Driving in Poland can be as hassle-free as driving in your home country as long as you know the applicable rules and laws. Poland is one of the largest countries in Europe, and many businesses are expanding there as a result. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you will need to understand the driving rules to avoid problems with the authorities.
That said, let us explore some of the requirements and rules for truck driving in Poland.
In Poland, driving a truck could require extra qualifications. For example, you might need the ADR certificate if you transport hazardous materials.
According to the European Union regulation, truck drivers must have a Certificate of Professional Competence to drive lawfully in Europe. This certificate shows potential employers you have the knowledge and training to work as a professional driver.
When it comes to a truck driving license, you must present a license that fits into one of the following categories if you want to drive freely in Poland.
Category C1: This category is meant for lighter-weight commercial vehicles with a total weight of 3,500 kg to a maximum of 7,500.
More information on Category C1
Category C1E: The C1E driver's license is the best option for people who drive larger trucks. With the C1E license, you are permitted to drive a trailer that weighs over 750 kg.
More information on Category C1E
Category C: This is intended for large commercial trucks and those interested in transporting in large numbers. With it, you can drive Category C1 vehicles, and are exempt from the legal requirement to operate a vehicle at a maximum weight of 7,500 kg.
More information on Category C
Category CE: This is the highest license offered, ideal for someone who wants to transport a large number of goods privately.
More information on Category CE
The blood alcohol limit for driving in Poland is 0.02%—a driver with more than that amount in their system is considered ineligible for driving any vehicle. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a severe offence in Poland. As a result, police have the authority to conduct a random breath test, especially after an accident that has caused an injury.
Poland’s driving lane is on the right-hand side. This means you have to shift to the left lane to overtake a vehicle. Failure to follow this law will attract the authorities and lead to unwanted fines. So ensure you drive in the right-hand lane and overtake on the left if traveling in Poland.
As a truck driver, you should also be aware that it is a legal requirement to carry the following in Poland:
Remember that you need to have your headlights dipped even during the day when driving in Poland.
The minimum age for driving in Poland is 18 for driving light-duty vehicles. When it comes to heavy-duty vehicles, the minimum age for driving is 21. So, even if you are 18 with a valid driver’s license, you will still be fined if caught driving a commercial truck.
In Poland, toll fees are determined by the overall gross weight of the truck. The rule states that vehicles weighing over 3.5t must be fitted with a toll unit on the road with the ViaToll Scheme. The toll payments can be charged directly at the toll gates and may be collected by cash or credit card. Paying for tolls can be frustrating, especially when passing through multiple tolls in different regions. However, with the help of an EETS-certified toll box from Eurowag, you can simplify toll payments and comply with regulations across Europe.
There are bans on specific days for commercial trucks in Poland, and we will go into more detail about them and other driving rules in this section.
What Are the Driving Bans for Trucks?
There are truck driving bans throughout the national road network for goods vehicles with a Maximum Permissible Weight of over 12t during public holidays:
During the school summer holidays (June-August), truck bans apply on the weekends from the last Friday of June to the last Sunday before the start of the school year. From June to August, trucks are not allowed to move:
There are also local restrictions for vehicles that weigh over 16t within the area of Warsaw:
The official Public holidays in Poland include the following:
According to the directive of the Minister of Infrastructure, the rest period for truck drivers includes the following:
Poland has restricted certain trucks from using their road network even if they comply with EU standards. Under Polish legislation, trucks with a weight per axle exceeding 8t or 10t must obtain a special permit from the authorities for using secondary roads. This is to ensure the safety of the driver and pedestrians.
The table below explains the speed limit for trucks in Poland.
As a professional driver, you should know that you are not only responsible for yourself; that is why the penalties can be very severe. The table below shows the fines you can receive for breaking the law in Poland.
Speeding
Other Offences
If you transport specific categories of goods in Poland, you have probably already come across the PUESC system. This is the Platform for Electronic Tax and Customs Services, which is part of the Polish legislation. This platform also allows notifications to be sent to the SENT system.
SENT covers a wide range of transported goods, including dangerous materials and products subject to excise duty. Dangerous materials include chemicals, toxic substances and materials that may have a negative impact on the environment or human health. In addition, certain products such as alcoholic beverages or tobacco products, which are subject to additional excise duty, are also included in the SENT.
In this context, transporters of these specific categories of goods are obliged to register with the PUESC and comply with its regulations. Ignoring these requirements can lead to serious legal consequences, including fines and penalties.
To avoid the risks of breaching the regulations related to these regulations, Eurowag's Fleet Management comes to the rescue. This tool not only includes efficient management of your fleet, but also a convenient connection to the SENT system, so you can reduce the threat of fines to a minimum.
Driving in Poland can be a fantastic experience if you abide by Polish traffic laws and regulations. However, failure to do so will result in unwarranted fines that may interfere with your normal operations. Be sure to follow all the rules if you drive a truck in Poland.
With all of the rules and regulations for driving in Poland to keep track of, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for your drivers to focus on the road. That’s why Eurowag is here to help simplify the driving experience with our product offerings.
A Eurowag Fuel Card can help take the stress out of refueling with a payment solution tailored to the needs of your company. Drivers can quickly and easily pay for gas without having to worry about having cash on hand or storing receipts. Even better, with our ever-growing acceptance network, drivers can find a refueling station no matter where the road takes them.
Our fuel cards can even be used to make certain payments for toll roads, bridges and ferries. Your drivers will thank you for streamlining the toll payment process. Contact us today to become an Eurowag customer, and find out why more and more commercial trucking companies are trusting us to help take them further on the road to success.
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