Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there is a comparable certificate of competence for HGV drivers that is checked when HGVs arrive at UK ports.

Drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and commercial Passenger vehicles from across the EU, including the UK, are required to obtain a driver certificate of professional competence (known as CPC). The regulations came into force in 2008 for bus and coach drivers, and 2009 for goods vehicle drivers; existing drivers were given a 5-year period (called acquired rights) in which to undertake the training and, as such, were not required to produce evidence until 2013/14.‎

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes a targeted approach to enforcement to minimise the risk of non-compliant drivers and vehicles using the road network. When UK or non-UK vehicles are stopped at a check site, the DVSA will request to see evidence of the driver’s CPC.

If a driver fails to produce this evidence, they will be issued with a fixed penalty or, where they have not completed the qualification, they can be prosecuted.