What is Driver CPC?

Driver CPC is a Certificate of Professional Competence for professional bus and truck drivers. Its purpose is to set and maintain high standards of safety and driving among drivers of trucks and buses.

Driver CPC was introduced in Ireland on the 10th September 2008 for bus drivers and the 10th September 2009 for truck drivers. From these dates on, professional drivers will need to take part in continuous training of one day per year in an RSA approved Training Centre.

If you are a new driver you will have to undertake the Driver CPC theory and practical driving tests before getting a Driver CPC qualification. If you already have a licence for a bus or truck (D/C licence) you will automatically be entitled to a Driver CPC and will not have to take a test but you will have to maintain your CPC entitlement by attending 1 days training every year.

Transport Managers CPC is completely separate to Driver CPC and is a qualification requirement for all Transport Managers applying for a Road Haulage Operators Licence or a Road Passenger Transport Operators Licence.

The Transport Managers CPC course focuses on national and international requirements for professional competence and involves set up, operating and maintenance of a transport company. The Transport Managers CPC course is provided and overseen by The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), 1 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, and can be contacted at (01) 6763188

Driver CPC focuses on health and safety, Eco driving and road safety and its aim is that all professional drivers have good driving and safety standards and that those standards are maintained throughout the professional driver’s career. The RSA is responsible for the introduction of the Driver CPC.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) introduced Driver CPC in Ireland because a European Union law, Directive 2003/59/EC, says that professional drivers must get better training. At the moment many professional drivers in the EU are working without the benefit of training or the opportunity to regularly refresh their skills.

The RSA has consulted with the transport industry, the general public and other European countries about implementing Driver CPC in Ireland.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) introduced Driver CPC in Ireland because a European Union law, Directive 2003/59/EC, says that professional drivers must get better training. At the moment many professional drivers in the EU are working without the benefit of training or the opportunity to regularly refresh their skills.

The RSA has consulted with the transport industry, the general public and other European countries about implementing Driver CPC in Ireland.

If you want to become a professional bus driver after the 10th September 2008 or a professional truck driver after the 10th September 2009 you will have to do a Driver CPC examination. The examination includes:

two hour multiple choice theory test
two hour case study theory test
90 minute driving test
30 minute practical test

If you wish you can attend training in RSA approved training centres to help you pass your Driver CPC examination.
Once you have completed and passed the four parts of the Driver CPC examination you can apply for a driving licence in that category and a Driver CPC qualification card. You will then have to do one day of periodic training per year over the next five years to maintain your Driver CPC.

You will have to pass all 4 exams to receive your Driver CPC.

Periodic training is training you need to do every year to keep your Driver CPC. All professional drivers must do at least 35 hours training every five years and do at least seven hours a year to keep their Driver CPC. The training is in seven hour blocks which you must do in one day.

The training covers areas such as road safety, environmental driving and issues involving the health and well being of professional drivers. It does not involve a driving test or assessment.

Periodic training will help you improve your knowledge and skills to make sure that you are a driver of the highest professional standard. It will also help you to keep up to date with the changes in the industry and to benefit from training throughout your professional career.

The RSA and a working group consisting of people from the bus and road haulage industries have developed the training. The training headings are listed in the EU Directive. The RSA have approved the training course and the training centres that will deliver the training. Please see appendix 2 for the periodic training syllabus titles.