Category: HGV Training

1. DSA Test changes for lorries and coaches

   Posted on 1:52am Monday 8th Nov 2010

   Braking exercise change for lorry, coach, bus and trailer tests

   People taking tests to be lorry, bus, coach or car-and-trailer drivers will perform the braking exercise on-road rather than off-road from 1 January 2011, the Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

   Candidates will be asked to perform the braking exercise immediately before the angle start, where the driver is asked to pull away from behind a parked vehicle.

   Mike Penning said:

   "This update to the testing process reflects advances in modern braking technology and allows us to strengthen our assessment of the candidate’s ability to brake safely in real traffic conditions.

   "I have asked the Driving Standards Agency to keep the test under review to see if it is possible to identify any other improvements."

   Currently candidates have to perform reversing, uncoupling (where appropriate) and braking exercises off-road. Only the braking exercise is being moved.

   The new method does not mean any change to the actual content of the test. Other categories of test are unaffected.

2. Lorry driver CPC

   Posted on 12:00am Monday 28th Sep 2009

   The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for lorry drivers came into operation from 10th september 2009. The new qualification involves a practical test to demonstrate vehicle safety knowledge and security as well as a new theory test, which involves case studies to check drivers understanding.
       Current drivers do not need to complete a CPC but ALL drivers from september will need to complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to stay in the industry. The qualification has been developed to raise and maintain the standards of lorry, bus and coach drivers. As a personal view, we can only hope that this principle will one day be applied to drivers of cars and motorbikes as well.