It is planned to reduce the number of categories of tractor drivers

On January 4, the government approved amendments to the Road Traffic Law prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, which provide for reducing the number of categories of tractor driver categories, while clarifying the procedure for obtaining a tractor driver's license.

The changes to the law envisage combining several tractor categories into one category, thus reducing the current number of tractor categories to four tractor categories. Along with the changes in the grouping of tractor categories, it is also planned to change the names of tractor categories, replacing the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H with the abbreviations TR1, TR2, TR3, and TR4. Thus, the category names will not overlap with driver categories in Latvia and the European Union.

It is planned to group the categories of tractor drivers according to the specification of the tractor and its main type of use as follows:

• agricultural tractors (TR1 and TR2);
• tractor equipment used in forestry (TR3);
• tractor equipment used in construction (TR4).

From now on, as before, the division of tractor equipment weights will remain: TR1 tractor equipment category and tractor equipment driver's rights will be obtained from 16 years of age for tractor equipment with a gross weight of up to 7,500 kg, and from 17 years of age for other tractor equipment. By changing the tractor equipment driver's license and obtaining the new category, the tractor equipment group of the category will expand, so the person will be entitled to drive a wider range of tractor equipment.

The current categories C and H (excavators, self-propelled loaders and special self-propelled equipment) will be included in all categories, as the use of this equipment is very important in all sectors. Category D (agricultural self-propelled machinery) will be included in categories TR1 and TR2, as tractors and agricultural self-propelled machinery are used mainly by representatives of one sector – farmers, while category E will be included in category TR4, as they are road construction machinery.

It is planned that the changes to the law will also make the work easier for employers in the relevant sector, as the categories of tractor drivers will be grouped according to the specifications of the tractor and its main type of use.

Draft law “Amendments to the Road Traffic Law” still needs to be approved by the Saeima.