Driving Standards Agency's Blog, page 10

Detailed guide: Driver CPC exemptions: examples

Updated: Updated the examples following new exemptions coming into force on 13 November 2013.

About Driver CPC

You must get the Driver CPC initial qualification if you’re new to professional driving and want to drive a lorry, bus or coach.

You’ll have Driver CPC through ‘acquired rights’ if you were already a professional bus or lorry driver before certain dates.

When you don’t need Driver CPC

There are some situations when you don’t need Driver CPC.

This guide sets out examples and tells you if the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) thinks you’d be exempt in those situations. However, this doesn’t carry any legal weight.

Only a court can make a decision on how the rules about Driver CPC are interpreted.

You should get legal advice if you want to rely on one of these exemptions.

Nationals of EU member states or employed by a company based in a member state

You must have Driver CPC if you need a driving licence shown in the table to drive a relevant vehicle.

Type of vehicle
Licence categories

Medium-sized vehicles
C1 and C1+E

Large vehicles
C and C+E

Minibuses
D1 and D1+E

Buses and coaches
D and D+E

This applies if you are either:

a national of any EU country
a national of a country outside the EU, but you work for an organisation that is based in the EU
Driver A

Driver A is a Dutch national and drives a large goods vehicle (LGV) within the EU. They need to have Driver CPC.

Driver B

Driver B is a Turkish national working for an Austrian coach operator and drives within the EU. They need to have Driver CPC.

Driver C

Driver C is a Turkish national working for a Turkish haulage company. Although they often drive into the EU, they don’t need to have Driver CPC.

Driver D

Driver D is a Polish national working for a Russian tour operator. They only drive coaches in Russia, so they don’t need Driver CPC. They will need Driver CPC if their employer starts running tours from Russia into the EU.

Vehicles that aren’t allowed to exceed 45 kilometres per hour

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if the vehicle is not allowed to exceed 45 kilometres per hour (km/h) on any road.

Driver A

Driver A works for a city bus company. Their vehicles are fitted with speed limiters that stop them from exceeding 40 km/h. They still need Driver CPC because although the bus can’t exceed 40 km/h, the law allows them to be driven at more than 45 km/h.

Vehicles being used by or under the control of the armed forces, police, a local authority or fire and rescue authority

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if you’re driving a vehicle that is used by, or is under the control of:

the armed forces
the police
a public fire and rescue service
a public ambulance service
a local authority in an emergency civil protection situation
Driver A

Driver A is employed by the local fire and rescue service. They can drive its vehicles without needing to have Driver CPC. However, if they work on a casual basis for a PCV or LGV operator, they will probably need Driver CPC when carrying out that work.

Vehicles being road tested or new or rebuilt vehicles which haven’t been put into service

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if you are road testing vehicles:

after they’ve been repaired or serviced
for technical development purposes

You also don’t need Driver CPC if the vehicle being driven is either new or rebuilt and has not yet been taxed.

Driver A

Driver A works for a company that manufactures chassis for PCVs. They don’t need to have Driver CPC when they drive the chassis to another location so that a coach body can be built on it.

Driver B

Driver B is employed to drive a car transporter delivering new cars (which have not yet been put into service) to garage forecourts. They need to have Driver CPC as the vehicle they’re driving has been put into service.

Driver C

Driver C delivers newly registered and taxed lorries to customers after they’ve been painted in the customer’s livery. Vehicles count as being ‘put into service’ once they’re taxed, so they will need to have Driver CPC.

Vehicles driven to and from pre-booked appointments at official testing centres

You do not need Driver CPC if you drive vehicles to and from pre-booked appointments at official testing centres. This includes driving vehicles carrying a load that is needed for a laden braking test. A load may not be carried when driving to or from official testing centres in any other circumstances.

Driver A

Driver A is employed as a mechanic by a bus operator. As part of their responsibilities they take empty vehicles that they’ve prepared to the local testing station (or authorised testing facility) for a pre-booked test.

Vehicles being used in emergencies or rescue missions

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if you’re driving a vehicle as part of an official response to a state of emergency or an officially-recognised rescue mission.

Driver A

Driver A is a self-employed LGV driver contracted to deliver goods to local authority road maintenance depots. They need to have Driver CPC for their work. During severe flooding, the government declares a state of emergency. Driver A is instructed by the local council to deliver sandbags to shore up local flood defences and prevent a river from bursting its banks.

Driver A does not need to have Driver CPC while they’re delivering the sandbags as they’re part of an official response to a state of emergency. As they already have Driver CPC, they get no benefit from the exemption.

