the sheer audacity to post that as fact and then call anyone who doesn’t understand the regulations an idiot?
Conor:
As posted it came into force in 2003 as an EU directive. The UK was pretty much the last country to implement it, even the French did before us, and the UK government implemented as near a rubber stamp scheme as they could.Sadly the government didn’t realise that such training was actually sorely needed.
It is sorely needed, look at Howdens for example. A chip shop mob whose drivers can’t keep their poverty spec motors on the road and out of fields or drive from A to B without plowing into a railway bridge.
the maoster:
Conor:
Sadly the government didn’t realise that such training was actually sorely needed.Absolutely! Can’t believe that there are still some idiots out there who not only believe that a driver can do a maximum of two 15 hours days between weekly rests but also have the sheer audacity to post that as fact and then call anyone who doesn’t understand the regulations an idiot?
Yes, I seem to recall that despite having received DCPC training, a certain Hull-based member recently insisted that it was illegal to take a reduced weekly rest on two subsequent weekends. How can these muppets be allowed to drive trucks? 
DCPC can be very useful if it is delivered correctly and there are rules in place to try to make sure it is. The main problem is driver attitudes, some like to think they know it all before they go (usually the ones that are totally clueless ) but as I say subjects like drivers hours can be very rewarding if people are prepared to listen and from what I have seen some are not!
Personally I believe the whole process could be far better for drivers if more practical training was available and there was a pass/fail involvement. That would sort out the ones that think they know it all. 
I remember when it was first introduced going to Mercedes-Benz and being given the run-down on the courses they would offer.
Some were really, really interesting…including one with some theoretical on the dynamics of vehicle cornering, followed by a practical session on a closed track with an artic tanker with outriggers so you could experience what happened when a truck was about to roll over and learn how to correct it. And that’s just one example.
Naturally the courses weren’t cheap…and of course no one was prepared to pay for them.
So nearly everyone ended up sitting in classrooms playing with cups of cold coffee and listening to someone read from a script.
Even in this environment, some trainers are really good and engaging. But others clearly struggle either with their grasp of the facts or with their teaching techniques, or both.
Sadly, you usually get what you pay for
albion:
I think Winseer is the man to answer this…
Really, page upon page of internet conspiracy theories, and how every body is to blame, at least reading it will send me to sleep.
GasGas:
I remember when it was first introduced going to Mercedes-Benz and being given the run-down on the courses they would offer.Some were really, really interesting…including one with some theoretical on the dynamics of vehicle cornering, followed by a practical session on a closed track with an artic tanker with outriggers so you could experience what happened when a truck was about to roll over and learn how to correct it. And that’s just one example.
Naturally the courses weren’t cheap…and of course no one was prepared to pay for them.
So nearly everyone ended up sitting in classrooms playing with cups of cold coffee and listening to someone read from a script.
Even in this environment, some trainers are really good and engaging. But others clearly struggle either with their grasp of the facts or with their teaching techniques, or both.
Sadly, you usually get what you pay for
Perhaps if the tutors had practical experience of the subject and were able to answer questions from their own personal knowledge and experiences it might have some value.
The operators CPC was someone reading a script with no ability to answer queries, “I’ll get back to you next week” was the normal response to a question.
I’ve mentioned this before on another thread; about 20 years ago I worked as a recruitment consultant and part of the interview was a simple tacho test. Surprising how “professional” and allegedly highly experienced drivers didn’t even know the basics; particularly if they were coming back into driving after a spell in a non-related job.
Given how rigidly the rules are enforced these days, DCPC is a necessity even if it is a PITA.
May be in years gone by people become lorry drivers because it was something they wanted to do. Today I think a lot do it as a means to an end , it’s just a job and have little interest in it . Coupled with the low wages , people become less bothered. The forces offer hgv licences to leaving personal, I bet a lot take up the offer not because that’s what they want to do but it’s free and it could be a back up if nothing else available.
I personally think it’s a good idea badly implemented. I think it should be harder and I think tested. Most people have regular training yet most lorry drivers sent one decade to another without any at all
I have the Belgian equivalent of the dcpc (code 95).
Harry Monk:
The problem is that it isn’t training. When I did mine I spent an entire afternoon learning what the driving licence categories are for mopeds, lawn mowers and track laying vehicles steered by their tracks.
That’s your fault for choosing a crap provider. The one I paid for had a council snow plough driver doing the adverse weather driving module and a former Paramedic doing the basic first aid module.