Latest Notice from Department of Transport re UK Transport Manager CPC

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Important BREXIT notice from the Department of Transport for the attention of Transport Managers who hold a Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Haulage / Road Passenger Transport issued in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and Road Transport Operators engaging such Transport Managers.

European Union (EU) legislation sets out a number of requirements to hold a Road Transport Operator Licence, one of which is professional competence. To fulfil this requirement, every road transport undertaking in Ireland (or in any other EU Member State) must have a nominated Transport Manager who resides in the EU to effectively and continuously manage its transport activities. The Transport Manager must hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in either Road Haulage or Road Passenger Transport, depending on the nature of the operator’s business.

The European Commission has stated that after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, Transport Management CPCs issued by an authority of the United Kingdom or a body authorised by the United Kingdom will no longer be valid in the EU.

The Department of Transport has been liaising with the European Commission on this matter and has received clarification that UK-qualified Transport Managers may be issued with a corresponding Irish Transport Management CPC before the end of the Brexit transition period. The Department has written to Transport Managers listed on Road Transport Operator Licences and holding UK-issued Transport Manager CPCs to inform them of this.

In light of this welcome development, the Department has established arrangements with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) for the application process to obtain a corresponding Irish Transport Management CPC. CILT is the body that issues Transport Management CPCs in Ireland on behalf of the Department. Persons affected should now send an email to studentsupport@cilt.ie indicating that they hold a UK-issued Transport Management CPC and wish to obtain a corresponding Irish certificate. CILT will then contact individuals directly to take them through the simple online application process to obtain an Irish Transport Management CPC. No fee will apply in this case.

It is important to note that applications must be submitted to CILT by 31 December 2020, as after that date it will not be possible to obtain an Irish Transport Management CPC on the basis of holding the UK equivalent certificate. The Department therefore strongly encourages persons affected to contact CILT as soon as possible.

The Department would also like to remind drivers with UK Driver CPC cards working for Irish operators that they should apply to the RSA to obtain an Irish Driver CPC card, before the end of the year.

Irish residents holding a UK driving licence, including commercial drivers of goods and passenger vehicles, are reminded to exchange their UK licence for an Irish one before the end of the year.