Drivers CPC - Licence, Weights & Defects - 3.5 Hours
The Licence, Weights & Defects Driver CPC Course is a 3.5-hour training module designed for professional LGV drivers. The course covers driving licence requirements, vehicle weights, loading responsibilities and the identification and reporting of vehicle defects. Drivers will develop a better understanding of their legal responsibilities and how effective vehicle checks help ensure LGVs remain safe, legal and roadworthy.
Description
Professional LGV drivers have a responsibility to ensure they hold the correct driving licence entitlement, understand the weight limitations of the vehicles they operate and carry out effective vehicle safety checks.
Our Licence, Weights & Defects Driver CPC Course provides LGV drivers with practical knowledge of these important areas of legal and operational compliance.
The course explores LGV driving licence categories and entitlements, vehicle and axle weights, maximum authorised mass, load distribution and the potential consequences of operating an overloaded vehicle.
Drivers will also examine their responsibilities for vehicle roadworthiness, including daily walkaround checks, identifying defects, defect reporting procedures and understanding when a vehicle should not be used.
Using practical examples and real-world haulage scenarios, the course helps drivers understand how their actions contribute to maintaining safe, legal and compliant road haulage operations.
Training is specifically designed for professional LGV drivers.
Prerequisites
This course is suitable for professional LGV drivers undertaking Driver CPC periodic training.
Candidates should:
- Hold the appropriate LGV driving licence entitlement
- Be undertaking Driver CPC periodic training where applicable
- Have sufficient understanding of English to participate fully in the course
- Provide the necessary driver details required for Driver CPC attendance records
Course Content
The course covers the key responsibilities of professional LGV drivers relating to driving licences, vehicle weights, loading and vehicle defects.
LGV Driving Licences
- LGV driving licence categories
- Category C and C+E entitlements
- Licence entitlements and restrictions
- Provisional and full licence requirements
- Driving licence codes and restrictions
- Licence expiry and renewal
- Medical requirements
- Keeping your driving licence valid
- Driver responsibilities
- Consequences of driving without the correct entitlement
Vehicle Weights & Loading
- Understanding LGV weight terminology
- Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
- Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
- Gross Train Weight (GTW)
- Axle weights
- Understanding vehicle weight plates
- Payload and carrying capacity
- Weight distribution
- Axle loading
- Load positioning
- Load security responsibilities
- Risks associated with overloading
- Responsibilities of drivers, operators and loaders
- Roadside weight checks and weighbridges
- Potential consequences of operating an overloaded vehicle
Vehicle Defects & Roadworthiness
- Driver responsibility for LGV roadworthiness
- Daily vehicle walkaround checks
- What should be checked before driving
- Identifying potential vehicle defects
- Safety-critical defects
- Common LGV defects
- Tyres and wheels
- Lights and indicators
- Brakes
- Steering and suspension
- Mirrors and visibility
- Bodywork and security
- Fifth wheel and coupling equipment
- Trailer connections and associated equipment
- Defect reporting procedures
- Recording defects correctly
- Defect rectification
- Understanding when a vehicle should not be driven
Roadside Enforcement & Compliance
- LGV driver responsibilities at the roadside
- DVSA roadside inspections
- Vehicle prohibitions
- Immediate and delayed prohibitions
- Weight and roadworthiness enforcement
- Consequences of operating an unsafe or overloaded vehicle
- Importance of accurate defect records
- Driver and operator responsibilities
- Maintaining safe, legal and roadworthy LGVs