Truck drivers who decide to enter the international market must know the rules for driving on EU roads. One of the conditions for obtaining the right to make such trips is getting a certificate confirming the driver’s qualifications. CPC training can take place in an expedited mode over 5 days or with a more extended curriculum. It all depends on when the corresponding category was opened and whether the driver has previously undergone such training.
Why you need Code 95
A driver’s license with open C or C+E categories indicates that its holder has sufficient skills to drive trucks. To do this job professionally and transport cargo across the entire territory of the European Union, one must also master the rules for driving on such trips. Drivers acquire this knowledge through special courses.
You can undergo CPC training in one of the EU countries. Most often, drivers do this in Poland. Here you can not only study but also receive a job invitation immediately after completing the courses. Logistics companies cooperate with such schools because they know that after completing the training, the employee can work confidently on European roads.
Types of Courses
CPC training in Poland can take place through either a short or a long course. Drivers who obtained category C before 10.09.2009 can take a 5-day course. On this course, the driver listens to a series of lectures and receives a certificate without an exam. This same course is also intended for periodic driver requalification, which occurs every 5 years. This period is exactly the time the issued Code 95 remains valid.
Upon initial employment, drivers who, based on the issue date of their license, do not qualify for the short course are required to undergo long training, which is over 20 days. Regardless of the training the driver undergoes, they must be personally present at every class.
Specifics of the Long Course
CPC training is not intended to study traffic rules or develop truck-driving skills. The driver receives all of this knowledge during training when opening the required category. Possessing this certificate indicates sufficient preparation for international transport. Practical sessions account for only 10 hours. Theoretical lectures are designed for 130 hours. In these lectures, the student gains the following knowledge:
● Features of filling out CMR waybills and other documents.
● A long-haul driver’s work schedule and the importance of complying with it.
● Rules for working with a tachograph and its chip card.
● Specifics of international logistics.
● Specifics of using toll roads and the rules for paying for them.
● Fastening mechanisms for securing cargo.
● Types of driver liability for traffic violations on EU roads.
Practical training takes place on a simulator with maneuvering practice under various weather conditions. On a real truck, the driver will consolidate city driving skills and practice approaching a ramp.
Details of the Exam
If the course is a long CPC training, upon its completion the student must pass an exam in the presence of a special commission. The local voivodeship establishes it, so you should not expect leniency from the examiners. If they discover that the student was not present at the classes, the issued certificate may be revoked.
In CPC training, tests consist of 30 questions, which include 20 general and 10 specialized. An exam is considered successfully passed if there are 16 correct answers in the first part and 5 in the second. If the student has completed the entire course, they will easily score the required number of points.