Driver CPC training has to be completed every five years,for commercial vehicle drivers. For many drivers, doing their 35 hours of Driver CPC may seem like a chore. However, with proper planning and course selection, training can not only be stress free, but drivers can gain satisfaction from their completed courses. To help drivers achieve this, Richard Owen-Hughes from Driver Hire Training gives the following tips on how to make CPC training work for you.

1. Make sure to complete training before the deadline

“Missing the deadline for CPC training has serious consequences for you and your workplace,” warns Richard. “By law, lorry bus and coach drivers must complete 35 hours of training every five years. If this deadline is missed, and you are found to be driving professionally with an expired Driver Qualification Card (DQC), you and the business you work for can both be fined £1000. You can also be prosecuted and be banned from driving, and your job will be at risk. There is no grace period; after the deadline, you cannot drive professionally until after the training is completed, and you may be asked to complete additional training alongside the 35 hours. Make sure your training is complete well before the September deadline this year to avoid these consequences,” advises Richard.

2. Act quickly and don’t leave all the training until the last minute

“Lots of drivers want to do the mandatory 5 days of training all in one go. Inevitably, people found availability limited as spots filled up, and that can affect the cost too. For next time, try to spread out the training over the five-year period, for example, one day per year of training and set yourself reminders to complete training at regular intervals. Good training providers will have courses available to book for several months to come, so it would be a good idea to book your first course for the next cycle as soon as possible.”

3. Choose courses which increase your value to an employer

“There are many different courses which count towards your CPC training hours, which can both remind you of key pieces of information and also teach you new skills. Dedicate some of your training hours to courses which will increase your value to your current or future employer,” says Richard.

“Examples of courses which may help with this goal are customer service focused courses, or fuel efficient driving. Aside from your professionalism and your driving, these are skills which employers will be impressed with, and may help with your career path.”

4. Choose modules you find interesting

“Driver CPC training is mandatory, but a day of training can still be a useful change from the routine and an engaging way to spend some time.. Choose courses which interest you, whether that be new courses you’ve not completed before or courses on topics you don’t know as much about. All courses should be set up in a way to be engaging and insightful, but choosing the right topics for you will help you to enjoy the course, and get the most out of your driver CPC training,” suggests Richard.

5. Do your training online

“If you’ve not done so before, do your training online,” suggests Richard. “Most training is available to do online at a time that suits you, so can be convenient to fit in around your work and personal life. The feedback we receive from delegates about online training is consistently positive – most saying they would not go back to classroom courses. It’s quicker as there is no commute time, easy to book and allows you to connect with drivers from all across the UK. You can do all 35 hours of training from the comfort of your own home, which can make the process less stressful.”