Regular Update

Latest News Friday 11th November 2021.

In a written statement to Parliament, on the 18th of October 2021, Secretary of State for Transport Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP put forward these radical changes to help alleviate the HGV Driver Shortage.

This included increasing capacity for testing candidate HGV drivers, combined with supporting legislation, which it is hoped aims to relieve the pressure on the haulage industry.

He told the House : "The need to tackle the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver shortage is a top priority for my department and this government is committed to finding solutions to mitigate its effect and take urgent action. With 25 proactive actions taken by my department to resolve the long-term HGV driver shortage in recent weeks, we are already seeing results, with a 300% increase in the number of HGV provisional licence applications. This is a real achievement, but it is important that we continue to build on this success. The haulage sector has been experiencing a chronic shortage of HGV drivers worldwide for some time. In Great Britain, the issue has been further exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, which meant that driver testing had to be suspended for much of 2020, delaying entry to the industry of potential drivers. In addition, there are longer-term issues surrounding attracting and retaining drivers to the industry such as anti-social hours, poor diversity, relatively low pay and poor driver facilities. The Department for Transport (DfT) and other government departments have been working alongside the haulage industry to ensure that we attract, recruit, train and test drivers who want to enter the profession, including increasing capacity for testing candidate drivers through measures taken by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and prioritising licence applications within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Streamlining the HGV driving licence regime is an important step in getting drivers tested and into jobs quickly, relieving the pressure on the haulage industry from the driver shortage. On 10 September 2021, following public consultation, I announced a number of measures to simplify the HGV licencing regime and bring forward legislation that would remove the current staged process for getting an HGV licence in Great Britain.

It will mean that drivers will not need to hold a Category C (rigid lorry) licence before applying for a Category C + E (articulated lorry) licence, removing a stage in the process for those drivers who wish to acquire a category C + E licence. This measure will be addressed through a draft affirmative statutory instrument which is laid before Parliament today (18 October 2021).

This legislation (coming into effect November 15th 2021) will help to make the process from learner to qualified driver quicker by removing certain steps and allow it to respond more rapidly to the acute need for drivers at the heavier end of the vehicle spectrum. High driving standards will be maintained through existing pre-test training and gaining on-road driving experience."

In our new guide (see below) we are aiming to combine these most recent changes with the existing requirements for both new and old drivers to get qualified and stay qualified.

Because the changes relate mainly to the actual driving test and the licence category acquisition we have added the most recent updates to the Module 3 section which is colour coded yellow.

Confused by all the recent changes brought in by the government?

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Latest News Friday 30th July 2021.

DVSA and Training Board are clamping down! Two issues have started to crop up recently...

1. You must not repeat modules you have attended in the last 3 years and

2. Registration Forms and Feedback forms must be returned (via email for online courses) no later than the evening of that days course finishes. (To enable upload the next morning).

Latest News Monday 8th March 2021.

FURTHER UPDATE ON DCPC DELIVERY
(Classroom Courses Back On)

We have just received an update from DVSA (via our training consortium RTITB) confirming Commercial Training Providers can start to deliver in-person Driver CPC periodic training in England from 12th April 2021 (subject to follow all social distancing and Covid-secure safety requirements).

Additionally, in-vehicle Driver CPC periodic training in England will restart from 12th April 2021.

Please note that these dates are subject to restrictions being eased as planned in the Government roadmap.

From 12th April, Driver CPC periodic training can be delivered on site by all employers and training providers, ensuring that the workplace / training facility is Covid-secure.

We anticipate however, that there will continue to be a mix of on-line and in person courses on offer. Especially as it may take a few months for confidence to return and sufficient numbers of drivers coming forward for classroom based courses to make them viable once more.

Restarting of lorry lessons and tests.

DVSA have stated lorry driving lessons and tests will restart on Monday 12 April 2021 if government guidance allows.

Mod 4 CPC Tests

DVSA intend to restart Mod 4 CPC tests, from 29 March, subject to restrictions being lifted as part of step 1 of the government’s roadmap.

Driver CPC training

DVSA have said they intend that in-vehicle and third-party classroom-based Driver CPC training can restart from 12 April 2021.

Test bookings

DVSA have said they will email candidates with tests booked before the proposed restart dates to let them know their test won’t go ahead and it will be automatically rebooked.

Theory tests

DVSA have said they intend for theory tests to restart in England on 12 April 2021. DVSA will email all candidates with theory tests booked before 12 April to ask them to reschedule their test.

If you have any queries at all, please don't hesitate to contact us enquiries@ukdrivercpcnetwork.co.uk or complete our enquiry form click here.

We're waiting to hear from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, who are setting out similar plans to the UK Government and will provide an update as soon as we have the information from them.

FURTHER UPDATE ON DCPC DELIVERY (eLearning)

Under the new rules set down by DVSA for eLearning, each modular course (3.5 hours) would be eligible for 1 hour of eLearning. The eLearning element must be followed by the classroom element (it cannot be completed afterward). On this basis, we are likely soon to offer eLearning to drivers/customers.

