Why CPC and PVC training is important for professional HGV drivers

Although, in the UK, there are significantly fewer accidents involving HGVs than cars, they are more likely to result in serious injury or fatalities due to their size and weight.

In 2019, 15% of all fatalities and serious injuries on the roads involved HGVs, despite them only accounting for 5% of the total traffic on the roads.

In 2020 there were approximately 496,000 licensed HGVs that travelled a total of 18.9 billion miles in the UK*. The majority of these miles were driven on motorways and major roads. HGVs accounted for 5.6% of all motor vehicles registered in Great Britain in 2020, but they were responsible for 17% of all vehicle miles traveled.

To reduce the number of accidents involving HGVs, the UK government has implemented various measures, including mandatory training and certification for HGV drivers, regular vehicle inspections, and stricter safety regulations for HGVs.

Additionally, many companies and haulage operators have their own safety protocols and training programs in place to ensure the safety of their drivers and other road users.

Therefore, undertaking your mandatory CPC and PVC training sessions each year is not only good practice to gain driving roles, but essential if you want to continue professional HGV driving legally in the UK.

*Department for Transport’s Road Freight Statistics

**Department for Transport’s Reported Road Casualties Great Britain Annual Report for 2019