Bus & Coach EU Training Directive The EU Training Directive
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| The EU Training Directive |
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What is it?The EU Directive makes it compulsory for drivers of lorries, buses, coaches and minibuses (when being used for hire and reward) to hold not only a driving licence but also a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for drivers. This will be obtained by completing an initial qualification or through periodic training. This CPC for drivers is not the same as the CPC that is required for operators. New drivers will obtain the CPC for drivers through achievement of an initial qualification and existing drivers will acquire it through periodic training. When does it start?The Directive becomes law on 10 September 2006 but will not be enacted until 10 September 2008 for bus and coach and a year later for lorries. Existing drivers will have 5 years from September 2008 to complete the periodic training necessary to qualify for the driver's CPC. Who is exempt?Drivers not driving for hire or reward, and those running the community bus permit scheme i.e. the majority of Community Transport. The syllabus has to be delivered in 7 hour sessions and total 35 hours in 5 years. The sessions can be split into one 7 hour session every year, but a proposal to split the 7 hours into 3 to 4 hour modules has not been excepted ( except possibly as 7 hours within a 24 hour period, which does not help operators trying to complete the training ‘between the school peaks'Training can be solely theoretical and classroom based or can include practical sessions such as assessed drives and other practical issues such as driver walkround safety checks and manual handling, loading suitcases onto a coach. Key IssuesEU TRAINING DIRECTIVE - RETRAINING ELEMENT - KEY ISSUES Note- this document does not cover the initial training aspects of the proposed regulations. A new training board is proposed, called the Joint Training Approval Body, administered by both ‘Skills for logistics' (trucks) and ‘Go-Skills' (bus & coach). This will oversee the introduction and implementation of the directive, vet initial applications, set up data bases, record trainers and providers, record courses, record driver training progress and audit provider performance. Implementation periodBy 2013 for bus and coach, but if spread over 5 years needs to commence in 2008 ( from 10th September 2008 as no training before this date counts!). There is some talk of a ‘phasing' of the introduction to coincide with licence expiry of over 45 year old drivers from September 20011. This will entail such drivers completing all their training early - a further complication! Driver qualification cardThe driver CPC will be shown either on the driver's licence as a code 89 or on a separate CPC card, similar to the haz-chem permit system. TrainersNo final ‘rules' agreed - likely to be some concession of ‘grandfather rights', but directive states that trainers must have ‘teaching qualification'. Some formal training or accreditation is likely for ‘new' trainers in the future and there is also a proposal to introduce another type of CPC for Driving Instructors. Training PremisesThese have to be ‘licensed' as a training centre, although most training rooms would probably suffice. Upstairs rooms of pubs are unlikely to qualify! Training recordsThese will be kept both in ‘hard copy' and electronically. The hard copy needs to show ‘traceability' of training given (course work etc), whilst the electronic version is a way ensuring records can be transferred if drivers change employer. Drivers may loose certificates etc and the electronic version will be easier to manage for the Joint Training Approval Body, the DSA and DVLA. AuditsThere will be an inspection of premises every five years - it is proposed to renew most aspects of training ( premises, the trainer and the courses) every 5 years. EU Retraining Directive - SyllabusThe syllabus is described below, based on the directive, but put into ‘plain English'. There is a consultation process being carried out by Skills for Logistics and ‘Go-Skills' on what the industry would like to see included. It has to be remembered that the qualification covers all types of PCV drivers. However, quite how relevant some drivers will see certain aspects of the retraining will be rather subjective- is the Immigration and Asylum Act an appropriate subject for a local service driver? There might be some discretion to omit subjects that can't be considered relevant. However, it has to emphasised that the retraining is for the class of licence, not the actual type of work being carried out! Syllabus1 Driving
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