2024 will see a record number of Driver Qualification Cards (DQC) expire in a single year, bringing added training pressure for logistics operators.
Analysis by TTC Group of DVLA data has revealed that almost half a million – some 487,505 – driver Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC) issued in 2019 are set to expire before the end of 2024.
And the group is warning that this will bring additional pressure for the sector and fleet operators, amidst the ongoing driver shortage.
Fleet operators need to take swift action in the coming months to ensure that all drivers meet their 35-hour periodic training requirements before their cards lapse.
Whilst the DVSA advises that drivers should split this out, attending seven hours of periodic training per year over the five years that CPCs are valid for, this was almost impossible to achieve in 2020 and 2021. That’s due to the fallout from Brexit and increased demand for drivers, along with the suspension of in-person training.
As a result, the number of periodic training hours fell to record lows and did not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2022.
Still faced with driver shortages, many transport operators now have the dilemma of having to release drivers over the next 18 months to attend additional periodic training in order to renew their DQC on time.
It’s illegal for drivers who fail to attend 35 hours of periodic training to drive professionally after their DQC expiry date.
James Swaffield, managing director for TTC Group commented: “While the uptake of our periodic training courses remains steady, we are aware that there is a groundswell of drivers who need to complete their training before the end of next year.
“There is a significant business risk for organisations for whom a large number of their drivers’ CPC expires in 2024. Our own customer data shows that 61% of DQC holders currently registered with our Driver Risk Management platform, Continuum, will expire in 2024.”
It’s urging GB drivers to check their CPC periodic training record online via the DVSA and give temporary access to their employer.
TTC Group is also offering weekday and weekend online periodic training courses to help meet the needs of operators and drivers who now require ‘catch-up’ periodic training.
The training spans a range of subjects and is priced at £49.99 per driver (incl. VAT and DVSA registration fees).
