What to do when you’ve fallen behind in your periodic CPC

If you’ve suddenly realised that your Driver CPC has expired or is about to expire, try not to panic. You’re not alone, you’re not the first, and there are straightforward steps you can take to get your HGV training back on track with your ongoing professional driving qualifications. 

Life has a way of getting in the way of our best intentions. Whether it’s work pressures, family commitments, health issues, or simply the challenge of finding time for training, many HGV drivers find themselves behind on their periodic CPC requirements. The important thing now is understanding what this means for your driving career and taking action to resolve it.

Understanding driver CPC requirements

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is a legal requirement for all professional HGV drivers in the UK. Every five years, you must complete 35 hours of periodic training to maintain your qualification and keep your Driver Qualification Card (DQC) valid.

This training requirement exists to ensure drivers stay current with:

• Changes in transport legislation
• Vehicle technology developments
• Best practice safety procedures
• Environmental considerations
• Professional driving standards

The 35 hours breaks down to an average of 7 hours per year, which can be completed through various training modules offered by approved providers, like Surrey & Hampshire HGV Training.

Managing your expired CPC

Getting to grips with why you’ve fallen behind is important because it can be really helpful for planning how to prevent it happening again. It’s also worth understanding the implications of an expired CPC. 

Perhaps work demands involving long hours or irregular schedules have made it difficult to find time for training, especially if you’ve changed jobs or taken time out over that 5 year period. You might have experienced challenges, like financial pressures, health issues, or access to training courses. Or it might simply be a case of time flying, with the 5 year cycle catching you off guard. 

If your Driver CPC has expired, the legal position is clear – you cannot drive professionally until you complete the required training. The consequences are pretty serious:

• Legal Penalties: Driving professionally with an expired CPC can result in fines of up to £1,000
• Employment Impact: Employers cannot legally allow you to drive commercial vehicles
• Insurance Issues: Your professional driving insurance may be invalid
• Career Disruption: Loss of income and potential difficulty finding new positions

However, there’s an important point many drivers don’t realise. Any training you’ve completed within the last five years still counts towards your total, even if you’ve passed your deadline. So you don’t always have to start from scratch.

If your CPC expired within 2 years

Recent changes to Driver CPC regulations have made the return process more flexible. If your CPC expired between 60 days and 2 years ago, you now have several options:

1: Complete 35 Hours of Training

• Take a full 35-hour training programme
• Resume professional driving immediately upon completion
• Your new five-year cycle begins from the completion date

2: Return to Driving Module (7 Hours)

• Complete a specialised 7-hour ‘return to driving’ training module
• Start driving professionally again immediately
• Complete the remaining 28 hours within 12 months

3: National vs International CPC

• Choose National Driver CPC if you only drive in the UK which has more flexible training options.
• Complete the International Driver CPC if you drive in the EU. This maintains European driving rights.

The ‘return to driving’ option is really useful for drivers who need to start earning again quickly because it spreads the remaining training over a more manageable timeframe.

Note: If your CPC has been expired for over two years, you’ll need to complete the full 35 hours of periodic training before you can return to professional driving. You might be considering a return to professional driving after a period of time out. So think of the CPC as a process of updating yourself with current standards and best practices.

Your training delivery options

CPC modules cover such areas as Safety and Vehicle Checks, Legal and Regulatory Updates, Fuel Efficiency and Environmental Awareness, Health, Safety and Security, Customer Service and Professionalism. 

Like many aspects of life, over the last few years the learning process has evolved in its flexibility, with training courses to suit different learning preferences and schedules. Have a think about what might suit you.

Classroom training

Traditional classroom based learning works for many people because it includes hands on practical demonstrations and direct interaction with trainers and other drivers. You can ask questions and get clarification immediately, which can really help with retaining information.

Online learning

It can be incredibly convenient to study from home or during rest periods on an ad hoc basis. You can learn at your own pace and fit training around your schedule. Up to 12 hours of online learning can count towards your total of 35 hours, so it’s worth combining the two methods.

Working with a HGV training school

At Surrey & Hampshire HGV Training, we understand that falling behind on your CPC can be stressful. We’ve helped countless drivers in similar situations get back on track with their careers.

When you contact our team, we’ll start by understanding your individual circumstances:

• When your CPC expired
• How much previous training you’ve completed
• Your current employment situation
• Your future driving plans (UK only or EU included)
• Your preferred learning style and schedule constraints

Based on this information, we’ll quickly provide you with a personalised, good value action plan that completes your learning hours requirement. We’ll minimise your time away from earning and offer solutions that fit around your existing commitments. We’ll also set up a structured training schedule to ensure your CPC never expires again. Our tracking system monitors your progress and sends reminders well before your next deadline.

Our JAUPT approved training is designed to be engaging and practical. With our experienced instructors, you’ll refine your skills and knowledge in a way that will genuinely benefit you in your day to day driving role. 

Get started

The longer you leave an expired CPC, the more challenging it can feel to get back into professional driving. But the industry needs experienced drivers like you. Especially in light of the potential driver shortages predicted by the Road Haulage Association. 

So don’t let an expired CPC disrupt the driving career you’ve worked hard to build. With the right support, you can be back driving professionally sooner than you might think. 

Just call us on 01276 537400 and speak with one of our training advisers today, or get a quote for more information.