Commercial Fleet, the commercial news arm of Fleet News UK, recently sought to educate commercial operators about CPC requirements by publishing information regarding the O-license. This is the licence required by operators in order to legally move goods throughout the UK and, in some cases, Europe. As Commercial Fleet explained, CPC training is not restricted only to the commercial driver; operators need to be trained and certified as well.
There are three kinds of operator licences for companies running vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes. These are:
- Standard International – This licence is for an operator carrying its own goods, or the goods of the customers, in the UK and abroad. The operator and transport manager must both have CPC certification.Standard National
- The Standard National licence is for an operator carrying its own goods in the UK or abroad, or those of customers within the UK only. Again, both the operator and transport manager must be CPC certified.Restricted Licence
- Restricted licence allows an operator to carry its own goods exclusively, and only within the UK. No CPC is required.
Both the International and National licences include not only the CPC requirement, but also that at least one transport manager can demonstrate effective and consistent management of the entire fleet. It goes without saying that ongoing CPC training is part of it. As with drivers, fleet managers and operators must update their training at least once per five-year period. Failing to maintain CPC certification can result in significant fines or bans.
We Offer CPC Training
A certificate of professional competency (CPC) demonstrates that an operator, fleet manager, or driver has the necessary skills and knowledge to perform his or her job safely. While it is new to the UK, it is not new to Europe. CPC training has been the standard in several European countries for years. The good news for UK operators is that the HGV Training Centre offers affordable CPC training throughout the country.
Our CPC training is intended to ensure students are up to date in their knowledge of road safety and legal compliance. We offer individual training for drivers and fleet managers, and company-wide training for fleets of drivers, transport managers, and their operators. All of our training is handled by professionals with all the right skills and experience.
On a similar note, new drivers who attend the HGV Training Centre for the purposes of earning an HGV or PCV licence will undergo CPC training as part of their routine. Upon completion, they will receive a five-year CPC certificate that must be carried with them while working. The certificate needs to be renewed every five years to remain valid.
Renewal is accomplished by taking an additional 35 hours of classroom training through an approved provider such as our own. The training can be taken any time during the fifth year of the holder’s current certificate. The new certificate is good for additional five years.
Sources:
Commercial Fleet – https://www.commercialfleet.org/legal/o-licence/operator-licensing-o-licence
