Driver Directory

YOUR ONE-STOP LINK DIRECTORY.

 

Sometimes you don't need another explanation.

 

You just need to know:

Where do I go?

 

This page brings together useful official websites, guidance, applications and support services for professional HGV drivers in Ireland.

 

It covers everything from getting your licence in the first place to Driver CPC, tachographs, drivers' hours, vehicle roadworthiness, load security, roadside enforcement, accidents, international driving, livestock transport, health, wellbeing and personal safety.

 

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE.

 

Rules, forms, websites and procedures change. Where possible, these links take you directly to the official organisation responsible for the information.

 

GETTING YOUR HGV LICENCE

 

RSA — BECOMING A TRUCK DRIVER
 

The RSA's information for obtaining a Category C truck licence.

Covers the process from preparing to become a truck driver through theory testing, learner permit, training and testing.

 

RSA — Truck Category C

 

NDLS — LICENCE CATEGORIES & CODES
 

Check exactly what Categories C, C1, CE and C1E allow you to drive, together with other licence categories and codes.

 

NDLS — Licence Categories & Codes

 

OFFICIAL DRIVER THEORY TEST

Official booking information for the Truck and Bus Driver Theory Test.

 

Official Driver Theory Test — Bus or Truck

 

OFFICIAL THEORY TEST REVISION

MATERIAL
 

Official revision material for the relevant theory tests.

 

Official Driver Theory Test Revision Material

 

RSA — RULES OF THE ROAD
 

Free access to the current Rules of the Road.

 

RSA — Rules of the Road

 

RSA — HGV DRIVING TEST VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS
 

Useful if you're preparing for a Category C/CE test or need to check whether a vehicle meets test requirements.

 

RSA — Heavy Vehicle Driving Test Requirements

 

DRIVER CPC

 

RSA — DRIVER CPC
 

The main RSA Driver CPC information hub.

Includes becoming a professional driver, periodic training, CPC cards, regulations and related information.

 

RSA — Driver CPC

 

MYCPC DRIVER PORTAL

 

Check your Driver CPC training record and module status.

 

MyCPC Driver Portal

 

DRIVER CPC CARD
 

Information about obtaining and managing your Driver CPC card.

 

RSA — Driver CPC Card

 

DRIVING LICENCE

 

NDLS

Driving licences, learner permits, renewals, replacements and licence information.

 

National Driver Licence Service

 

MEDICAL FITNESS TO DRIVE

 

RSA — MEDICAL FITNESS
 

Information about medical fitness to drive and your responsibilities as a licence holder.

Remember that HGV drivers fall within Group 2 medical standards.

 

RSA — Medical Fitness to Drive

 

NATIONAL OFFICE FOR TRAFFIC MEDICINE

 

The Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines are particularly useful if you or your doctor need to check how a particular medical condition may affect an HGV licence.

 

National Office for Traffic Medicine

 

TACHOGRAPHS

 

RSA — TACHOGRAPHS & DRIVERS' HOURS

The main Irish tachograph information hub.

Includes information on:
 

• driver cards;

• company cards;

• tachograph equipment;

• exemptions;

• Smart Tachograph;

• drivers' hours; and

• related requirements.

   

RSA — Tachographs & Drivers' Hours

 

TACHOGRAPH DRIVER CARDS

 

Information on driver cards, including applications and driver responsibilities.

 

RSA — Tachograph Driver Cards

 

LOST, STOLEN, DAMAGED OR MALFUNCTIONING DRIVER CARD

 

Keep this one somewhere accessible.
 

If your driver card is lost, stolen, damaged or stops working, specific rules apply to:

• replacement;

• notifying the relevant authority;

• printouts;

• manual records;

• signatures;

• information that must be recorded; and

• how long you may continue driving in the permitted circumstances.

   

RSA — Driver Card Replacement Information

 

DRIVERS' HOURS, BREAKS & REST

 

RSA — DRIVERS' HOURS

 

Official Irish information covering areas such as:
 

• 4½-hour driving periods;

• breaks;

• daily driving;

• extended daily driving;

• weekly driving;

• fortnightly driving;

• daily rest;

• weekly rest; and

• tachograph requirements.

   

RSA — Tachographs & Drivers' Hours

 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION — DRIVING TIME & REST
 

Official European Commission information explaining EU social rules for road transport.

 

European Commission — Driving Time & Rest Periods

 

REGULATION (EC) 561/2006

 

Want the actual legislation?

This is the EU Regulation governing drivers' driving time, breaks and rest periods.

 

EUR-Lex — Regulation 561/2006

 

TACHOGRAPH LAW

REGULATION (EU) 165/2014

 

The principal EU legislation governing tachographs in road transport.

