Top Gear, which has a pool of 500 professional drivers on its database, will deliver the training to its own drivers throughout the country. It will also be available to both clients and companies across the logistics sector.

Jason Melia is operations manager at Top Gear Recruitment and will head up the programme. He said: Maintaining highly skilled and motivated drivers and sub-contractors is integral to our continued success and that of the industry. We are confident that the courses will not only improve the knowledge of our drivers but also the standard of drivers at work across the UK.'

John Heywood, a qualified Driver CPC trainer who is leading the course, added: 'Under the new legislation, drivers are required to complete 35 hours of Driver CPC training every five years in a minimum of seven-hour blocks. This course aims to ensure that every driver, irrespective of their current knowledge, is brought up to the core UK standard for safe and effective transport operations.'
 
The Driver CPC is one of a number of courses being developed by Top Gear. Further programmes include improving business efficiency and operational excellence.