Driver CPC Training Provider

The Driver CPC is for drivers of passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) and large goods vehicles (LGV) who drive professionally. It has been developed as a requirement of the EU Directive 2003/59, which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life.

There are two parts to the legislation:

The Initial Qualification must be achieved by new LGV and PCV drivers to enable them to use their license professionally. This qualification is also needed by LGV drivers who have obtained their Category C driving licence after the 10th of September 2009 and PCV drivers who obtained their category D licence after the 10th September 2008.
The Periodic Training consists of 35 hours of training every 5 years and must be attended by all professional drivers.

Drivers of the following vehicles are exempted from meeting CPC requirements:

Vehicles with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 kilometres per hour;
Vehicles used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions;
Vehicles used the Armed Forces, Civil Defence, the Fire and Rescue Service and Forces responsible for maintaining public order including the Police, and Ambulances;
Vehicles used for personal use;
Vehicles used for non-commercial, non profit making, or by voluntary organisations for carriage of passengers or goods for personal use;
Vehicles carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver’s principal activity;
Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance, or new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service;
Vehicles used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a CPC.

The objectives of CPC

The main objectives of this exercise are to: improve road safety, emphasisethe concept of efficient driving, make drivers more aware of the regulations applicable and to stress on the importance of a customer oriented service.

The Driver CPC includes two parts namely:

Initial Qualification and
Periodic Training.

Initial Qualification - Driver CPC

The Driver CPC Initial Qualification is required by all new drivers intending to obtain a category C or D license and those drivers who were issued with a Category C Driving license on or after the 10thSeptember 2009 or a Category D Driving license on or after the 10thSeptember 2008.

The CPC Initial Qualification includes three tests:

CPC multiple choice theory test – 100 minutes
CPC case study Test - 100 minutes
Static practical demonstration test – 30 minutes

Upon the successful completion of the said tests, drivers will be issued with a CPC certifying the Initial Qualification by Transport Malta, which shall be valid for five years. The actual certification consists of an Information Code 95 marked on the driving licence of the driver, indicating that the driver is professionally competent to drive a passenger transport vehicle with more than eight seats besides the driver’s seat, for the carriage of passengers, or a goods transport vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3,500kg.

Training

Whilst drivers are not obliged to undergo any training before sitting for the tests of initial qualification, prospective professional drivers are encouraged to attend such courses to better prepare themselves for the tests, and most importantly for their professional driving careers.

New Drivers intending to sit for the above tests can apply with an approved training provider to participate in a 63 hour training programme that is organisedfor the purpose of preparing candidates for the theoretical and practical tests (see list of Approved Training Providers).

Periodic - Driver CPC Training

All drivers who are in possession of Category license C (C1, C1+E, C and C+E) or D (D1, D1+E, F, D or D+E) and drive professionally must complete 35 hours formal training every 5 years.

Periodic Training is designed to confirm and expand on the existing knowledge and skills of each driver to ensure that they continue to be confident, safe and fuel efficient drivers. It also enables drivers to keep up to date with ever changing regulations and to benefit from state of the art training throughout their whole career.

All professional bus and truck drivers must undergo compulsory periodic training of 35 hours every five years to retain their Driver CPC with approved Training Providers. The training must be carried out by approved Training Providers in periods of at least seven hours, based on the subjects listed in the thirteenth schedule of the Regulations.

The 35 hour training programme may be held consecutively, or spread over a period of time. No tests will take place upon the completion of periodic training; however drivers will be required to retain their training records to be able to submit them to Transport Malta when renewing their Driver CPC.

On completion of the 35 training hours the driving licence will be updated to include code 95 which needs to be carried at all times while driving professionally.