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Before Easter we had the fuel crisis, in my opinion solely caused by the Government and I don't think heard the last of it.
With just the possibility of a fuel tanker driver's strike the country falls apart.
We are only talking about a small group of drivers, yet within the next year (9 September 2012 for PCV drivers and 9 September 2013 for HGV Drivers) there may well be a shortage of all commercial drivers, when the Driver CPC kicks in. If you're totally baffled, read on.
Driver CPC stands for Certificate of Professional Competence. Under legislation, EU Directive 2003/59, it is required by all professional HGV and PCV drivers. Driver CPC is periodic training designed to complement the individual driver's work and be relevant to their every day job. Drivers will get their Driver Qualification Card (DQC) once they have completed their 35 hours of periodic training.
New PCV drivers - If you achieved your vocational licence after 10 September 2008, you are required to undertake a driver CPC course in addition to achieving your vocational license in order to drive professionally.
New HGV drivers - If you achieved your vocational licence after 10 September 2009, you are required to undertake the driver CPC course in addition to achieving your vocational licence in order to drive professionally.
If you had your licence prior to the above dates you do not need to do the initial course, however all professional drivers (new and existing drivers) must complete a total of 35 hours Periodic Training every five years following their 'acquired rights' or Initial Qualification to keep their Driver CPC valid. Existing drivers must complete their Periodic Training by 9th September 2013 (PCV) and 9th September 2014 (HGV).
As an advocate of training I support anything that makes our roads safer, the problem is I am not convinced that will happen. Drivers only have to show they have attended 35 hours of classroom-based training, to make the training profitable for the provider they will need to have sufficient numbers attending but with large numbers will all delegates listen and learn?
The main problem is of course the date- what happens on 10 September 2012 when insufficient PCV drivers have not completed their training? Or even on 10 September 2013 when insufficient HGV drivers have not completed the required 35 hours Periodic Training?
Will the Government send in the army?
I think it's more likely that HGV drivers won't complete the training simply because of the way the haulage industry operates, which comprises lots of small firms with 10 or less vehicles.
Most bosses won't pay for drivers' training until the last minute. It's an attitude of 'why pay now, your driver may not be working for you next year'. Is the Government monitoring this? And if it is, what is it doing about it?
Hopefully the fuel crisis will be long forgotten by September 2013, but will we all be panicking again? Not only because there is no fuel, but there is no food in the shops, no goods in the warehouse, or will we all just ignore the problem until it's too late? My predication for what will happen is that the press will start a panic and the Government will bungle it again.
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