 

EUR-Lex — Regulation 165/2014

 

WORKING TIME

 

RSA — COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LEGISLATION

 

The RSA's legislation section provides access to legislation covering road transport working time alongside other commercial-vehicle legislation.

 

RSA — Commercial Vehicle Legislation

 

WALKAROUND CHECKS

 

RSA — VEHICLE SAFETY CHECKS

 

Official guidance and resources for commercial vehicle safety/walkaround checks.

 

RSA — Vehicle Safety Checks

 

THE ACTUAL IRISH WALKAROUND REGULATIONS

 

If you want the legislation rather than a summary, S.I. No. 348/2013 contains the Irish commercial vehicle maintenance and walkaround provisions.
 

The Schedule also sets out items to be included in driver walkaround inspections.

 

Irish Statute Book — Commercial Vehicle Maintenance & Walkaround Regulations

 

VEHICLE ROADWORTHINESS

 

RSA — COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY & LEGISLATION

 

Information relating to commercial vehicle standards, roadworthiness and legislation.

 

RSA — Commercial Vehicle Safety & Legislation

 

RSA — HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

 

Information specifically relating to HGVs and heavy commercial vehicle requirements.

 

RSA — Heavy Commercial Vehicles

 

CVRT

 

CVRT — TRUCKS & TRAILERS

 

CVRT information and test booking for heavy commercial vehicles and trailers.

 

CVRT — Trucks & Trailers

 

CVRT TESTER'S MANUAL

 

Want to know what the tester is actually looking at?
 

The testing manuals set out inspection methods and reasons for failure.

 

CVRT — Current Testing Manuals

 

LOAD SECURITY

 

HSA — LOAD SECURING

 

Excellent official guidance covering:
 

• load positioning;

• restraint;

• straps;

• chains;

• securing equipment;

• checking restraints;

• curtainsiders;

• loading/unloading; and

• practical load-security principles.

   

HSA — Load Securing Guidance & Publications

 

EUROPEAN CARGO SECURING GUIDELINES

 

Detailed European Best Practice Guidelines on Cargo Securing for Road Transport.

 

EU — Cargo Securing for Road Transport

 

VEHICLE WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS

 

RSA — WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS

 

Information covering:
 

• permitted vehicle weights;

• axle arrangements;

• vehicle combinations;

• dimensions;

• overhangs; and

• abnormal loads.

   

RSA — Weights & Dimensions

 

ABNORMAL / INDIVISIBLE LOADS

 

The RSA weights-and-dimensions information also explains abnormal-load requirements and permitting.

 

RSA — Weights & Dimensions / Abnormal Loads

 

COUPLING & UNCOUPLING

 

Coupling and uncoupling should always follow:

• vehicle manufacturer's instructions;

• trailer manufacturer's instructions;

• company Safe System of Work;

• your training; and

• workplace safety procedures.
   

For wider workplace vehicle-safety information:

 

HSA — Work Related Vehicle Safety

 

REVERSING & WORKPLACE VEHICLE SAFETY

 

Information covering workplace vehicle movements, pedestrians, reversing risks and transport safety.

 

HSA — Work Related Vehicle Safety

 

MANUAL HANDLING, LOADING & UNLOADING

 

The HSA provides guidance specifically addressing manual-handling risks in transport and storage.

 

HSA — Manual Handling Risk Management in Transport & Storage

 

DRIVING FOR WORK

 

Road-safety resources for employers, employees and self-employed people who drive for work.

 

HSA — Driving for Work

 

FATIGUE

 

RSA — DRIVER FATIGUE

 

Information on recognising and managing driver fatigue.
 

Remember:

Being legally available to drive does not automatically mean that you are fit to drive.

 

RSA — Driver Fatigue

 

MOTORWAY SAFETY & BREAKDOWNS

 

Guidance on motorway driving and emergencies.

 

RSA — Motorway Safety

 

WEATHER

 

MET ÉIREANN — WEATHER WARNINGS

 

Check current Irish weather warnings before travelling.
 

Particularly useful for HGV drivers during:

• high winds;

• snow;

• ice;

• heavy rain;

• flooding; and

• other severe weather.

   

Met Éireann — Weather Warnings

 

RSA — SEVERE WEATHER

 

Road-safety information for driving in severe weather.

 

RSA — Severe Weather

 

LIVE TRAFFIC, ROADWORKS & ROAD CLOSURES

 

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IRELAND

 

Road-network and traffic information.

 

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

 

NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC INFORMATION

 

Government access to information relating to traffic, roadworks and national roads.

 

Department of Transport — Road Traffic Information

 

TOLLS

 

ETOLL

 

Current toll information and toll rates, including HGV vehicle classifications.