In a recent survey in conjuntion with our consortium RTITB we were asked to choose 3 modules to develop further for eLearning. We chose:

How Drivers Can Reduce Fuel Consumption

Reducing Drivers' Hours Rules Infringements

Reducing Digital Tachograph Infringements

FURTHER UPDATE ON DCPC DELIVERY

Latest update on the delivery of DCPC due to Covid 19 Lockdown 3. Details to follow 16:00 pm Thursday 28th January 2021....

We have received an update from RTITB our training consortium via JAUPT confirming that the guidance for Driver CPC periodic training delivery in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been reviewed and updated once again.

Following this update, we can confirm that where possible, trainers like ourselves have been advised that all Driver CPC periodic training should be delivered remotely until restrictions are lifted.

However, where necessary, essential Driver CPC periodic training can be delivered on site by employers who provide periodic training to their own employees using their own trainers on their own site. Employers must make sure their workplace is Covid-secure.

Employers cannot use third-party trainers at their own site or arrange for their employees to be trained at a third-party site. Third-party trainers are encouraged to provide remotely delivered Driver CPC periodic training to drivers. And as such we will continue to do this. Our next full 5 day course is from Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February 2021. Click here to express an interest.

ESSEX LORRY DEATHS - FOUR MEN JAILED FOR KILLING 39 MIGRANTS IN TRAILER

Four men have been jailed for the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. Thirty nine Vietanmese people who died in the back of a trailer as it crossed the North Sea between Zeebrugge and the UK. The migrants died "excruciatingly painful" deaths, after having suffocated in the container en route from the Belgium port to Purfleet in Essex October 2019, a judge said.

Ronan Hughes, 41, and Gheorghe Nica, 43, played "leading roles" in the smuggling conspiracy and were jailed for twenty and twenty seven years respectively.

At the Old Bailey, two other men lorry drivers were also jailed for manslaughter. Eamonn Harrison, 24, who towed the trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before their journey to the UK, was sentenced to eighteen years.

Maurice Robinson, 26, of Newry, County Down, was given thirteen years and four months, having collected the trailer and opened it in the industrial estate in Essex only to find the migrants had already died.

CPC COURSES MOVE ONLINE AGAIN DUE TO LOCKDOWN 3 ACROSS THE UK

Following the latest national lock down, Logistics UK (formerly FTA Freight Trade Association) have met with DVSA to clarify the face-to-face Driver CPC training rules. Please find below information provided to us (via RTITB) by Logistics UK.

Scotland and Wales: face to face Driver CPC training must not take place under any circumstances. It should only be carried out remotely via webinar or video-conferencing software, such as Zoom, Teams etc.

England: every effort must be made to carry out Driver CPC training remotely. If it is impossible to deliver remote Driver CPC training and the training cannot be delayed, employers must determine whether face to face training is 'reasonably necessary' and must be able to defend this position if challenged.

Logistics UK recognise that this advice is not conclusive in all cases and their overall advice is that every effort should be made to conduct training remotely.

CPC COURSES MOVE ONLINE DUE TO LOCKDOWN 2 IN ENGLAND

All training companies in England have been instructed by DVSA that they are no longer allowed to deliver 'face to face' classroom based Driver CPC Courses until at least Wednesday 2nd December 2020.

This means all courses have switched online using technologies such as Zoom to allow drivers needing to stay legal the opportunity to complete hours from home. This latest move seems to have been received well as we have seen quite a strong demand for places on our courses. Click here to register and interest.

Just following on from last weeks update (see below) we thought we would drill down on the lines of work that the recent DVSA review may affect the most, in terms of whether these workers would still need to do DCPC (or not).

* Exemption for drivers of vehicles in certain industries including:-

Agricultural, Horticultural, Forestry Farming or Fishery

This applies to ‘drivers of vehicles used, or hired without a driver, by agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery undertakings for carrying goods as part of their own entrepreneurial activity, except if driving is part of the driver’s principal activity or the driving exceeds a distance set in national law from the base of the undertaking which owns, hires or leases the vehicle.’

Under this exemption, if you are employed by or own an agricultural, horticultural, forestry farming or fishery business, you do not need Driver CPC to transport goods as part of the business’s economic activity, as long as driving is not the driver’s principal activity.

This seems to tie in quite heavily with the next proposal to amend.

* Exemption for drivers of vehicles in rural areas

This directive introduces a new exemption from the requirement to hold a Driver CPC.

This applies when “drivers of vehicles operate in rural areas to supply the driver’s own business, drivers do not offer transport services and Member states consider that the transport is occasional and does not have an impact on road safety.”

The directive notes that:

“due to the different conditions in rural areas within the Union in terms of geography, climate and population density, member states should have discretion in determining whether such driving can be considered to be occasional and whether such an exemption has an impact on road safety.

For example:

on the basis of the type of road
the traffic volume
the presence of vulnerable road users.”

DVSA consider that occasional journeys can be carried out without any impact on road safety. However, they do not consider that a driver would necessarily fall within this exemption if driving on a motorway.