Driver B

Driver B does not usually drive LGVs as they work in the planning department of the local council, but they’re involved in delivering sandbags during the state of emergency. They will need to hold the correct driving licence entitlement but won’t need Driver CPC as they’re covered by the exemption.

Vehicles being used for driving lessons or driving tests

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if you’re driving a vehicle in order to prepare for or take:

a driving licence acquisition test
Driver CPC tests
Driver A

Driver A is taking driving lessons in a PCV, to prepare for a PCV licence acquisition test. They don’t need to have Driver CPC.

Driver B

Driver B is an LGV driving instructor and sometimes drives a vehicle to show a particular technique to their trainees. They don’t need Driver CPC as this is happening during a driving lesson.

Non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods for personal use

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if you’re driving vehicles carrying goods, materials or passengers on a non-commercial basis (including your own personal use). ‘Non-commercial’ generally means that what you’re doing isn’t intended to generate a profit.

Driver A

Driver A is an LGV driver who has hired a self-drive LGV to move home. They don’t need Driver CPC for this activity because they’re transporting their own goods for personal use.

Driver B

Driver B is an LGV owner operator. They transport a friend’s new boat from the manufacturer to a holiday home on the coast. They do this as a favour and don’t charge a fee. They don’t need Driver CPC to do this because they’re using the vehicle for the non-commercial carriage of goods. They would need to satisfy any enforcement staff that their journey was non-commercial if they were stopped.

Driver C

Driver C drives a minibus under a D1 (101 - Not for Hire or Reward) driving licence, transporting farm labourers around a farm on public roads between fields. They need Driver CPC as it’s not non-commercial carriage of passengers for personal use.

However, Driver C has ‘acquired rights’ so they won’t need to pass the Driver CPC initial qualification. They will need to complete 35 hours of periodic training by 10 September 2013 and every 5 years thereafter.

Vehicles carrying material or equipment to be used in the course of the driver’s work

You don’t need Driver CPC if you’re carrying equipment or material that you’ll use in the course of your work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the main part of your job.

This includes:

trade tools
goods such as building materials or cables to be used by the driver in the course of their work
extra crew like a mechanics mate or any other person needed for the job
Driver A

Driver A is a mobile lorry fitter. They drive a vehicle from one operator’s site to another site where they take their tools from the vehicle to do their main activity of servicing lorries. They do not need Driver CPC. If they use engine diagnostic kit that’s fixed within the vehicle, they would also be covered by the exemption because the vehicle carries material or equipment for their use on site.

Driver B

Driver B is a self-employed bricklayer and drives their lorry to a building site with a load of bricks. They unload the bricks and use them in the construction of a house. They don’t need to have Driver CPC because driving the lorry is not their main activity and they’re carrying materials for their use in the course of bricklaying.

Driver C

Driver C drives a lorry with a generator fixed to the bed of the vehicle. Driving is not their main activity. They drive to road maintenance sites where the generator is used to power site equipment. They do various tasks at the site including monitoring the generator to make sure it’s operating correctly and they provide the site with a power supply. They don’t need to have Driver CPC.

Driver D

Driver D works in the stores department of a company that supplies car parts. Occasionally, they need to drive one of the company’s lorries to deliver parts to retail outlets. Although the driving occupies only a very small amount of their working time, they need to have Driver CPC when making those deliveries because they’re driving a vehicle which is carrying materials for someone else’s use.

Driver E

Driver E is a farmer. On an average of once a month, they transport some of their livestock to a local cattle market for auction. They need to have Driver CPC when doing this, as they’re not carrying materials or equipment for their use in the course of their work –they’re carrying cattle intended for sale.

Driver F

Driver F is a farmer. Twice a month they drive a lorry on public roads around their farm, repairing fences. The vehicle carries the tools and materials they need to make these repairs. They don’t need to have Driver CPC because they’re carrying materials to be used by them in the course of their work repairing fences.

Driver G

Driver G is employed by a farmer as a labourer. Twice a day they drive a minibus under a D1 driving licence, transporting workers from the local town to various fields on the farm. The driving activity takes up a relatively small proportion of their day. The majority of their shift is spent with the other workers picking crops. They need to have Driver CPC because they’re transporting the other labourers – they’re not carrying materials or equipment.

Driver H

Driver H is a farm labourer. Their normal duties include transporting livestock and crops around the farm in a lorry. They need to have Driver CPC when driving on public roads while doing this as they’re carrying goods intended for sale, as opposed to materials or equipment.

