New Lorry Legislation?

[Luci07]

I was having a conversation about the new laws regarding the requirements for driving horse lorries. I certainly wouldn't contemplate going over 7.5 tonnes (even with a HGV) as all the new requirements seem quite tough BUT I was told that shortly, all lorry drivers with vehicles UNDER 7.5 tonnes would need to sit 6 hours of classroom training/updates per year (this is assuming you have one of the "older" licenses that allow you to trail etc without an additionial test)

Have been trawling on the internet and can't find this... any ideas where to hunt?

 

[Mike007]

There are new regulations implementing,a continuous training scheme for Professional Drivers. It has already been brought in for drivers of passenger vehicles,but will not affect existing HGV drivers for five years. I would guess this is not going to affect you at all.VOSA will tell you all about it.

 

[GeeBee45]

As such the legislation isn't new, it hit the Statute Books a couple of years ago, but only came into force for LGV drivers on 10th September 2009 (and a year earlier for PSV drivers).

Basically the drivers Certificate of Professional Competence (dCPC) puts two extra parts into the initial LGV driving test for new drivers. It also requires existing drivers to undergo periodic training. If you take an LGV (anything with a Maximum Authorised Mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes) test after 10th September 2009 you will have to complete a 'case study' examination. You will also need to complete a 'practical test' which would be something like demonstrating safe loading techniques on a vehicle. You only need to do this 'practical test' if you are going to use your licence commercially, in other words, earn money from its' use. If you are only ever going to be driving your own horses and it's not an 'economic activity,' you can forget about it. If you are driving commercially, then you will need to start the 'periodic training' after you have acquired your licence.

Now, for all the folks who already have C1, C1+E, C or C+E licences and got them prior to 10th September 2009 you have to show 35 hours of approved training over successive 5 year periods. So by 10th September 2014 you have to show 35 hours of approved training has been carried out. There are no exams to pass. If you do not do the training you will still retain your licence, just won't be able to drive commercially. So you could still drive your 26 tonne, 3 axle horse box carrying your own horse to go out for a hack or attend a hunt meet or go to a show, just so long as the activity is not 'commercial.' This is basically covered by one of the exemptions contained within the Regulation, it's; The Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) Regulations 2007; SI 2007/605 if anybody wants to search for it and read it.

Most of us won't be affected by this. However, grooms, trainers, livery yard owners, hunt employees etc may well be if they drive vehicles with a MAM exceeding 3.5 tonnes.

If you have to do the periodic training, the going rate appears to be around £100 per day. I've done a day on drivers hours and tachos and found it quite interesting although a little heavy going at times. You'll find loads of training providers if you type 'drivers CPC' into Google (other search engines available).

Don't confuse this dCPC with the CPC that commercial vehicle operators require when they use LGVs for 'hire & reward' transport of goods. They are two totally different things and having one of them doesn't get you out of the requirement for having the other (if applicable).