In the main, DVSA have said they intend to use the definition of rural in England and Wales as set out in the ‘2011 Rural Urban Classification Of Output Areas’ published by the Office For National Statistics in August 2013 and in Scotland, an area classified as rural in the ‘Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2016’ published by the Scottish Government in March 2018 to determine whether a driver is operating in a rural area.

In Northern Ireland, the definition of a rural area is set out in ‘Review of the Statistical Classification and Delineation of Settlements March 2015’ (NISRA)
Proposal 3

DVSA intend to incorporate this exemption into UK law and have promised to update their guidance accordingly.


Hazardous Chemicals (ADR) Changes / Combined with DCPC

Changes have also been made to the contribution ADR training can make to Periodic Training hours. 14 hours of ADR training will be recognised as Periodic Training hours, and the course will not need to be approved by JAUPT, nor uploaded to DVSA through the R&E system (more than 14 hours of ADR will still need to be JAUPT approved and uploaded in the usual way)

Drivers will need to contact DVSA directly in order for the 14 hours ADR to be added to their record of Periodic Training – they will need to provide DVSA with evidence of their ADR training.

* Please note the information on this page is our interpretation of the new changes and as such are a generalisation across all industry sectors. For a specific answer relating to your individual circumstances (and how these may change) please contact DVSA direct and / or your commercial vehicle insurance provider for further clarification.



Drivers' hours and tachograph enquiries. Find out more about drivers’ hours and tachographs.

Drivers’ hours and tachographs
enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Call charges apply


Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). Find out more about Driver CPC.

Driver CPC
Twitter or Facebook
cpcre@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 7721
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Call charges apply

BIG CHANGES TO DRIVER CPC! !

On Wednesday 22nd July, the UK saw changes to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) Directive come into effect. Plans were announced to split the usual 7 hours between 2 hours of 'e-Learning' at home before attending the course then completing with a (reduced remaining day) of 5 hours. These changes mean that eLearning is now allowed to be included for up to 2 hours of a 7-hour Periodic Training course. These hours of self-led eLearning can be done either before or during the course, but not after.

For example, a driver could do 2 hours of eLearning at home the day before 5 hours of training in a classroom.

As it stands in the UK, a maximum 10 hours of the required 35 hours, of Periodic Training, can be made up from eLearning (with a maximum limit of 2hrs for each 7hr course).

Our training board RTITB have submitted a request for approval of eLearning and we will keep you posted on feedback from J.A.U.P.T. (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training). and material release dates, processes etc. as soon as they become available.

Also the course itself is being updated. Our training board RTITB (who are the largest consortium in the UK) have confirmed that the new CPC course material for LGV will soon be available. On 11th August we will be able to access the new modules and familiarise ourselves with them. They will replace the old material on the 28th August. The existing material has been refreshed and added new topics have been added to the suit. So we will be updating this section with details of what has changed. Please log on again soon for more details.

As well as that a recent DVSA 'white paper' with further changes has come to the end of it's 3 month review period and these changes will also be implemented soon.

Why was this government intervention to change Driver CPC necessary?

Government intervention was necessary to amend the required domestic legislation due to the UK's exit from the European Union.

To address these shortcomings, EU directive 2003/59/EC was amended by directive (EU) 2018/645 in 2018. These amendments to the EU directive now need to be implemented into UK law and as such the DVSA conducted a consultation recently. The consultation period is now complete and their are now recomendations to change Driver CPC in the following areas:-

• Changes to how ADR is incoroporated into DCPC hours
• Allowing training to be split over 2 days
• Exemption for maintenance personnel driving category D and D1 vehicles
• Non-commercial.

Currently, the CPC directive does not apply to those driving vehicles carrying goods, materials or passengers on a non-commercial basis for personal use. This exemption has been amended to leave out the personal use requirement.The exemption now reads: “This directive shall not apply to the drivers of vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods.”

• Exemption for drivers of vehicles in rural areas
• Exemption for drivers of vehicles in certain industries

This applies to ‘drivers of vehicles used, or hired without a driver, by agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery undertakings for carrying goods as part of their own entrepreneurial activity, except if driving is part of the driver’s principal activity or the driving exceeds a distance set in national law from the base of the undertaking which owns, hires or leases the vehicle.’

Under this exemption, if you are employed by or own an agricultural, horticultural, forestry farming or fishery business, you do not need Driver CPC to transport goods as part of the business’s economic activity, as long as driving is not the driver’s principal activity.

• Enabling certain alternatively-fuelled vehicles to be driven on a category B licence
• Definition of driving as a principal activity
• Enforce driver CPC at the roadside from the electronic record

DVSA are currently seeking stakeholders views on potential amendments to the requirements for evidencing Driver CPC so that a driver might be allowed to demonstrate their compliance by either producing a card (as at present) or by the enforcement officer checking the electronic record.

Please note although DVSA intends to implement these changes they are still in the process of being approved before being implemented.

Please log on again soon for more details. We are aiming to update this page next on Monday 10th August 2020.

* Please note the information on this page is our interpretation of the new changes and as such are a generalisation across all industry sectors. For a specific answer relating to your individual circumstances (and how these may change) please contact DVSA direct and / or your commercial vehicle insurance provider for further clarification.

