A career as a HGV driver isn’t as easy as simply getting into the vehicle each shift and driving; there are many guidelines, regulations and laws that drivers need to be aware of and abide by in order to carry out their duties correctly. The aim of this blog is to provide important guidelines around driver conduct within the transport and logistics industry; these regulations have been put into place to ensure the safety of both the driver and any other road users, including pedestrians. So what are the do’s and don’ts of HGV driving?
Driver Conduct
All HGV drivers should be aware of the Traffic Commissioners roles and accountabilities. These include responsibility for the licencing and regulation of HGV drivers (and buses and coaches); this includes reviewing both new and current licence applications, this can sometimes result in suspending or revoking driving licences when appropriate. The main risks to road safety are drug/drink driving, speeding and hand-held mobile phone use. Traffic Commissioners are entitled to revoke entitlements or disqualify drivers if they are seen to be committing any ONE of these offences. If you are found guilty of any of these, you should be sure to notify your employer immediately.
Driver CPC and Tachograph Cards
It’s very important that a driver always carries their CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) card and Digital Tachograph card with them at all times whilst on shift. In order to obtain a CPC qualification, each driver must complete 35 hours of periodic classroom-based training every 5 years. This is a legal requirement and drivers that do not have both a valid CPC and Digital-Tacho card simply cannot drive a HGV.
Driver Licencing and Medical Conditions
Some HGV drivers may have restricted licences due to their medical conditions; these drivers should aim to renew their driving licence entitlement approximately 60 days before the expiry date on their card. This same rule applies for drivers that drive abroad; the reason for this is that it gives the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency) enough time to investigate any medical conditions and hopefully get the new licence back to the driver before the expiry date.
If a HGV Driver is diagnosed with a medical condition by a doctor or other medical professional, the DVLA must be notified as soon as possible. 90% of drivers that notify the DVLA of a medical condition retain their licence entitlement. If you have notified the DVLA of a medical condition, it’s important to uphold close contact with your GP to ensure that any requests for medical information are handled efficiently.
However, providing a driver has applied for their new licence but still not yet received it back from the DVLA and the entitlement has then expired; the driver can legally still drive under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Though this is dependent on each individual driver as there are some exceptions to this rule i.e. if their licence was previously revoked or refused. Therefore if this situation occurs, it would be best to communicate with the DVLA at the time to check individual circumstances.
Card Expiry Dates
It is the driver’s responsibility to know when their driving licence, digital tacho card and CPC card expire. Using the DVLA’s online licence check service which is available 24/7, you can view your licence status, including expiry dates and any penalty points or endorsements you may have. The only information you need for this is your driving licence number, national insurance number and your postcode.
Did you know?
- You don’t need to return your current driving licence when renewing your entitlement
- You don’t need to return your digital tacho card when renewing your tachograph entitlement
- You do need to carry out daily checks to maintain safety standards for vehicles
- We at Rapier have a collection of online videos on our YouTube page giving information on daily checks, digital tachograph, collision awareness and much more. Click here to view our channel!
Further information on any of the above can be found at www.gov.uk
If you’re thinking of starting a career as a HGV driver but are still a little unsure about licence entitlements, complications, medical conditions or anything else then please get in contact with us. Likewise, if you’re a current Rapier driver and have any questions for us relating to the above, give your local branch a call today!