Driver CPC Update

05 June 2020

The DVSA has announced changes for Driver Qualification Cards (DQC) expiring: (i) between 1 February and 31 August 2020; and (ii) in September 2020.

For DQCs expiring between 1 February and 31 August 2020, DVSA have confirmed that these have automatically been extended for 7 months.  Drivers will not be issued with a new DQC to reflect the extended expiry date but operators should update their monitoring systems accordingly and drivers must continue to carry their existing DQC at all times when driving professionally. All EU countries are required to recognise this extension.

For DQCs expiring in September 2020, the DVSA has withdrawn a previous notice (issued on 31 March 2020), which confirmed that it did not intend to carry out enforcement action against drivers from 1 September to 30 September 2020 if their DQC expired during this period.   This gave these drivers up to 29 extra days to complete the required training – during which time they could continue to drive.

The DVSA has now confirmed that enforcement action will in fact be carried out from September in relation to DQCs expiring after 31 August, as it believes there are now sufficient remote Driver CPC courses available for drivers to complete the periodic training required and renew their DQC before September.

You must therefore ensure that drivers are completing remote Driver CPC courses – which is something they can do whilst furloughed – and that you are conducting appropriate checks of drivers’ DQCs in the run up to September to ensure that any training needs are adequately addressed and that they hold a valid DQC.

For further information, contact the Regulatory team at Backhouse Jones on 01254 828300 or Regulatory@backhouses.co.uk