Drivers' hours and tachograph enquiries. Find out more about drivers’ hours and tachographs.

Drivers’ hours and tachographs
enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Call charges apply

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). Find out more about Driver CPC.

Driver CPC
Twitter or Facebook
cpcre@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 7721
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Call charges apply

more...

It has been announced today that following the decision to cancel DCPC courses "until further notice end" past the initial June 12th 2020 deadline as a workaround solution as been approved by DVSA to allow drivers needing to stay legal to 'attend' their CPC courses via webcam link from home. But we are find number of enquiries are dropping off more...

Wednesday 25th March 2020

DRIVER CPC FROM HOME...

It has been announced today that following the decision to cancel DCPC courses until June 2020 a workaround solution has been approved by DVSA to allow drivers needing to stay legal to 'attend' their CPC courses via webcam link from home.



In what many will see as a surprise move DVSA have approved proposals from both JAUPT (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training and RTITB) to allow DCPC instructors to utilise webinar technology such as 'Zoom' to allow them to deliver periodic DCPC to drivers sat at home.

Click here to view up to the minute updates relating to this story.

Friday 6th December 2019 15:19

BREXIT UPDATE AS ANY CHANGES HAPPEN!

To get the very latest on how Brexit will affect you if you operate in the UK Haulage industry click on the banner above to get it straight from the horses mouth. By clicking this graphic you can load up the very latest advice from the gov.uk website.

By clicking this link you can find out the latest info from the UK Government relating to:
Requirements for UK goods vehicle drivers driving abroad.
Haulage journeys to, in or through the EU and EEA .
Trailer registration.
Driver CPC for lorry drivers.
Driving licences and international driving permits.
Driving licence exchange for UK nationals living in the EU.
Number plates and national identifiers.
Vehicle registration documents.
Vehicle insurance and road traffic accidents.
Driving to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel.

Thursday 12th March 2020

GOVERNMENT RELEASE REPORT ON SMART MOTORWAYS...

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has released has today released a detailed document today announcing several new proposals relating to the country's smart motorway network. Click here for more.

Friday 6th December 2019 15:19

EDDIE STOBART RESCUE PACKAGE APPROVED

Eddie Stobart shareholders have this afternoon approved a rescue plan for the famous haulage company, avoiding a possible collapse.

One of the firm's largest shareholders, DBay Advisors, will facilitate a loan of £55m through high-interest bonds and take control of the well known trucking company.

The company which now has its headquarters at Stretton Green Distribution Park on Langford Way in Cheshire released a statement via its website today.

Wednesday October 23rd 2019 13:01

BODIES OF 39 PEOPLE FOUND IN LORRY IN ESSEX

Bodies of 39 people found in a lorry container in Essex.

Police were called by the ambulance service shortly before 01:40 BST today Wednesday 23rd October 2019 after the grim discovery at Waterglade Industrial Park in Eastern Avenue, Grays in Essex. The lorries driver is reported to be a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland. He has subsequently been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Essex Police said the vehicle travelled from Bulgaria and entered the UK via Holyhead, Anglesey, on Saturday.

Early reports indicate that there are that 38 adults and one teenager have died, the force said. There were no survivors.

At a time when cross border freight is at the forefront of debate because of Brexit this incident highlights the need for a workable solution to frictionless trade whilst at the same time finding workable solutions for the need to check cargo transiting to and from the UK and Europe.

Regarding the 39 Grays deaths, Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills of Essex polic said identifying the victims "remains our number one priority".

Monday October 21st 2019 12:41

GOVERNMENT TRIGGER 'OPERATION YELLOWHAMMER'!

Government minister Michael Gove yesterday triggered ‘Operation Yellowhammer’. This is the governments plans for the event of a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit.

The plans include the impact on road freight between the UK and the continent, in particular the effect on the roads in Kent as lorries make their way to and from Dover for the crossing to Calais.

The vote on Saturday to delay the vote on Boris Johnson’s deal has increased the likelihood of a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit on October 31st in the view of the minister.

The plans include (for the purpose of freight flow and traffic management) planning for exit on Day 1, which is a Thursday rather than a weekend which is not to the UK’s advantage. Plus exit day may coincide with the end of October half term holidays, which vary across the UK.

The French will impose mandatory controls on UK goods on day 1 of ‘No-Deal’, and have already built an infrastructure and IT system capable of managing and processing customs declarations. It has been estimated that on day 1 up to 50-85% of HGV’s traveling the short ferry journey across the Channel Straits will NOT be ready for the new French customs checks. HGV’s could face a delay of between 1.5 and 2 days before being allowed to cross the border.

Government analysis has predicted a lower risk of significant queues at ports outside of Kent which have high volumes of EU traffic.

As well as the movement of trucks many hauliers are keeping an eye on the new tariffs that will be introduced on to the sale of new trucks imported from the EU. Recently the Road Haulage Association reported the Government had announced that it’s cutting the planned 22% tariff to 16% – not 10% as previously reported.

