Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Driving Tests
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Certificate of Professional Competence scheme.
Answered by Keir Mather
The Department for Transport, along with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, keep the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) under review to ensure it meets the requirements of drivers and their employers.
In December 2024, reforms to the DCPC for drivers operating in the UK only reduced the minimum course length from 7 to 3.5 hours and allowed for more on-line training, providing more flexibility in how and when the training is delivered. In February 2025, the Department introduced the Return to Driving course which makes it easier for some with a valid licence to return to the profession by taking an initial 7-hour course and completing a further 28 hours of training within the next 12 months.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →