If your business employs commercial drivers, a change in the law that came into force from 10 September 2014 will affect how you operate. All professional drivers, eg lorry, bus and coach drivers, must pass the Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence which will allow them to get a Driver’s Qualifcation Card.
They must carry it with them at all times and it is now a criminal offence to drive without it, and businesses could find themselves criminally liable if their drivers drive in breach of the new requirement. The fines are relatively small – companies and their directors could be fined up to £1,000 each. However, a tougher punishment could be that the company loses its operator licence.
