In September 2013, the CPC (Certificate of Professional Competency) came into effect for drivers of vehicles with passenger seats of nine or more, for journeys for hire and reward or commercial gain. Anticipating the impact of the new rules on customers that use minibuses, in particular those in the public sector and charities, Europcar has adjusted its fleet to help these organisations remain compliant.
Europcar has introduced a new vehicle group which is exempt from the CPC rules – comprising a range of vehicles that provide seating for a maximum of eight passengers, and thereby enabling the wide diversity of public sector and charitable organisations that need to move people around to maintain their service. Vehicles in this group include full size MPVs and small minibuses. A separate group has been created including larger vehicles, such as 17-seaters, for which CPC compliance will be required.
Under the new rules, professional drivers including lorry and bus and coach drivers and minibus drivers, must hold a CPC, as well as their driving licence, which is renewable every five years. The CPC aims to improve the knowledge and skills of lorry, bus and coach drivers, to enhance road safety.
‘We know how important it is for public sector organisations and charities to be able to access vehicles to help people in their local communities’, explained Ken McCall, managing director of Europcar UK Group. ‘We were very concerned that the new CPC regulations may limit these services if it wasn’t easy for our customers to select the right size vehicle, particularly where a driver may not have a CPC.
‘We are, therefore, fully committed to maintaining a vehicle group that helps our customers select the right vehicle – and remain compliant.’