Every professional lorry, bus and coach driver needs a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. For operators, two details matter most: whether the driver's training is up to date, and whether their card is national or international.
1. What Driver CPC is
Driver CPC is the qualification professional HGV and PCV drivers must hold, on top of their driving licence. Once qualified, drivers carry a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) showing the date their qualification runs to. Driving professionally without Driver CPC can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
2. The 35-hour rule
To keep their Driver CPC, drivers must complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. The training must be done in the country where the driver works or normally lives. Drivers can check how many hours they have recorded using the GOV.UK service to check Driver CPC periodic training hours.
3. National and international courses
Periodic training courses are either national or international, and the mix a driver chooses decides what their card allows:
| Driver's 35 hours | Card issued | Can drive professionally in |
|---|---|---|
| International courses only | International Driver CPC | The UK and Europe |
| Any national courses included | National Driver CPC | The UK only |
This is the detail that catches operators out. A driver who has always held a "Driver CPC" may now hold a national card, and cannot take a coach tour or a load into Europe.
4. If a card expires
A driver whose Driver CPC has expired cannot drive professionally until they complete the training needed to return. What they need depends on when they first got their licence. Until then, they cannot be used for professional driving, even for one shift.
5. What operators should check
- The expiry date on the Driver Qualification Card, and that it covers the booking
- Whether the card is national or international, for any work in Europe
- For long placements, the date the next renewal is due
- That the agency has recorded these checks, and can show you
Drivora checks every driver's Driver CPC before placement, including whether it is national or international, and reminds drivers before it expires. See European coach tour drivers and international HGV drivers.
This guide is general information to help operators, not legal advice. The rules change, so always check the current GOV.UK guidance or take professional advice for your own operation.