Wednesday May 15th 2019 9:00 am

WATCH DANGEROUS DRIVER MAKE PAYMENT WHILST DRIVING HGV!

Caught recently on the M40 click the image above to view the video.

The silly trucker who was making a mobile card payment was caught by one of the three new HGV "supercabs"

Incredible footage of a lorry driver using a mobile phone to make a credit card payment as he travels along the M40 near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire has been released by Highways England.

The trucker, who was seen holding his credit card and phone in each hand, was among over 3,000 dangerous drivers filmed by three unmarked HGV ‘supercabs’ in the past year to improve safety on England’s high-speed roads.

BREXIT ON HALLOWEEN!

Thursday 11th April 2019 12:10 pm

Latest. The deadline for the UK to leave the European Union has been extended yet again. Now we are set to leave on Thursday 31st October 2019 (Halloween). Whether we leave with (or without) a deal is uncertain, and only the next six months will reveal any implications for UK truckers.

Friday 22nd March 2019 16:60 pm

BREXIT BLOCKADE BY ANGRY TRUCKERS!

Action group BrexitDirectAction are planning 'go slow's' across the country today (Friday 22nd March). Five locations across England have been targeted for protests by the action group including Bodmin services in Cornwall, the A5/M54, Derby/Nottingham, Felixstowe docks and Bay Gateway, Lancaster/Morecambe. This appears to be a dress rehearsal for a much bigger protest on Friday 29th March 2019 (a week from now). However the overnight decision by the EU to extend the time before the UK departs the European Union has raised further doubts as to how much impact these protests will have.

The staunchly pro-Brexit group is claiming they will  ‘bring the country to its knees’ by blocking transport hubs and major ports if the UK does not leave the EU on March 29th 2019.

The group wants to see a “clean Brexit from the EU in accordance with the 2016 EU referendum”.

In a press release published on Twitter by the group, they set out their aims and motives.

"BDA / @ActionBrexitGroup believe that our government should fulfil their manifesto and EU Referendum pledge to exit the EU on 29th March with either an acceptable Withdrawal Agreement, or World Trade Organisation managed exit."

Reaction to the planned protests has been mixed on social media. Many are in full support, but many are cynical claiming that this is exactly the type of disruption the country will face if there is a 'No-Deal Brexit'.

It was also reported in this Wednesday's Daily Express that the group also intended to target the following major roads (in the main protest on Friday March 29th) including the M1, M6, M25, M62, A1, A55, M5, M4, M42, M55, M61, A66, bringing the country to a standstill. They also claimed fishermen and farmers were keen to join in their mass protest. 

Protests are expected to start tonight during the busy Friday teatime rush hour at 5.30pm.

MERCEDES UNVEIL NEW ECONIC TRACTOR UNIT!

Mercedes have unveiled their new Econic tractor unit that is one of the first to comply with Londons new 5 star Euro rating for eco friendly commercial LGVs. Fresh produce supplier Reynolds, were one of the first to take delivery of the low entry tractor unit that will be used for multi drop deliveries across the capital. The vehicle scores five stars on Transport for Londons new 'Direct Vision Standard'. The tractor which is plated at 31 tonnes pulls a Gray & Adams dual temperature tandem trailer with a carrier fridge mounted underneath.

The new Econic tractor unit is based at Reynolds' Waltham Cross national distribution centre replaces a DAF four by two tractor unit.

Monday 11th March 2019

How will this weeks Brexit votes affect the haulage industry?

Details to follow shortly on this news story....

Are We Facing a Massive Driver Shortage?

Details to follow shortly on this news story....

Thursday 28th February 2019

Police Using Unmarked Trucks to Snare Truckers Breaking the Law!

Could HGV's be banned from London?

It has been reported by London's Mayor Sadiq Khan and (TfL Transport for London) that plans are being introduced to ban tens of thousands of LGV's from the capitals roads within the next four years. Back on 30 September 2016 the Mayor announced that he intended to use the world's first Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to improve the safety of all road users, particularly vulnerable road users like cyclists, pedestrians,  and motorcyclists.

Research carried out by Transport for London showed that between 2015 and 2017, HGVs were disproportionately involved in fatal collisions with cyclists (63%) and pedestrians (25%) on the city's streets, despite only making up 4% of the overall miles driven in London.

More details to follow...

Van Stopped by Police 35% overweight!

The Regional Commercial Unit of North West Motorway Police yesterday 15:57 on February 27th 2019 stopped this vehicle. It had been found to have had additional air bags fitted to disguise the 35% overload. The vehicle was subsequently prohibited and on the spot fine issued.

Monday 29th October 2018

Brext Update - How will Brexit affect DCPC?

Well we leave the EU on March 29th 2019.

Then after that nothing changes during the transition period.

The transistion period could even be extended.

Watch this handy video from the BBC.

Update for Tuesday 31st July 2018

Uber puts the brakes on self driving trucks

UK truckers can breathe a collective sigh of relief after the ride-hailing business Uber has closed its self-driving trucks division to concentrate solely on its research with autonomous cars.