Driver I

Driver I is employed as a mobile crane operator. They drive the vehicle with the crane to a building site where they operate the crane helping to build a new factory. They don’t need to have Driver CPC because their main activity is not driving and they’re carrying tools and materials (the crane) to be used in the course of their work.

Driver J

Driver J is employed as a mechanic by a transport company. As part of their responsibilities they drive a lorry containing tools and equipment needed to change wheels at the roadside. They don’t need to have Driver CPC because driving is not their main activity and they’re carrying tools and materials to be used in the course of their work.

Vehicles driven within 50 km of the driver’s base and not carrying passengers or goods

You don’t need to have Driver CPC if you’re not a professional driver but your work includes an incidental element of driving empty lorries, buses and coaches in the local area. You will need to satisfy the following conditions if:

you are driving within 50 km of your base
you’re not carrying passengers or goods
Driver A

Driver A is employed as a mechanic by a local bus company. As part of their responsibilities they move empty buses between depots in the local area. They don’t need to have Driver CPC because driving is not their main activity and they aren’t carrying any passengers.

Driver B

Driver B is the workshop manager for a road haulier. As part of their responsibilities they occasionally provide driving cover, delivering empty trailers to depots across the country. Although driving is not their main activity, they need to have Driver CPC when they’re driving distances more than 50 km from their base.

Driver C

Driver C is employed as a valet (a person who parks and cleans vehicles) by a vehicle hire company and starts work at their employer’s premises. As part of their duties they deliver to and collect from customers in the local area. Because they don’t drive more than 50 km from their employers’ premises, they don’t need to have Driver CPC as long as driving is not their main activity. However, if their duties mainly involve driving vehicles they do need to have Driver CPC.

Driver D

Driver D is a mechanic who occasionally drives lorries as part of their work. The mechanic is exempt from holding a Driver CPC for journeys within a 50 km radius of their ‘driver’s base’. The ‘driver’s base’ is the place they start work on that particular day – it is not restricted to one place.
The mechanic’s period on duty will start when they begin work after at least nine hours off-duty, whether that is at home or at work, or at a customer’s address. That address will continue to be his “driver’s base” until he is off-duty for at least nine hours.

Driver E

Driver E is a bus depot engineer. If they work one day at depot A from 9am until half past midnight, and then returned to start work at a different depot B at 9am the next morning, the exemption would operate within a 50 km radius of the first bus depot A on both days. This is because the 2 periods of duty are separated by less than nine hours off-duty. If however the engineer started work at depot B at 10am (rather than 9am) the next morning, the exemption would operate within a 50 km radius of depot B for the second period of duty, as he would have been off-duty for more than 9 hours before coming on duty at depot B.

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Published on May 07, 2013 07:02

Detailed guide: New 'laden testing' rules for driving test vehicles

Updated: Updated the rules to make it clear that they have now come into effect.

About the rules

The Driving Standards Agency introduced a real total mass requirement for vehicles used for driving tests from 15 November 2013.

This means that vehicles must carry a minimum weight in order to be used for the driving test.

Your test will be cancelled and you can lose your fee if your vehicle doesn’t meet the rules.

Vehicles affected by the rules

The rules will affect vehicles in the categories in the table below.

Vehicle category
Vehicle description

C
Rigid lorry

C+E
Articulated lorry or large lorry and trailer

Trailers affected

The rules will also affect vehicle trailers used in the categories in the table below.

Vehicle category
Vehicle description

B+E
Car and trailer

C1+E
Medium sized goods vehicle and trailer

D1+E
Minibus and trailer

D+E
Bus or coach and trailer

Rules for vehicles

Vehicles used in these categories of tests must have a load as shown in the table.

Vehicle category
Vehicle or trailer affected
Minimum real weight
Minimum load requirement

C
Vehicle
10,000 kg

5 x 1,000 litre IBCs

C+E ‘drawbar’ vehicle
Towing lorry and trailer
10,000 kg for lorry and 5,000 kg for trailer
5 x 1,000 litre IBCs (lorry) and 3 x 1,000 litre IBCs (trailer)

C+E articulated lorry
Semi-trailer
15,000 kg

8 x 1,000 litre IBCs

B+E, C1+E, D1+E and D+E
Trailers
800 kg

600 kg of aggregates or 1 IBC of 1,000 kg or 600 kg capacity when filled with water

Rules about the load

The load requirement is:

bagged aggregates like sand, stone chippings, gravel or any other recycled material packages (but not toxic materials) in sealed transparent bags - the bags must:

all weigh the same
be at least 10 kg

have the weight clearly stamped on them

water, in intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) which are made from semi-transparent moulded plastic usually reinforced with a wire framework

The examiner may need to inspect an IBC used as ‘load’ for the test, so it’s important that they can visually check it has the correct water level.

