USEFUL LINKS & RESOURCES
Updated: 2 days ago
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.
NDLS — LICENCE CATEGORIES & CODES
Check exactly what Categories C, C1, CE and C1E allow you to drive, together with other licence categories and codes.
OFFICIAL DRIVER THEORY TEST
Official booking information for the Truck and Bus Driver Theory Test.
OFFICIAL THEORY TEST REVISION
MATERIAL
Official revision material for the relevant theory tests.
RSA — RULES OF THE ROAD
Free access to the current 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.
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.
MYCPC DRIVER PORTAL
Check your Driver CPC training record and module status.
DRIVER CPC CARD
Information about obtaining and managing your Driver CPC card.
DRIVING LICENCE
NDLS
Driving licences, learner permits, renewals, replacements and licence information.
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.
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.
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.
TACHOGRAPH DRIVER CARDS
Information on driver cards, including applications and driver responsibilities.
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.
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.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION — DRIVING TIME & REST
Official European Commission information explaining EU social rules for road transport.
REGULATION (EC) 561/2006
Want the actual legislation?
This is the EU Regulation governing drivers' driving time, breaks and rest periods.
TACHOGRAPH LAW
REGULATION (EU) 165/2014
The principal EU legislation governing tachographs in road transport.
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.
WALKAROUND CHECKS
RSA — VEHICLE SAFETY CHECKS
Official guidance and resources for commercial vehicle safety/walkaround 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.
VEHICLE ROADWORTHINESS
RSA — COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY & LEGISLATION
Information relating to commercial vehicle standards, roadworthiness and legislation.
RSA — HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Information specifically relating to HGVs and heavy commercial vehicle requirements.
CVRT
CVRT — TRUCKS & TRAILERS
CVRT information and test booking for heavy commercial vehicles and 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.
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.
EUROPEAN CARGO SECURING GUIDELINES
Detailed European Best Practice Guidelines on 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.
ABNORMAL / INDIVISIBLE LOADS
The RSA weights-and-dimensions information also explains abnormal-load requirements and permitting.
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:
REVERSING & WORKPLACE VEHICLE SAFETY
Information covering workplace vehicle movements, pedestrians, reversing risks and transport safety.
MANUAL HANDLING, LOADING & UNLOADING
The HSA provides guidance specifically addressing manual-handling risks in transport and storage.
DRIVING FOR WORK
Road-safety resources for employers, employees and self-employed people who drive 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.
MOTORWAY SAFETY & BREAKDOWNS
Guidance on motorway driving and emergencies.
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.
RSA — SEVERE WEATHER
Road-safety information for driving in severe weather.
LIVE TRAFFIC, ROADWORKS & ROAD CLOSURES
TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IRELAND
Road-network and traffic information.
NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC INFORMATION
Government access to information relating to traffic, roadworks and national roads.
TOLLS
ETOLL
Current toll information and toll rates, including HGV vehicle classifications.
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.
ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS
AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA
Official information about what to do if you're 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.
ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATOR DIVISION
Information about the licensing authority and road transport operator licensing.
INTERNATIONAL HGV DRIVING
EU DRIVING & REST RULES
POSTING OF DRIVERS
Official European information explaining when professional drivers working internationally may be considered posted workers and the associated requirements.
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.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
BREAKER BREAKER
Mental-health support developed specifically around the haulage community.
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.
SAMARITANS IRELAND
Free emotional support.
116 123
You do not have to be suicidal to call.
HSE — YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Information about mental-health services and supports in Ireland.
Your Mental Health Information Line:
1800 111 888
TEXT ABOUT IT
Free anonymous text support.
Text:
HELLO to 50808
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
WOMEN IN TRANSPORT
Professional network supporting women throughout the transport sector.
CRIME & PERSONAL SECURITY
For immediate danger or a crime in progress:
112 / 999
For other Garda matters:
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 — FORMS, LEAFLETS & BOOKLETS
RSA forms, guides and publications.
HEALTH & SAFETY AUTHORITY
Workplace health and safety information, including transport, load security, manual handling and driving for work.
IRISH STATUTE BOOK
Want the actual Irish law rather than somebody's interpretation of it?
Search here.
EUR-LEX
The official database of European Union law.
Useful when you need the actual text of EU road-transport legislation.
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.
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