Although the division had already completed a delivery of Budweiser beer two years ago in 2016, it's now shutting down as the company focuses on self-driving people transport rather than goods transportation.

Eric Meyhofer, the head of Uber's team developing self-driving technologies, said: "We believe having our entire team's energy and expertise focused on this effort is the best path forward."

Although the research is into developing autonomous vehicles - vehicles that operate completely without human intervention - current trials outside of laboratory settings across the industry have been exclusively semi-autonomous.

Uber suspended its self-driving car tests in March this year after one of the vehicles struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona.

Uber has since conducted a safety review and last week confirmed it would be returning to streets in Pittsburgh, although those cars would, for now, run in "manual mode", meaning a driver would operate the vehicle at all times, and have two safety operators in each car.

The UK government still intends to trial small convoys of partially self-driving lorries that will be tried out on major British roads by the end of this year.

A contract has been awarded to the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to carry out the tests of vehicle "platoons".

Update for Wednesday 25th July 2018

We are keeping an eye on the Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) ahead of a possible truckers #brexitbottleneck after committee man Patrick MacSwinney appeared on Sky News last night as UK exporters fear impending bottlenecks at Channel ports for UK truckers.

Update for Monday 9th July 2018

Update for Monday 26th February 2018

With all the twists and turns we are hearing re Brexit in the news we will continue to update as often as we can when we find out some definite plans from the government that may affect truckers across the UK.

Update for Wednesday 14th February 2018

Update for Monday 12th February 2018

Update for Friday 12th January 2018

Got 7 days of courses in a row coming up! Weekday course Monday to Friday 22nd - 26th at The Industry Centre and Saturday at St Peters Gate in Sunderland then up to Northumberland on the Sunday (28th January!). Always nice though to see Colin and the farmers up at Bellingham. Always does us a good deal on a £100 hamper of organic meat. Stick it all in the freezer and lasts us nearly all year!

Update for Wednesday 13th December 2017

Update for Thursday 12th October 2017

RTITB have updated their Driver CPC course for 2017-18. We are therefore updating the modules from RTITB that we deliver to our drivers. The Monday will still be (possibly the most important) Drivers Hours A & The Professional Driver A. This particular course is designed to help drivers understand the complexities of Drivers' Hours, discussing rest periods, the Working Time Directive, record keeping and enforcement all as relevant now as it will be after we will leave the E.U.  Then on the Tuesday we have Load Safety A & Emergency Actions A. On a Wednesday it's Safe and Economic Driving (Theory) A & On the Road A. Thursday it's Health & Safety A & Tachographs A. And on the Friday a course that suits both drivers and managers Haulage Operations (Compliance & Enforcement) A & Haulage Operations (Road Freight Compliance) A.

And news reaches us today of the Traffic Commissioner suspending the Operators licence of a West Midlands company recently that failed to download vehicle units and produce driver infringement reports. Traffic Commissioner Nick Denton suspended a fabric wholesaler's vehicle operations for four days. He said the company, based in Wednesbury, was slow to react after an audit picked up vehicle and driver compliance issues. One vehicle had operated without a valid MOT, safety inspections were not carried out on time and drivers were reporting defects verbally. The business also hadn't downloaded data from the vehicle units or produced infringement reports. This meant that numerous and repeated offences by one driver in particular were missed and not dealt with. The Traffic Commissioner said this case showed why it is essential for operators to download vehicle unit data.

Wednesday 11th October 2017

UK Industry 3rd Quarter results are out and we will drill down later on how things are looking for the Transport Industry. Each quarter industry watchdog and credit checking specialist Creditsafe produce a report on the state of each sector within the UK economy. Today we have received the latest report. For the Transportation industry here are some key aspects to come out of the most recent findings:

The industry employs an estimated 1,211,012 with the net worth of the sector put at £81,826,362,827 (that's £81.8 Billion). There have been 216 company failures this most recent quarter. Payments to transport companies are worsening with Transport and logistics companies being paid on average 11 days beyond terms. But payments to it's suppliers are stable with transport and logistics companies paying their suppliers on average only 9 days beyond terms. The transport and logistics industry was hit with a total of £2,678,806 of bad debt in the last 3 months. The average amount owed to transport and logistics companies from failed businesses was £9,237.

As for company growth the fastest growing companies were, Firstgroup PLC, Rolls-Royce Total Care Services Limited, RCL Cruises LTD, Abellio Scotrail LTD and Kuehne + Nagel Limited. On the other side of fate the biggest failures of the last quarter were, Searon Logistics Limited, T.T. Express (Oldham) Limited, Toll Prima (UK) Limited, Aldan Transport Limited and finally S Express ( Hendon Central) Limited.

August 23rd 2016

DVSA Out in force.

As they were last month (spotted at Wingate in County Durham on July 5th and 7th) VOSA (now known as DVSA) are expected

to be out in force again on the A19 this month.

Our drivers tell us HM Customs were also at Wolviston on Teesside with alsation dogs looking for illegal imigrants in the back of artics that had been pulled over during early July.

On that note DVSA have just released an interesting document... 'Enforcement booklet - Helping You Stay Safe On Great Britains Roads'. Makes an interesting read. Just click on the PDF icon to download.