You can’t use any other type of load.

The load must be secured appropriately onto the vehicle or trailer.

Minimum real weight

The ‘real weight’ is the actual weight of the vehicle and the load combined. This cannot be more than the maximum authorised mass (MAM).

The MAM is the potential weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely. This is also known as gross vehicle weight (GVW) or permissible maximum weight.

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

These rules also apply to vehicles used for Driver CPC practical tests.

Vehicles used for Driver CPC periodic training don’t have to be laden. You can provide periodic training using a laden vehicle if you want to, but you’ll need to follow certain rules.

If you don’t have an operator’s licence

You must use a vehicle that’s loaded according to the specified load requirements if you don’t have an operator’s licence.

If you have an operator’s licence

You don’t need to use a vehicle that’s loaded according to the specified load requirements if you have an operator’s licence. You can use a vehicle carrying its normal load.

Train in laden vehicles

You can provide training using laden vehicles and use them for tests before 15 November 2013 if you want to. This includes training for:

the driving test
the Driver CPC initial qualification
Driver CPC periodic training

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Published on March 08, 2013 06:06

Transparency data: Department for Transport workforce management information

Updated: Workforce management July and August 2013 data released.

Monthly management information on staff numbers and paybill costs in Civil Service departments, their agencies and their executive non-departmental bodies.

Workforce numbers, both payroll and non-payroll (contingent labour, including consultants) information, are provided, split between full-time equivalents and headcount, with payroll staff numbers mapped to standard Civil Service grades. For costs, payroll paybill information is broken down into its component parts specifically salaries, allowances, employers pensions contributions etc. For non-payroll costs, these are split between costs for consultancy and those of other non-payroll workers.

Staffing numbers are as at the last day of the month for the reference month. Cost information is that for the reference month. For baseline 2010 to 2011 returns, staffing numbers are as at 31 March 2011, and paybill costs are for the financial year 2010 to 2011.

It is important to note that:

These figures are not official statistics. They are internal workforce management information published in the interests of transparency.

These figures have not been reconciled centrally with any national statistics authority . Where differences appear between the monthly information and National Statistics, clarifying comments are provided.

The Office of National Statistics quarterly public sector employment survey continues to provide an official headline measure for comparing the overall size of employment in central government organisations with other sectors of the economy at the relevant quarterly reference point.

Given the wide range of organisations covered, caution should be exercised when drawing inferences from the figures and care should be taken when making comparisons between organisations. Users of this management information should refer to any additional commentary and notes where these are provided.

Further information

This data is also available from data.gov.uk

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Published on February 07, 2013 16:00

Consultation outcome: Driving test language support

Updated: Published the response to consultation report.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) wants to know your views on removing the language support given to some driving test candidates.

At the moment, learner drivers and riders can:

take a theory test with a voiceover in 1 of 19 languages, other than English or Welsh
bring an interpreter with them when they take their theory and practical driving tests

DSA wants to know your views on:

options for changing the current level of language support
how much notice should be given before making a change
how best to avoid an increase in unlicensed driving

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Published on February 04, 2013 16:00

Collection: Department for Transport staff surveys

Updated: Added the DfT, DSA and VOSA 2013 result publications to the collection.

Staff surveys take place annually. Results are combined from the central Department for Transport and our agencies and are part of the wider Civil Service People Survey.

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Published on January 30, 2013 16:00

Statistics: Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC): operational statistics

Updated: Published September 2013 statistics.

About these statistics

These statistics aren’t classed as an ‘official statistic’. This means that they are not:

subject to scrutiny and assessment by the UK Statistics Authority

eligible for assessment as ‘National Statistics’ – these are statistics which are certified as compliant with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics

The statistics come from data held by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), and are compiled and published by staff in DSA.

Information you cannot find

If you cannot find the information you need, it may have been:

published in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request

designated as an official statistic

You can send an FOI request if you still cannot find the information you need.

Information that cannot be released

DSA cannot send you information if it is part of an official statistic that has not yet been published. This is because the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008 limits access to official statistics until they are published.

Downloads

These older statistics are available from the The National Archives:

Driver CPC module 4 pass rate (2009 to 2010)
Driver CPC module 4 pass rate (2008 to 2009)

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Published on January 15, 2013 16:00

Detailed guide: Rules for observing driving tests

Updated: Added a warning that candidates will only be able to take their test in English, Welsh or British sign language from 7 April 2014.

