With the deadline for completion of Driver CPC (DCPC) training now less than two years away, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) says that promising progress is being reported by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

But leaving DCPC training to the last minute seems to be the biggest risk as businesses defer any spending as long as possible in the face of the continuing recession.

DSA figures show there is a growing number of active drivers undertaking DCPC training, but the same figures also suggest there is a long way to go to ensure that every licensed driver will be in possession of a current Driver Qualification Card in time for the 10 September, 2014, deadline.

According to statistics obtained by FTA, at the end of July there were 2,980 approved courses and 1,195 approved centres, delivering training for those 528,000 drivers who have made a start, but reports show that to date there still remains a shortfall of 1.3 million days plus an unknown number of drivers who have not yet started the training at all, so it seems that some freight operators still have a lot of work to do.

James Firth, FTA’s Head of Road Freight and Enforcement Policy, who is responsible for working with DSA on this issue said: “The message to operators is that if they have not yet started to get their drivers trained, they can still do so in time – but they need to start now.  The worst outcome would be a rush for training in the spring and summer of 2014 as reluctant operators panic ahead of the deadline.  Spaces on training courses will be at a premium, with some providers already saying they have every weekend until the deadline fully booked.”

Traffic Commissioners have assured the industry that they will take action against drivers found driving without a complete DCPC after the deadline and also against operators who allow drivers to drive without a complete DCPC.