Will I need to get a CPC license?

[BrabusMog]

We run a fleet of LWB Transit vans but are thinking about getting a 7.5t lorry in order to make some of our delivery routes more efficient. Will I (as the fleet manager) need to obtain a CPC in order to have one in the fleet? Just for clarification purposes I won't actually be driving it. All my Google searches just seem to throw up companies offering the training for the test, I'd just like to know if I need it!

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[BrabusMog]

Thanks, Justin - I think operators license is what I was asked to find out about (8am seems like a long time ago today!!) so I'll have a little read of that link later. We're very good at compliance so I'd imagine it's something I'd be able to get on top of and maintain.

[BrabusMog]

What does "of good repute" mean? I've got 6 points on my personal license, is that likely to count against me? Nobody else within our business is prepared to get the operators license, I think I'm starting to understand why now!

[BrabusMog]

Right so if I've understood this correctly; the business applies for the Operators License and then I, as the nominated Transport Manager, apply for the CPC in order for us to be allowed to run the 7.5t vehicle? Compliance, as I said, isn't an issue for me, there is plenty of red tape within what I do and I've always been good at keeping on top of things. It might just mean that my desk chair isn't always spinning at lunchtime in our quieter periods.

[BrabusMog]

One of the drivers is retiring to work in our office and do some of our sanitisation work. We deliver bottled water and sanitise water coolers and, at the moment, drivers do it all. We want to experiment with having a sanitisation only van and a separate, larger delivery vehicle. The sanitising massively slows down delivery routes and we think one 7.5t vehicle would be able to deliver double the amount of water in a day quite easily. This is at a very early stage and I was asked in passing to look into it this morning as it was seen that the operators licence/CPC implications were barriers to doing this sort of thing in the past. I'm aware how naïve this makes me appear, my background was not transport and the joys/curses of a family business mean that the sales role I was brought in to handle is currently on the back burner whilst I explore ways to improve our operational efficiency.

Thanks for all the replies.

Edit - We are looking to trial with one 7.5t vehicle and then, if successful, will continue to roll it out when the transits reach the end of their cycle with us.

[BrabusMog]

That's correct, Phil. Sometimes we do sell the coolers and deliver them but even the empty bottles are effectively leased from us.

[BrabusMog]

Thanks for the advice.

[BrabusMog]

Jesus, they don't make it easy, do they? I wouldn't be comfortable with a 3rd party doing multi-drops on our behalf, our relationship with our customers is key and we hire drivers based on how we feel they will interact with our varied customer base. Looks like this may be a non-started but it's one of the many reasons that make this such a great website - I really appreciate the advice guys.

[BrabusMog]

It's almost like they make them complicated on purpose