August 17th 2016

Cat and Mouse On Wheels!

On the BBC's The One Show on 28th July 2016 Alex Jones and Gyles Brandreth were joined by actor Colin Morgan best known for playing the title character in the BBC fantasy series Merlin, and the lead in The Living and the Dead. After interviewing the Northern Irish actor host Gyles Brandreth led into the next feature by exclaiming "and now from the freaky to the fraudulent!" and the next item went on to feature what it portrayed as 'cat and mouse on wheels'. If you didn't see how DVSA try to track down unscrupulous operators using hi tech devices to overide tachographs you can watch the show (2 minutes in) by clicking here. Seems it's all a bit more sophisticated nowadays than using magnets to nobble tacho's.

The show also featured Peter Hearn Director of Operations at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.  He told viewers how DVSA are constantly trying to keep one step ahead of the people who are trying  to develop some of these devices. Viewers also got an insight in to how images how flashed back to DVSA control rooms using Automatic Number Plate Recognition software, they look for operators who have a track record poor vehicle maintenance, tax dodging or tachograph fraud. It was worrying for other road users to see a plug that makes all the trucks safety features useless. A driver who confessed while the report was being made was fined £580.00 and faced up to paying up to another £1500 for another tachograph. Last year alone 1400 other incidences were recorded where drivers using a similar device were detected. With a fifth of serious accidents on our main roads and motorways down to tiredness the tachograph is key to keeping commercial drivers and other road users safe.

June 27th 2016

Driver CPC After 'BREXIT'

After the population of the United Kingdom voted by 52% in favour of leaving the European Union we have looked at the implications to the haulage industry and in particular Driver CPC.

We have received this statement from R.T.I.T.B.Sunday 26th June 2016 10:12 am

Nothing Changes for Driver CPC Post Brexit

"We have already received calls asking what impact the “leave” vote will have on Driver CPC.

The answer (for the time being) is very simple; it will have absolutely no impact at all. Nothing has changed.

The decision made on 23rd June 2016, is for now, just a representation of public opinion. Article 50 (which starts the process of us leaving the EU) has not yet been invoked and current indications are that this will be delayed until a new Conservative Party leader has been put in place.

Once Article 50 is invoked there will be a period of at least 2 years where there will be no change, whilst we negotiate the terms of the exit and any future trade relationships.

This means that Driver CPC will not change in any way, shape or form until at least late 2018 (just 9 months from the deadline of the next 5 year cycle).

Backhouse Jones (specialists in legal matters for the transport law sector) have stated the following about Driver CPC following the UK’s vote to leave the EU

“Driver CPC obligations are also unlikely to change, this is because, although the regulations were created by the EU, the UK is a signatory of the, snappily titled, European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR) which contains driver CPC obligations. The UK is expected to remain a signatory of AETR as a condition of ongoing trade with the EU. This will be in line with a number of other non EU countries.”

Therefore even after we formally leave the EU in 2-2 ½ years time Driver CPC seems highly unlikely to be “scrapped” given we still wish to trade with EU countries.

Our advice to all goods vehicle operators is very simple; it is business as usual as far as Driver CPC is concerned. We continue to strongly recommend you ensure each of your drivers completes 7 hours Periodic Training each year and you plan to meet the next compliance deadline of September 2019 exactly as you would have on 22nd June 2016."

We have also carried out our own research and found these key points:

A UK vote to leave the EU is unlikely to trigger an overhaul of UK transport legislation, according to transport lawyers.

Woodfines partner Tim Ridyard told Commercialmotor.com: “The Utopian notion that Brexit means all regulation disappears may not accord with reality.”

He added that if the UK joined the likes of Norway in the European Economic Area, post Brexit, it would still be bound by many EU laws.

Ridyard also questioned the wisdom of removing safety laws such as Driver CPC. “Would the UK want to abandon a regime that requires some form of ongoing training for drivers as part of the road safety objective?” he asked.

Aaron and Partners lawyer Tim Culpin echoed this view. “Even if we do come out, I doubt there would be any change to the law in terms of driver-related road safety in this country.”

DWF senior solicitor Joanne Witheford said the UK’s record on rigorously applying EU law made it unlikely it would attempt to unravel them, post-Brexit.

“The UK already takes EU legislation to a much higher degree in terms of implementation. I don’t believe that, if we left the EU, we would take a step back and throw out all that legislation,” she said.

Pragma Law road transport specialist Lucy Whitaker said there is room for improvement on certain laws but said any change could be difficult to see through. “There are several well-intentioned but ill-considered laws I’d change, such as Driver CPC and financial standing, but it’s not up to me, and who knows what the views of those in positions of influence or power are?”

She added: “It’s easy to complain about existing laws, but reaching an agreement about what they should be replaced with is more difficult.”

Transport solicitor Christabel Hallas warned a Brexit could see a loss of valuable regulations such as the requirement on member states to compile a national register of transport operators, which will include a history of infringements.

“This would make it more difficult for our enforcement authorities to monitor the safety of vehicles coming into our country from the EU.

