EU Regulation Applies to Freight Truck Haulage and Bus Drivers Alike

UK – IRELAND – News today that FTA Ireland (FTAI), associate of the UK Freight Transport Association (FTA), has been officially approved by the Road Safety Authority to deliver Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training in Ireland. The Driver CPC was introduced across the EU in 2008 for professional bus drivers and in 2009 for professional truck drivers to set and maintain high standards of road safety, health and safety and driving among haulage professionals.

EU requirements to complete driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training must be implemented by all freight haulage operators by the September 2014 deadline. Drivers must undergo 35 hours of Driver CPC training over a five year period, on a one-day-per-year basis. With the deadline for this year’s CPC training of the 9th September fast approaching, Irish companies are being advised to book their training as a matter of urgency by FTAI.

FTA Ireland currently has two training centres registered in Dublin, with plans to go nationwide by January 2012 to meet the needs of the association’s growing membership base in Ireland. In the UK training agency TTC Automotive, of Hadley Park, Telford tell us that take up for courses has been slow for the mandatory Driver CPC qualification. Director Simon Baugh told how the reduction of company training budgets was having a serious effect and that drivers should look to arrange their own qualification under the scheme saying:

“Drivers of buses and coaches have until 2013 and HGV drivers until 2014 to complete 35 hours of training or they will not be allowed to drive professionally and could lose their livelihood.”

With the fear that training may be in short supply and that the cost of courses many increase as the deadline draws closer TTC Automotive has launched a Driver Commitment initiative where training prices will remain fixed if drivers book now for future training programmes with costs able to be spread over a length of time.

Jill Lewis, Director of Driver Education and Learning at the Driving Standards Agency has emphasised that time is running out commenting:

“It’s really important for drivers to start organising the periodic training they need to complete their Driver CPC sooner rather than later in their five year cycle. If they leave it late, they run the serious risk of not being able to become qualified in time.”

Irish drivers who wish to obtain further details should call Aidan Flynn at the FTAI on 087 3546954 (mobile) or 01 8220040 (office), or email aflynn@ftai.ie  UK drivers who wish to learn more about TTC Automotive can call 033 3800 0222 or email: driver.training@ttcautomotive.co.uk