National CPC

15/07/2026

Good luck to the boys today! Let's bring it home, shall we? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

15/07/2026

Out and about delivering some essential life-saving training with EFAW, while also helping drivers working at Balfour Beatty keep up their CPC hours.

Honestly, I think this is a skill every professional driver should have. You never know when it might come in handy saving someone’s life is such a valuable skill. The roads are pretty unpredictable, so knowing what to do in an emergency really matters.

If you’re interested in CPC or EFAW training, please get in touch:
Website https://www.nationalcpc.co.uk
Call us on 02034576785
Email [email protected]

14/07/2026

Was it worth it for the doctor?

08/07/2026

First of all, I must apologise….

Recently I haven’t been completely quiet on all social media platforms. To be honest, I’ve never been the most consistent when it comes to posting, but over the last few months life has been a little busier than usual!

A few weeks ago me and my (now) wife got married and the stress of organising that along with planning our honeymoon while still running my business was all too much.

I’m incredibly lucky to have married my best friend. We had the most amazing day surrounded by our family and friends, before heading straight off on an unforgettable honeymoon.

Now we’re back, refreshed, and it’s business as usual. I’m looking forward to getting back into a regular rhythm, sharing more of my work, and catching up with you all.

Thanks for sticking around!

13/03/2026

Generally we pull the fuel out the same terminals BP,Shell,Tescos Etc… the main difference is the additives that they use that you pay for at the pump.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HWd2xXvPw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/03/2026

Manual Entries – Why Are They So Important?
It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure all work, breaks, availability and rest are recorded for each 24 hours covering the previous 28 days (or 56 days for international work).

If you remove your card at the end of your shift and reinsert it at the start of your next shift, you must manually enter any activities that took place since the card was last removed.

That includes daily rest, other work, breaks, or availability.

If you don’t use the manual entry facility on a VDO tachograph, the system will often show that period as a “?” meaning unknown time. On Stoneridge units, this can also happen if you don’t confirm “rest until now” when inserting your card.

So, what does the “?” actually mean?
It’s the unknown pictogram. It represents a period where there is missing information in other words, time that hasn’t been accounted for. The tachograph doesn’t know whether you were resting, working, or doing something else.

And why does that matter?
Because as far as enforcement is concerned, if it’s not recorded, it didn’t happen. Missing records can lead to questions, roadside checks, and potentially infringements.

Have I had drivers on my courses who have never done a manual entry, been stopped by DVSA, and nothing was said?

Yes, of course I have.

Does that make it legal? Absolutely not.
Just because something hasn’t been picked up yet doesn’t mean it’s compliant. At the end of the day, it’s your responsibility as the driver to ensure your records are complete and accurate.

This is one thing that is hammered in our CPC modules, as we understand the importance of them and the consequences for not doing them.

10% Discount for Serving Military and Veterans!

Reserve your spot today using any of the methods below:

📞02034576785

📧[email protected]

💻www.nationalcpc.co.uk

04/03/2026

03/03/2026

Service That Goes Above and Beyond ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

At National CPC, we pride ourselves on more than just great service we provide real-world experience.

As a veteran, I know that transitioning from the military to civilian life can be a challenge. Whether it's navigating HGV requirements or just getting started in the industry. I’m always happy to answer questions for any of our customers, but I take a special pride in helping my fellow veterans find their footing.

Special Offer: 10% Discount for Serving Military and Veterans!


To book and reserve your place, please use any of the methods below:

📞02034576785

📧[email protected]

💻www.nationalcpc.co.uk

Check out our revies on: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/nationalcpc.co.uk

26/02/2026

Incase you were wondering 💭

24/02/2026

There is often confusion about when the XL-rated body can or cannot be used with restraints and when additional restraints are needed.

What Is XL Certification EN 12642-XL?
XL EN 12642-XL is a European build standard for the entire vehicle body of HGVs and trailers (not just the curtains). When a vehicle or trailer is built and certified to this standard, it has been tested and shown to have extra structural strength to help contain the load during normal driving conditions (e.g., braking, cornering, lane changes).

How XL Helps With Load Security
Vehicles built to EN 12642-XL give you an advantage because the vehicle itself contributes to restraining the load, unlike standard curtain siders ,where the curtains are only for weather protection. This doesn’t mean the load is automatically secure just because it’s on an XL body. You must still load the goods correctly to benefit from the standard.

✅ Positive Fit- When You Don’t Need Extra Lashings
For enforcement purposes (and safety), XL vehicles are accepted as providing up to 50 % of the side load restraint without additional straps, if the goods are loaded with “positive fit”.

Positive fit means:

📍 The load is within 8 cm of either side of the curtain/bodywork

📍 The load is within 30 cm of the rear doors

📍 The load is within 30 cm of the front (bulkhead or headboard)

📍 There are no large gaps (no single gap > 30 cm or cumulative gaps > 30 cm along the load)

📍 The load is packed tightly with minimal free space inside the body

This “positive fit” means the goods are pushing against the body of the vehicle so that the reinforced structure helps keep them in place.

We cover this in our extensive HGV Load responsibilities and Load Safety CPC module:

📞02034576785

📧[email protected]

💻www.nationalcpc.co.uk