CPC Update

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has put in place a system for those drivers with a non UK licence to obtain a driver qualification card (DQC) in GB. Only those drivers holding such licences, and who have completed part (i.e. at least seven hours) or all of their periodic training in the UK, are eligible to apply.

If a non UK licence holder attends a periodic training course, it’s important that you don’t upload their details onto the recording and evidencing system as the licence number will not be recognised.

In order to obtain a DQC, such drivers will need to complete an application form (DQC1) and send this with their driving licence, D9 (some EU drivers will have this, it is a UK licence counterpart), a passport style photograph, relevant form of ID, training certificates and a translation where necessary. A fee of £25 applies and drivers will need to provide a GB address as the DQC can only be posted to GB postcode areas.

The application form (DQC1) is available from DSA by calling 0300 200 1122 or by sending an email to customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk (putting ‘Driver CPC enquiry’ in the subject field).

Further information can be found at businesslink.gov.uk/drivercpc

HGV Licence Advice

Before you commit to any HGV or LGV driver training please read the following.

The emergence of the internet means most people today source HGV information and training online. More than 40,000 searches each month relating to commercial driver training are carried out on Google alone. As a result some companies have set themselves up “national” HGV training providers.

Nothing wrong with this you may think however the fact of the matter is, in most part these companies are simply facilitators, brokers or middlemen.

The majority of them own no training vehicles neither do they employ any instructors. People who see these “impressive websites” are given the impression that they are dealing with a national training company who will actually deliver their training. These website spends many thousands of pounds each month to be featured in the sponsored listing section on Google, as well as other major search engines.

Visit Google and type in “HGV training” as a search phrase. You will see more than 60% of companies with a sponsored listing are Brokers.

Brokers employ sales people who are commission driven and whose goal is to get the callers credit card details.

In a time of austerity and high living prices it cannot be right that people, who in most part are trying to improve their lives by investing in an HGV career, are not always aware of what it is they are signing up to.

In the last 5 years a number of HGV Brokers have gone into liquidation owing trainees and training companies hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The only essential requirement before applying for any ambulance crew post is a full UK driving licence with category C1.  Please note that driving licences obtained since January 1997 do not automatically include these categories and you may be required to sit a separate driving test.

The new Pasma (Mobile Access Scaffold Towers) is now live and hoists a number of new fetures www.pasma.co.uk

To bring the Ritchie’s website in line with 21st century an online shop has been included. Having this facility allows customer the option to reserve and pay for courses online.

Ritchie’s, have been delivering quality commercial transport training for over 25 years. We provide training for private individuals and companies alike. We are one of the leading centres in the UK for driver and construction plant operator training.

We offer training on a wide spectrum of disciplines, including HGV, PCV, CPC, ADR, IOSH, Nebosh, FLT, JCB, Cranes, Driver CPC, IPAF, PASMA and DGSA training.

Well-known Walter Ritchie of Ritchies Training Centre in Glasgow won an Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.  Speakers at this year’s event were Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie, Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken and Iveco UK managing director Henk van Leuven.