TRUCK DRIVER RULES IN POLAND

Sertifikat Stručne Sposobnosti (CPC)

Under European Union regulations, truck drivers must hold a Certificate of Professional Competence in order to drive legally in Europe. This certificate shows potential employers that you have the knowledge and training to work as a professional driver.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

The permitted blood alcohol level for driving in Poland is 0.02% – a driver with a higher level in their system is considered unfit to drive any vehicle. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence in Poland. As a result, the police are authorised to carry out random breath tests, especially after an accident causing injury.

Driving Lane

In Poland, traffic drives on the right-hand side. This means you must move into the left lane to overtake a vehicle. Failure to comply with this law will attract the attention of the authorities and result in unwanted fines. Therefore, make sure you drive in the right lane and overtake on the left if you are travelling in Poland.

Mandatory Equipment for Truck Drivers in Poland

As a truck driver, you should be aware that it is legally mandatory to carry the following in Poland:

• Reflective jackets for all persons in the vehicle
• Warning triangle
• Spare bulb kit
• Breathalyser kit
• First-aid kit
• Snow chains should be carried and used where indicated by the relevant traffic signs.
• Remember that you must keep your headlights dipped even during the day when driving in Poland.

Driving Age

The minimum driving age in Poland is 18 for light goods vehicles. For heavy trucks, the minimum driving age is 21. Therefore, even if you are 18 and have a valid driving licence, you will still be penalised if you are caught driving a commercial truck.

Toll Roads

In Poland, toll charges are determined by the truck's gross vehicle weight. The rules state that vehicles weighing more than 3.5 t must be equipped with an on-board toll device on roads covered by the ViaToll scheme. Tolls can be paid directly at toll booths, in cash or by credit card. Paying tolls can be frustrating, especially when passing through multiple toll points in different areas. However, with an EETS-certified toll box from Eurowag, you can simplify toll payments and comply with regulations across Europe.

What Are the Rules for Driving Trucks in Poland?

There are driving bans on certain days for commercial trucks in Poland, and we will examine these and other driving rules in more detail in this section.

Truck Driving Bans

There are truck driving bans across the entire national road network for vehicles with a maximum permitted weight exceeding 12 tonnes during public holidays:

• From 18:00 to 22:00 on the eve of a public holiday
• From 8:00 to 22:00 on all public holidays
• During the school summer holidays (June–August), truck bans apply at weekends from the last Friday in June until the last Sunday before the start of the school year. From June to August, trucks are not allowed to travel:
• On Fridays from 18:00 to 22:00
• Saturdays from 8:00 to 14:00
• Sundays from 8:00 to 22:00. There are also local restrictions for vehicles weighing more than 16 tonnes within the Warsaw area:
• From 7:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. Official public holidays in Poland include:

1. January – New Year's Day
2. January – Epiphany. First and second day of Easter
3. May – Labour Day
4. May – Constitution Day. Pentecost. Corpus Christi
5. August – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6. November – All Saints' Day
7. November – Independence Day
8. Decembar–Božić
9. December – St Stephen's Day Rest Periods for Truck Drivers

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure directive, rest periods for truck drivers include the following:

• Daily driving time must not exceed 11 hours.
• Weekly driving time must not exceed 60 hours.
• Total driving time over two weeks must not exceed 96 hours.
• Drivers are entitled to an uninterrupted rest period of at least 45 minutes after driving for more than five and a half hours.
• Drivers may also spend their weekly rest period in the truck cab, provided the vehicle has sleeping facilities and is properly parked.

Maximum Truck Weight

Poland has restricted certain trucks from using its road network, even if they comply with EU standards. Under Polish legislation, trucks with an axle weight exceeding 8 t or 10 t must obtain a special permit from the authorities.