Who can observe driving tests

You can:

observe a driving test if you are 16 or over, but you can’t take any part in the test
act as an interpreter, even if you’re an approved driving instructor

Candidates will only be able to take the test in English, Welsh or British sign language from 7 April 2014.

You’re not allowed to record or film driving tests. You can read more about this in the Driving Standards Agency’s policy for filming or recording driving tests.

Before the test starts

Turn your phone off or make sure it’s switched to silent before the test starts.

Vehicle safety questions

You can help the candidate to lift the bonnet if they are struggling, but don’t interfere unnecessarily during the vehicle safety questions.

Where you sit

Sitting behind the candidate is usually the least intrusive position. However, the best position for you is wherever it’s the most comfortable, providing you can sit upright with the seatbelt correctly fitted.

During the test

When the test has started:

you’re allowed to change position to improve the candidate’s visibility during the reverse exercises
don’t prompt the candidate by coughing, or nudging the back of their seat
you can take notes to help the candidate
don’t answer your phone if it’s on silent

The test won’t be stopped if you naturally look left, right and behind you - but try not to put the candidate off.

Enthusiastic nodding and excessive eye contact with the candidate could be seen as a pre-arranged code.

At the end of the test

When the test has finished listen carefully to the feedback so that you can give the candidate more detailed feedback later.

Speak to the test centre manager or follow the complaints procedure if you have genuine concerns about how the test was conducted.

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Published on January 15, 2013 02:00

Transparency data: DfT: spending over £500 on a GPC for 2011 to 2013

Updated: Update for Department for Transport and agencies government procurement spend for March and April 2014.

Government procurement card (GPC) transactions above £500 for the Department for Transport (DfT) and transport agencies.

Department for Transport and transport agencies

Previously released data for Department for Transport and its transport agencies includes:

DfT and agency GPC transactions for January 2013 (CSV, 135KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for December 2012 (CSV, 135KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for November 2012 (CSV, 14KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for October 2012 (CSV, 138KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for September 2012 (CSV, 136KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for August 2012 (CSV, 16KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for July 2012 (CSV, 782KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for June 2012 (CSV, 13KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for May 2012 (CSV, 13KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for April 2012 (CSV, 11KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for March 2012 (CSV, 17KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for February 2012 (CSV, 17KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for January 2012 (CSV, 17KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for December 2011 (CSV, 13KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for November 2011 (CSV, 12KB)

Department for Transport

Previously released data for Department for Transport includes:

DfT GPC transactions for October 2011 (CSV, 4KB)

DfT GPC transactions for September 2011 (CSV, 3KB)

DfT GPC transactions for April to August 2011(CSV, 12KB)

Transport agencies

Previously released data for DfT’s agencies includes:

DVLA data for April to December 2011 (CSV, 1KB)

DSA data for April to October 2011 (CSV, 2KB)

GCDA data for July to October 2011 (CSV, 1KB)

GCDA data for April to June 2011 (CSV, 1KB)

HA data for April to October 2011 (CSV, 4KB)

MCA data for April to October 2011 (CSV, 1KB)

Further information

This data is also available from data.gov.uk

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Published on January 07, 2013 16:00

Transparency data: DfT: government procurement card transactions

Updated: Added August 2013 data.

Government procurement card (GPC) transactions above £500 for the Department for Transport (DfT) and transport agencies.

Department for Transport and transport agencies

Previously released data for Department for Transport and its transport agencies includes:

DfT and agency GPC transactions for January 2013 (CSV, 135KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for December 2012 (CSV, 135KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for November 2012 (CSV, 14KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for October 2012 (CSV, 138KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for September 2012 (CSV, 136KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for August 2012 (CSV, 16KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for July 2012 (CSV, 782KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for June 2012 (CSV, 13KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for May 2012 (CSV, 13KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for April 2012 (CSV, 11KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for March 2012 (CSV, 17KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for February 2012 (CSV, 17KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for January 2012 (CSV, 17KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for December 2011 (CSV, 13KB)

DfT and agency GPC transactions for November 2011 (CSV, 12KB)

Department for Transport

Previously released data for Department for Transport includes:

DfT GPC transactions for October 2011 (CSV, 4KB)

DfT GPC transactions for September 2011 (CSV, 3KB)

DfT GPC transactions for April to August 2011(CSV, 12KB)

Transport agencies

Previously released data for DfT’s agencies includes: