Options for conducting the examination of tractor machinery and the exchange of certificates

The National Technical Supervision Agency (hereinafter - VTUA) has reviewed and developed the possibilities for the examination of tractor machinery, as well as recalls the extension of the range of tractors along with the change of the driving licence of the tractor.
In place of the previous sixteen VTUA bureaux, applicants for the driving of tractors will be able to apply for theoretical examination of road traffic regulations and road safety (hereinafter – THE CSN examination) and theoretical examination of the safety of tractor equipment (hereinafter – operational examination) in a convenient or immediate way. IN THE VTUA officewith the exception of the Vidzeme division office in Alūksne.
In contrast, the examination of the practice of tractor machinery, as so far, is accepted by all THE VTUA bureaux, including Vidzeme Division Bureau in Alūksne.
The right of a tractor driver after the successful performance of all three exams may be obtained by a person who has completed theoretical and practical training, as well as theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the relevant category has been acquired in self-training. In self-training, THE TR1 category may be obtained, while the self-training of TR2, TR3 or TR4 categories may be obtained by a person who has already had one of the categories of tractor driver for at least 12 months. A person shall be exempt from taking the road traffic regulations if he or she has the right to drive tractor machinery or vehicles conforming to category C1 or C.
The category exams may be performed at any working day, the court, in pre-meeting and agreeing on examination opportunities with the most convenient or nearest VTUA office, and the frequency of exams at each VTUA office shall be planned individually, but not less than once a week. THE CSN exam is accepted in electronic form, but in writing.
Similarly, THE VTUA reminds that a driving licence of the old sample tractor is changed since September 2018, even if the expiry date has not yet expired, against the new category without additional exams. The driving licence of the new tractor shall extend the category of tractor category - the person is entitled to drive a wider range of tractor machinery than is provided for in the old model certificate.
The issuance, exchange and renewal of a driving licence of a tractor shall be carried out at all VTUA offices.
As a result of the previous year's change, the names of the category of driving licences do not overlap with the categories of drivers in Latvia and the European Union. The categories of tractor drivers according to the specification of the tractor and the type of main use thereof shall be grouped as follows:
TR1 — tractors, agricultural self-propelled machinery, utility machines, universal self-propelled machinery, excavators, loaders and special self-propelled machinery of a maximum mass of up to 7500 kilograms;
TR2 - all tractors, agricultural self-propelled machinery, utility machines, universal self-propelled machinery, bulldozers, excavators, loaders and special self-propelled machinery;
TR3 — Forest machines, excavators, loaders and special self-propelled machinery;
TR4 - road-building machines, bulldozers, excavators, loaders and special self-propelled machinery.
For more information, see THE VTUA website, section “Tractor drivers”.
 
Information prepared by: Janis Mergups–Kutraitis
Public relations specialist of the State Technical Supervision Agency
Tel. 26397648, e-mail: janis.mergups@vtua.gov.lv
www.vtua.gov.lv | Twitter: @vtua