Code 95 initial course — 35 days

Who it suits

• Category «C» obtained after 02.03.2021
• No experience in freight carriage
• The reduced initial programme is unavailable because of the date the category was obtained

This is the longest of the three programmes, but after it the driver gains the full set of competences and never returns to initial training again — only periodic renewal once every 5 years.

What the programme covers

• Carriage rules: national and international, the permit system
• Vehicle design, safety systems, daily checks
• Efficient driving and fuel economy
• Working and rest hours, the tachograph
• Freight operations: positioning, securing, load distribution
• Occupational safety, ergonomics, driver health
• Actions in emergencies, fire safety, first aid
• Transport documentation and the carrierʼs liability

How it works

1. ConsultationWe check your licence and confirm that the initial programme is the one you need.
2. Documents and enrolmentWe form the group and tell you the start date.
3. 35 days of classesIn person. The longest but also the most complete programme.
4. Final testYou receive the CPC.
5. CardIssued together with the certificate after the exam.

What to prepare in advance

The package is small and can be gathered in a single evening. Copies are sent by messenger — there is no need to come to the office for this.

• Driving licence — it shows us your categories and the dates they were obtained, which determines the programme
• Ukrainian citizen passport — an ID card or the pages of a booklet passport
• Taxpayer card — the identification code
• International passport — needed for the correct transliteration of your surname and first name into Latin script. They will appear in the document exactly as written there, so it is best to avoid any discrepancy with the international passport
• Application — we send the form along with the rest of the instructions

If a document is not to hand right now, that is no reason to put off calling: in most cases the package can be completed by the time the group starts. The full list with explanations is on the Documents page.

Why it is the longest programme

The initial course is designed for those entering professional carriage from scratch. Its length is not there «just in case»: someone with no experience on a truck has to get to grips with working and rest hours, the tachograph, securing the load and the trip paperwork — all of it equally unfamiliar at the start.

Thirty-five days sounds long only until you compare it with the documentʼs validity. The card is valid for five years and is then renewed with a periodic course of five days. In other words, the long programme is taken once in a lifetime.

How to plan your training

Because the course is long, it is almost always planned in advance — around a change of job, obtaining a category, or moving onto international routes. The wisest step is to call before a specific offer from a carrier even appears: that way the document is already in hand by the time you start driving.

The classes are in person. Procedure No. 789 does allow a distance format, but no more than 12 hours across the whole course, so it is impossible to complete such a programme remotely. We announce the group schedule as soon as the intake is formed, so you can adjust your work plans to it in advance.

One more point that is mentioned less often. The initial course is not the only requirement for working on international routes: depending on the cargo you may also need an ADR certificate. If dangerous goods are on the cards, both documents are usually arranged together so as not to come back to the matter twice.