 

eToll — Toll Rates

 

ROADSIDE ENFORCEMENT

 

RSA — ROAD HAULAGE ENFORCEMENT

 

Information about commercial-vehicle roadside enforcement.

 

Checks can include:
 

• vehicle roadworthiness;

• drivers' hours;

• tachographs;

• Driver CPC; and

• operator licensing.

   

RSA — Road Haulage Enforcement

 

ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS

 

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA

 

Official information about what to do if you're involved in a road traffic collision.

 

An Garda Síochána — I've Been Involved in a Road Traffic Collision

 

EMERGENCY SERVICES

 

In Ireland:

112 or 999

Use these numbers where emergency assistance is required.

 

OPERATOR LICENSING

 

ROAD HAULAGE OPERATOR LICENCE

Official information on National and International Road Haulage Operator Licences.

 

Department of Transport — Road Haulage Operator Licence

 

ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATOR DIVISION

 

Information about the licensing authority and road transport operator licensing.

 

Department of Transport — Road Transport Operator Division

 

INTERNATIONAL HGV DRIVING

 

EU DRIVING & REST RULES

 

European Commission — Driving Time & Rest Periods

 

POSTING OF DRIVERS

 

Official European information explaining when professional drivers working internationally may be considered posted workers and the associated requirements.

 

European Commission — Posting Rules for Road Transport

 

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE — TRANSPORT OF LIVE ANIMALS

 

Essential information for anybody involved in livestock transport.

Includes information relating to:

• transporter authorisation;

• vehicle approval;

• journey logs;

• long journeys;

• GPS information;

• animal welfare; and

• livestock transport requirements.

   

DAFM — Transport of Live Animals

 

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING

 

BREAKER BREAKER

Mental-health support developed specifically around the haulage community.

 

Breaker Breaker

 

10-4 CHANNEL 19 — TANGS MENTAL HEALTH

Trucking-community mental-health support.

Currently Facebook-based.

Search Facebook for:

 

10-4 Channel 19 Tangs Mental Health

 

MATES IN MIND

 

Workplace mental-health information and resources, including work relating to transport and logistics.

 

Mates in Mind

 

SAMARITANS IRELAND

 

Free emotional support.

116 123

You do not have to be suicidal to call.

 

Samaritans Ireland

 

HSE — YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

 

Information about mental-health services and supports in Ireland.

Your Mental Health Information Line:

1800 111 888

 

HSE — Mental Health Supports

 

TEXT ABOUT IT

 

Free anonymous text support.

Text:

HELLO to 50808

 

Text About It

 

PIETA

 

Support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm and people bereaved by suicide.

 

24-hour Crisis Helpline:

1800 247 247

Text:

HELP to 51444

 

Pieta

 

WOMEN IN TRANSPORT

 

Professional network supporting women throughout the transport sector.

 

Women in Transport

 

CRIME & PERSONAL SECURITY

 

For immediate danger or a crime in progress:

112 / 999

For other Garda matters:

 

An Garda Síochána

 

Remember:

Your load is property. Your safety comes first.

Never physically confront somebody stealing fuel, cargo or equipment if doing so could place you in danger.

 

THE BIG OFFICIAL RESOURCE SITES

 

If you're not quite sure where the information you need will be:

RSA — PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS

One of the best starting points for professional-driver information.

 

RSA — Professional Drivers

 

RSA — FORMS, LEAFLETS & BOOKLETS

RSA forms, guides and publications.

 

RSA — Forms, Leaflets & Booklets

 

HEALTH & SAFETY AUTHORITY

Workplace health and safety information, including transport, load security, manual handling and driving for work.

 

Health & Safety Authority

 

IRISH STATUTE BOOK

Want the actual Irish law rather than somebody's interpretation of it?

Search here.

 

Irish Statute Book

 

EUR-LEX

The official database of European Union law.

Useful when you need the actual text of EU road-transport legislation.

 

EUR-Lex

 

BEFORE YOU GO...

 

This page is a directory.

 

It doesn't replace the detailed guides elsewhere in this resource library, formal training, Driver CPC, your employer's procedures or professional advice where required.

 

Where possible, links lead to official government, RSA, HSA, EU or recognised support organisations.

 

Rules, forms, contact information and legislation change.

 

If information in one of our guides ever appears to conflict with newer information published by the relevant authority:

 

CHECK THE CURRENT OFFICIAL SOURCE.

 

And if you're a newly qualified driver who has landed on this page because you simply don't know where to begin, start with:

 

RSA — Professional Drivers

RSA — Driver CPC

RSA — Tachographs & Drivers' Hours

RSA — Vehicle Safety Checks

RSA — Rules of the Road

 

Then come back to the resource library when you want somebody to explain what all of it actually means.

 

Nobody starts professional driving knowing everything.

 

The important thing is knowing where to find reliable information when you need it.