Operators face fines if drivers don't hold Driver Qualification Cards

Logistics employers will face a £1,000 fine if their drivers are caught working professionally without having a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) with them.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) warns that not only will drivers themselves be fined up to £1,000 if they can't produce a DQC when stopped by Vosa, but operators will also be liable and hit too.

Vosa has begun handling out DSA-sanctioned leaflets at enforcement checks clarifying the legal position around Driver CPC, and the requirement for drivers to carry their DQCs with them at all times.

It means all new drivers must have their DQCs with them when working.

Drivers with grandfather rights (those driving before September 2009), who have until September 2014 to complete 35 hours of mandatory periodic training, will need to carry their cards after this deadline.

Karen Crispe, MD at Tachodisc, says: “The DSA announcement that both drivers and employers face fines of up to £1,000 each if a driver does not carry a DQC card whilst driving sends out a strong message – it enforces the seriousness of Driver CPC.  With employers at risk too, the responsibility for completing 35 hours of training cannot just lie with the driver anymore.”