The Road Safety Authority has published a 161-page manual for testing fast tractors. Faults found by the tester must be categorised as either minor, major or dangerous.

If the tester finds a dangerous defect, they must attach a “Fail Dangerous” sticker to the passenger side of the tractor windscreen. The tester must advise the driver to have the tractor towed “or otherwise carried away”.

The areas examined are vehicle identification, brakes, steering, cab glasswork, lights, axles and tyres, chassis and cab, safety restraints and emissions/noise.

Such is the detail that a tractor that has a disc may in future command a premium if put up for sale, like cars with a valid NCT certificate. The tester will record the hours on the clock on the test day and that information will be recorded for future reference.

Testing

Testing came into force on 20 May and is focused on tractors used for commercial haulage or other road work.

Any such tractor that is now four years old has to be tested “as soon as possible”, the RSA states.

The vast majority of farmers will not be affected. Many contractors will have one or two tractors in their fleet which will need to be tested and carry a CVRT disc.

Two garages so far are authorised to test fast tractors. They are Kelly Trucks Ltd in Ballaghaderreen and the Banner Vehicle Centre in Ennis.