There are many categories in a tractor license, but none of them allows you to drive all types of self-propelled equipment at once. The issuance of certificates is carried out by Gostekhnadzor, which also registers special-purpose vehicles. Tractor license category need to know for those who are going to build a career in the construction or repair industry, because this is where rollers are used, excavators, loaders. It is impossible to obtain a document without a package of papers: a medical certificate, a receipt, a certificate from the school on completion of courses.
Categories of driver's licenses for tractors and special equipment
The previous model of a driver's license had only a few categories. Now all possible ones have appeared - these are A, B, C, D, E and F, as well as 4 subcategories . By opening one of them, you can control certain types of equipment with different motor power. Category A gives you the right to drive all-terrain vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, but you cannot drive them on highways. Tractor category A, subcategories and their explanation of types of tractors:
- A1 - these are off-road motorized vehicles, for example, a snowmobile, ATV, all-terrain vehicle;
- A2 - off-road vehicles with a mass of no more than 3500 kg and a number of seats up to 9 (all-terrain vehicles);
- A3 - off-road vehicles with a weight of 3500 kg for special purposes (dump trucks for quarries);
- A4 - off-road vehicles used for transporting passengers with seats from 9, for example, shift buses.
It should be noted that one open subcategory does not allow you to control machines that belong to another. The remaining categories do not have subspecies. If the operator will work on municipal cleaning equipment or a mini-excavator, then he needs to open B. The next one (C) includes wheeled self-propelled vehicles with an engine with a power of 27.5 to 110.3 kilowatts. What can you drive with a category C tractor driver's license ? The drivers can operate conventional tractors or loaders .
Category D - more powerful types of special equipment , with an engine of 110.3 kilowatts or more: strong tractors, pneumatic wheel cranes. Category E includes self-propelled equipment on caterpillar tracks (engine from 27.5 kilowatts): bulldozer or excavator. F - agricultural vehicles: combines, grain harvesters.
What does a tractor driver do and his responsibilities?
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In general, a tractor driver is a fairly broad profession and can be associated not only with agriculture. In official documents she is listed as a “tractor driver,” which means the versatility of such workers.
A tractor driver is a worker whose responsibilities include driving a wheeled or tracked tractor. In rural areas, a tractor is an almost universal tool. Plowing fields, harrowing and peeling stubble, transporting goods, sowing, harvesting grass and stacking hay, treating with chemicals, applying fertilizers - all these operations are performed using a tractor with attachments.
Nevertheless, you can find open vacancies for tractor drivers in housing and communal services enterprises, in the oil industry, in road construction, and in many other areas.
The responsibilities of a tractor driver in a broad sense are as follows:
- ensure the tractor is in good condition and repair as necessary;
- keep records of fuel and fuel consumption;
- loading, transportation of materials;
- driving a tractor and performing assigned tasks depending on specialization.
Of course, depending on the area of work, the responsibilities of a tractor driver can vary greatly.
The tractor driver cultivates various agricultural crops (plowing the land, applying fertilizers, pest control, harvesting work). The tractor driver can also operate various special equipment - from graders to bulldozers. However, the general principles of the tractor driver’s work are similar.
Here is the required professional minimum for successful work as a tractor driver:
- Knowledge of traffic rules;
- Construction of tractor components and mechanisms, as well as mounted equipment;
- Areas of application of the tractor and the purpose of various devices for work;
- Mechanical and troubleshooting skills.
In addition, in the field, a tractor driver has the responsibility of managing not only equipment, but also people. For example, he supervises students and assistants, taking responsibility for their health and performance.
Qualification categories
The license contains a column “Special notes” where the driver’s rank is indicated. It is located immediately under the designation of categories in the new model tractor driver’s license . The rank reflects the specialist’s qualifications and the availability of additional skills. How to decipher the digits:
- 2nd category - it is permissible to drive tractors equipped with an engine with a power of no more than 35 hp;
- 3rd category - these are special vehicles with engine power from 30 to 60 hp;
- 4th category - self-propelled vehicles with an engine power of no more than 100 hp;
- 5th category - tractors with engine power from 100 to 200 hp;
- 6th category - allows you to work on vehicles with an engine power of up to 380 hp;
- 7th category - these are tractors with an engine power of no more than 500 hp;
- 8th category - special vehicles with an engine power of over 500 hp.
Expert opinion
Evgeniy Viktorovich Zuevsky
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The rank increases after retraining. The decision on the category is made by the inspector of the State Supervision during the examination tests.
Important criteria for admission
Positive results on entrance examinations do not guarantee an applicant the opportunity to study to become a tractor driver. The absence of medical contraindications is a priority condition for those who want to learn how to operate special equipment.
