Driver CPC training

                - exemptions, scope and syllabus

Exemptions

There are a few exempted types of driving of a category D vehicle that allows the driver to avoid either gaining the Driver CPC initial qualification or the 35 hours of periodic training within every five year cycle. They are:

• vehicles with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 27 mph (45 km/h)

• vehicles used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order

• vehicles undergoing road test for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or new or rebuilt vehicles that have not been in service

• vehicles used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions

• vehicles used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC, as provided in Article 6 and Article 8(1) of Directive 2003/59/EC

• vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use

• vehicles carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver's principal activity.

Scope

The Driver CPC applies to passenger transport drivers of vehicles on roads (apart from the above exemptions) open to the public and for which a driving licence in any of the following categories is required:

                                                                                                        D1, D1 + E, D or D + E

All drivers of the above categories who are either:

1. nationals of an EU member state or

2. nationals of a non-EU member state but who are employed or used by an organisation based in an EU member state.

Both the initial qualification and periodic training for Driver CPC are based on the same syllabus.

The syllabus has three main subject areas. These are:

• Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations
• Application of regulations
• Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics

Syllabus 1

Advanced training in rational driving based on safety regulations

1.1 Objective: to know the characteristics of the transmission system in order to make the best possible use of it:

• curves relating to torque, power, and specific consumption of an engine, area of optimum use of revolution counter, gearbox-ratio cover diagrams

1.2 Objective: to know the technical characteristics and operation of the safety controls in order to control the vehicle, minimise wear and tear and prevent disfunctioning:

• specific features of hydraulic vacuum servobrake circuit, limits to the use of brakes and retarder, combined use of brakes and retarder, making better use of speed and gear ratio, making use of vehicle inertia, using ways of slowing down and braking on downhill stretches, action in the event of failure

1.3 Objective: ability to optimise fuel consumption:

• optimisation of fuel consumption by applying know-how as regards points 1.1 and 1.2

1.5 Objective: ability to ensure passenger comfort and safety:

• adjusting longitudinal and sideways movements, road sharing, position on the road, smooth braking, overhang operation, using specific infrastructures (public areas, dedicated lanes), managing conflicts between safe driving and other roles as a driver, interacting with passengers, the needs of certain groups of passengers (disabled persons, children)

1.6 Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use:

• forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox-ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity;

Syllabus 2

Application of regulations

2.1 Objective: to know the social environment of road transport and the rules governing it:

• maximum working periods specific to the transport industry; principles, application and consequences of Regulations (EEC) No’s 3820/85 (now superceded by (EC) 561/2006) and 3821/85; penalties for failure to use, improper use of and tampering with the tachograph; knowledge of the social environment of road transport: rights and duties of drivers as regards initial qualification and periodic training;

                                                                                    Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E

2.3 Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of passengers:

• carriage of specific groups of passengers, safety equipment on board buses, safety belts, vehicle load;

Syllabus 3

Health, road and environmental safety, service, logistics

3.1 Objective: to make drivers aware of the risks of the road and of accidents at work:

• types of accidents at work in the transport sector, road accident statistics, involvement of lorries/coaches/buses, human, material and financial consequences;

3.2 Objective: ability to prevent originality and trafficking in illegal immigrants:

• general information, implications for drivers, preventive measures, check list, legislation on transport operator liability;

3.3 Objective: ability to prevent physical risks:

• ergonomic principles; movements and postures which pose a risk, physical fitness, handling exercises, personal protection;

3.4 Objective: awareness of the importance of physical and mental ability:

• principles of healthy, balanced eating, effects of alcohol, drugs or any other substance likely to affect behaviour, symptoms, causes, effects of fatigue and stress, fundamental role of the basic work/rest cycle;

3.5 Objective: ability to assess emergency situations:

• behaviour in an emergency situation: assessment of the situation, avoiding complications of an accident, summoning assistance, assisting casualties and giving first aid, reaction in the event of fire, evacuation of occupants of a lorry/bus/coach passengers, ensuring the safety of all passengers, reaction in the event of aggression; basic principles for the drafting of an accident report;

3.6 Objective: ability to adopt behaviour to help enhance the image of the company:

• behaviour of the driver and company image: importance for the company of the standard of service provided by the driver, the roles of the driver, people with whom the driver will be dealing, vehicle maintenance, work organisation, commercial and financial effects of a dispute;

                                                                             Licences D, D+E, D1, D1+E

3.8 Objective: to know the economic environment of the carriage of passengers by road and the organisation of the market:

• carriage of passengers by road in relation to other modes of passenger transport (rail, private car), different activities involving the carriage of passengers by road, crossing borders (international transport), organisation of the main types of companies for the carriage of passengers by road.