This could mean a rise in the number of foreign-registered vehicles involved in accidents while in the UK,” she argued.

Source Commercial Motor.

Calais Mayor says France should reconsider treaty stopping migrants entering UK via Channel Tunnel

'Le Touquet' treaty means British border guards can check for immigrants illegally stowing away on the French side of the border

The Mayor of Calais has said she wants the French government to consider renegotiating the 'Le Touquet' treaty between the UK and France.

Speaking after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Mayor Natacha Bouchart said that France should consider changing the agreement, which allows British border guards to check for illegal immigrants stowing away on lorries, cars and trains before they head through the Channel Tunnel and onto ferries.

This could mean elements of training incorporated into the Driver CPC could now not only change, but become even more valuable to British drivers who may need the protection of knowing how to deal with what could become an even greater threat to drivers safety and livelihoods.

These photos were supplied to us by an English driver who attended our course last month who is based in the Netherlands and regularly travels between the UK and the continent. Luckily for the driver with the metal post embedded in his windscreen this vehicle is a left hand drive!

With a British exit from the EU might the French now simply "turn a blind eye" to migrants desparate to reach the UK pushing the problem on to our shores (and our brave lorry drivers)?

Future Changes to Driver CPC

So given the changes to way the UK trades with the E.U. and even the possibilty of a second Scottish referendum on Scotland leaving the U.K. it could well mean an increasing need for drivers to be updated with a raft of new changes. Having said that because of the massive task now of implementing 'BREXIT' officials may opt for simply just keeping as many of the laws as possible to allow them more time to make any changes. With the timescale of actual withdrawal coinciding with the next upturn in demand for CPC (prior to the next deadline in September 2019) there may be even more of a bottleneck of drivers requiring a refresh of what the rules actually are.

Therefore we predict that once the dust settles on the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the E.U. there will be whole series of new modules containing the new working regulations that having reached agreement to exit, the UK will then have to adhere to if it is to continue to trade with the E.U.

A key point in our research is the EU will likely to want some form of relationship and market access. Both the In or Out Campaigns wanted a good relationship with the EU and continued trade. But not all EU members have as much to gain from ongoing trade with UK. So the negotiations will be tough and likely be protracted. The 2 year period may be extended....if so real BREXIT could be delayed for some years. Here are some key points that will have to be addressed in any "new CPC".  Operator Licensing including EU1071/2009, Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, the Transport Act 1986, and the Transport Act 2000. If 1972 Act repealed then EU legislation (1071/2009) removed from direct effect within UK. However, the 3 UK Acts will remain UK had O Licensing before EU!

Some aspects of legislation may change, e.g. repute / financial standing requirements. But fundamental obligations and regulatory framework will remain in place. Operator licensing will remain. Driver Licensing EC2006/126 encompasses: Road Traffic Act (1988) Motor Vehicles (Driving Licenses) Regulations 1999 If the 1972 Act is repealed, EU directive would no longer apply. However, its principle obligations have already been incorporated into UK law. These are unlikely to be changed.

So getting back to Driver CPC UK regulations based on EU obligation, so leave EU and on the face of it no driver CPC. But, UK is a signatory of AETR, and would likely remain in that wider agreement as condition of ongoing trade. Driver CPC obligations come with that treaty. Notably, they would be needed for trade with Ireland (and potentially Scotland too).

Tachographs and Drivers’ Hours. Same as Driver CPC. Reg 561/2006 & 651/2014 on face of it will no longer apply But...AETR incorporates both, so no change likely in reality.

It all comes down to the negotiations! And, to trade with the EU, Britain will have to accept regulations that the EU require to create a level playing field.

To summarise Brexit will in reality consist of a fresh set of treaties between UK and EU. Treaty negotiations will be hard fought and very likely take a few years to resolve, little will change in the meantime.The UK will not want to ‘leave’ until free trade is agreed, if possible, because of huge negative economic impact of EU trade restrictions if UK unilaterally departs. Until they are agreed, it is difficult to see what they will mean from an economic view but much of the Transport regulatory structure is more than likely to remain and as such Driver CPC is more than likely here to stay.

Prior to the statement released by RTITB on Sunday 26th June (Nothing Changes for Driver CPC Post Brexit) ahead of the referendum back in February this year we thought we'd get an answer direct from the training board who we rely on to supply us with guidance on how we deliver the training.

Sent: 04 February 2016 12:40
To: Masterdrivercpc
Subject: EU Referendum Query?

Could you give us some guidance please on the upcoming EU Referendum?

With June not far off we are already starting to think a vote for the UK to leave Europe could undermine our business with Driver CPC.

Are we right in thinking that a UK exit would mean the end of the EU Directive on Driver CPC being delivered in the UK?

Then the reply from RTITB:

On 5 Feb 2016, at 15:22, Masterdrivercpc  wrote:

"After much discussion regarding your questions, we have come to the conclusion that -
Driver CPC was written in to the UK law so the UK law would need to change, we don't anticipate this to change quickly, so the current cycle which ends in 2019 should not be affected."

Previously...