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Driver CPC Exemption Confusion

Reports have shown that there is mounting confusion over Driver CPC exemptions. Understandably many people are questioning the wording of certain exemptions and are asking for clarification to help them make an informed decision as to whether they need to start moving towards gaining Driver CPC or if they are exempt.

The exemption that is causing the confusion relates to "Incidental Drivers", the exact wording of the exemption with an example is listed below.

Exemption vii
"Carrying material or equipment to be used by that person in the course of his or her work, provided that driving that vehicle does not constitute the drivers principal activity."

Example
"An example of a driver under exemption vii (also known as "incidental driver") would be a brick layer who drives a load of bricks from the builder's yard to the building site and then spends their working day laying bricks. In this case, driving a lorry is incidental to their main occupation."

It is also stated that a driver can move in and out of exemption depending on "the circumstances in which they are driving".

After reviewing the exemptions and examples given, it is OLMC's view that the Driver CPC exemption status of a driver is dependant entirely of the purpose of the journey at hand and the exempt status of the driver can change on a journey to journey basis.

The need for a Driver CPC qualification should be considered before every journey is made. If Driver CPC is needed, then only a driver with the qualification should be driving the vehicle. Exemption on a separate journey does not mean you are exempt at all times.

If it is likely that you will at some point, be in a situation where a Driver CPC qualification is needed, you should probably think about working towards achieving the qualification.

As always, if you have any transport related questions or just want some advice, feel free to give us a ring for a chat - 0113 804 2008.

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Reader Comments

none supplied	anouther load of monnie making game if the small companies dont have enough shoved down the neck
none supplied	its all aload of rubbish i payed over 2k to get my hgv1 and now i need a cpc its just a money making scam for the goverment all it is doing is hitting the small companys and owner drivers
none supplied	anyone tried to contact, dvla/vosa to get a clear answer on exemptions? I have a 100 times if you can get through, all being told is seek independant legal advise. What help is that, if they don't know who does?
John O	Once again its the driver that's being cripple with extra costs from fuel to CPC training,every other turn its just more money.Lower fuel - more wages -- less aggro...........
none supplied	Madness who makes this stuff up? legal advise why should we pay for a clear yes or no answer utter madness!!
ian	30 years experience count for zero get drivers cpc or your out,S C A M
mick	you are proved compitent to drive a truck when you pass your test no need for driver cpc just a money making scam for an already corrupt goverment i cant afford it so will probably surrender my class 1 good old goverment
frank yates	i already hold my CPC but not the new one just introduced, i am also a driver LGV assessor, i hold many training certifictes, and by the time this comes into force 10th Sept 2014 i will only have 4 months left before i officially retire, do i need the new CPC ?, 44 years accident free and nearly 4 million miles
Phil Bond; Transolva	Looking at the comments, you are all missing the point. No.1; it has nothing to do with the Government as such, it's an EU Directive. No.2; all drivers I've met like to think they know everything but how many look at the Highway Code, read information from VOSA, own a Drivers Hours Regulations book? No.3; you may have taken a test but that is on the day; you may and probably haven't been shown how to fill in a tachograph chart properly or how to get the most out of a digital tachograph machine, understand drivers hours rules or the Road Transport Directive (Working Time) regulations? No.4; in the majority of other industries ongoing training is a requirement so why on earth do you think that as truck or even coach drivers that a test taken which for some may been 30 or even 40 years ago that is all you need to do? Overall, I understand drivers are being taken out of their comfort zone and put behind a desk but it's about ongoing development, their are no test's to pass and to make su
Stewart	I think you've got to be mad to drive professionally. The demands of the transport manager are at complete odds with what you are allowed to do legally! And who made up these rules? If you multi-drop you should be exempt from most of the driving regs and only subject to maximum daily and weekly hours worked. I got out, and it was the best thing I've ever done! You're all idiots for carrying on!!!!!