The chances of mastering a profession increase for those who are disciplined, attentive and ready to bear responsibility for the decisions made. Anyone who plans to work as a tractor driver must love the craft that he intends to do.
New sample certificate
license is a laminated document containing information about the driver. The main side contains personal data (full name, date of birth, where the person lives), who issued the document and until what time the document is valid. The identification code and photograph of the driver must be present. The reverse side is reserved for categories and marks. The document is certified by the signature of the Gostekhnadzor inspector and seal.
How to check for authenticity
Recently, you can check the a tractor driver’s It is enough to send a request on the website by entering the document data (ID code, when issued and the owner’s full name). If it was obtained legally, it will be displayed in the database. However, the service does not work in all regions, so it is better to check the authenticity with Gostekhnadzor.
Some signs will help you identify a fake right away. The fake may differ in color (have a bright blue or burgundy tint), font, and type of printing. If the data is printed unevenly, blurred or even handwritten, the photo is pasted unevenly, the text is hard to read, most likely it is a fake license.
Choosing an educational institution: tips and recommendations
Before submitting documents to a college or university that trains specialists in driving special equipment, you should analyze the territorial affiliation of the educational institutions. If the technical school is located near the applicant’s home, the latter will be able to save on travel costs and rental housing.
On the Internet portal of the college or academy, it is necessary to collect information in advance about the availability of budget places, the list of entrance tests and the passing score. Additionally, you should visit the educational institution on Open Day. At the event, you can find out where students do their internships and whether there is a job opportunity after receiving their diploma. The cost of training and the availability of places in a dormitory are priority issues for those who intend to master the profession of a tractor driver.
How to get a license for a tractor
The issuance of certificates is carried out by Gostekhnadzor, where you need to apply, providing the necessary documents. Self-preparation is unacceptable, so the inspection requires a certificate confirming completion of the courses. There are age restrictions:
- A1 is open from 16 years of age;
- A2 and A3 - from 19 years old;
- A4 - after 22 years;
- B, C, E and F - at 17 years old;
- D – after adulthood.
Only those who already have a driver's license with any open category will be able to obtain category A. Another condition is that the driver must not be involved in an accident for at least one year.
List of documents
To issue rights, Gostekhnadzor requires a package of documents. You need to prepare not only a certificate of completion of studies, but also the following documents:
passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and its copy;
application (filled out in the authority or online);
individual driver card, which indicates successful completion of examination tests (issued along with the diploma);
2 photos measuring 3 by 4 cm, can be color or black and white;
receipt of payment of state duty.
Expert opinion
Zuevsky Evgeniy Viktorovich
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You can get a tractor license either at the department at your place of residence or at your place of study . After submitting the documents, you need to wait 7-10 days until the certificate is produced and can be picked up.
What medical certificate is needed?
A medical certificate is required to confirm that the future driver does not have any diseases that could interfere with driving. It must be in form 003-В/у, suitable for all types of rights. The only thing is that they will make notes on the required categories in the certificate.
You should see a therapist, ophthalmologist, psychiatrist, narcologist, neurologist and otolaryngologist; no laboratory tests are required. The document is certified by the seal of the chief physician and entered into the electronic database, which confirms the authenticity of the medical certificate. If it was issued illegally, then the tractor driver's license is invalid.
Theoretical exam
Theory in educational institutions and Gostekhnadzor is given by tickets, their quantities depend on the category. As a rule, there are 45 tickets for 8-10 questions with one correct answer. You must answer at least 80% correctly to gain access to the practical part of the exam . Increasingly, testing is carried out on computers using special programs, where the possibility of cheating is excluded. The certification result remains valid for three months.
Practical exam
Practice is divided into 2 stages - performing exercises on the training ground and working on a real route. An inspector from Gostekhnadzor must be present at the certification and record the results in the protocol. The examinee has 3 attempts to pass the practical part. If none of them were successful, the candidate is sent for repeated training.
Duration of training and approximate cost
The duration of the specialist training program depends on the status of the educational structure. Universities study to become machine operators for 5 years. Colleges and technical schools offer to master the profession of a tractor driver in 2-4 years. At the COPO, personnel training is carried out in an accelerated format (1.5-3 months).
For studying at an agricultural university (Stavropol, Saratov), an applicant will have to pay from 100,000 to 130,000 rubles per year. In colleges in the Moscow region (Krasnogorsk, Volokolamsk, Istra), training tractor drivers costs from 70,000 to 90,000 rubles. In Chita, annual training at the Faculty of Agricultural Mechanization of the Agribusiness College will cost 10,000 rubles.
The price of three-month courses in the training centers of Vyatka and Biysk reaches 15,000 rubles.
