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COVID-19 tests for HGV drivers travelling to countries where tests are required
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- 1. What COVID-19 testing requirements are in place for commercial vehicle drivers operating internationally?
- 2. Where can I get a free COVID-19 antigen test in Ireland?
- 3. When can I get a test at these sites?
- 4. Is it free to get a COVID-19 test?
- 5. How long does it take to get a COVID-19 test at one of these sites?
- 6. How do I set up an account or change my current RocDoc Covid Check account?
- 7. Do I need to book in advance?
- 8. I have 72 hours before boarding, to get a test. Can I get a test a day or two before I leave?
- 9. I work as a HGV driver for a company in another country (NI/GB/other country), and I don’t live in Ireland, can I still avail of a test at one of the sites?
- 10. Do I need to bring any proof to the test centre?
- 11. How do I prove that I’ve tested negative for COVID-19?
- 12. What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?
- 13. What are the requirements for HGV drivers travelling from Ireland to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, or Switzerland?
Important Update: The dedicated COVID-19 (antigen) testing sites that were established in early January for HGV/LGV/coach drivers intending to travel to France and to certain other EU countries will close from the evening of 21 April. Drivers are no longer required to have proof of a negative Covid test result to enter France or a number of other countries. Further detail is provided, below.
Travel to the UK: The UK has new requirements in place (since 6 April) for hauliers travelling to England from abroad. This means that hauliers arriving in England from abroad will need to take a COVID-19 test in England if they are staying there for more than 2 days. Drivers will need to take their first test within the first 2 days, then further tests every 3 days. This applies to drivers and crews of HGVs and drivers of vans and other light goods vehicles. It applies to both UK-based and non-UK hauliers.
However, not all drivers will need to take a test in England.
A driver will not need to take a test if he or she will be in England for 2 days or less.
A driver will not need to take a test if he or she arrives in England from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man - known as the Common Travel Area (CTA). A driver must have only been in the CTA or the UK in the 10 days before arrival. If a driver has been outside the CTA in the 10 days before he she arrives in England, they must take the tests in England if staying there for more than 2 days.
There is more information available on GOV.UK. The UK is advising that any drivers requiring tests undertake those tests in England, for example at the haulier advice sites at various locations around the country.
The UK is also introducing new requirements for hauliers. All hauliers arriving into the country will now be required to self-isolate in their cabs for the duration of their time there, leaving only for specific reasons such as to buy food, use a toilet or undertake limited exercise, or get a COVID-19 test, among other reasons. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website, here.
Travel to France : Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) or Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) or coach drivers travelling from Ireland to France are no longer required to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test result to enter France. This applies to drivers travelling on direct maritime routes from Ireland to France, as well as to drivers travelling via the UK “landbridge” route to enter France. There is also no longer a requirement to provide a “declaration of honour” on entering France.
Travel to Germany: HGV drivers travelling from Ireland are (since 21 March) for the most part exempt from the requirement to have a negative Covid test result before entering Germany. This is because both Ireland and the UK (including Northern Ireland) are no longer classified by the German government as a virus variant area. However, if you are a HGV driver travelling from Ireland via the Moselle region in France (a virus variant area) to enter Germany, you will need to register and have a negative Covid test result. The full list of Germany’s various risk designation areas can be found here and further information is available below.
Travel to the Netherlands via the UK : HGV drivers travelling to the Netherlands via the UK ‘landbridge’ route – if you are a driver and you are travelling via the UK landbridge, you can take a test free of charge at one of the dedicated sites here in Ireland (up to 21 April) or privately in Ireland, or in Great Britain at one of the haulier advice sites on your journey.
A map of all of the haulage advice sites in Britain can be found at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948524/haulier-advice-site-locations.pdf
Haulier advice sites are located at motorway service stations and truck stops. Most haulier advice sites in Britain are open between 6am and 10pm, 7 days a week.
Dedicated COVID-19 (antigen) testing sites for HGV/LGV/coach drivers intending to travel from Dublin and Rosslare ports to certain countries in continental Europe have been established and are operated by RocDoc. Drivers can obtain an antigen test free of charge at these locations.These sites will close on 21 April.
Dublin
The Dublin site is open since Thursday 28 January. It is located South of Dublin Airport and is using part of what was previously Dublin Airport’s Blue Long Stay Car Park, signposted from M1 Junction 2 (Airport) and M50 Junction 4 (Ballymun). https://goo.gl/maps/stMwL14fLHSGhmkz7
Wexford
There are two sites serving Rosslare – a primary testing site, at Gorey Motorway Service Area (Circle K) which is open (since Thursday 28 January), and one at Holmestown Civic Amenity Facility, which is now open (since Monday 1 February).
Gorey
Gorey Motorway Service Area (Circle K) is located just off the M11 motorway, at a purpose-built junction between junctions 21 and 22, 78 km from Rosslare Europort. https://goo.gl/maps/FijbUu8wy8PbBy7x5
Holmestown
Holmestown Civic Amenity Facility is now open. It is located at the Holmestown Waste Management facility, 650m from the N25 in Holmestown, County Wexford. Eircode – Y35 Y28W. The site is 27 km from Rosslare Europort. https://goo.gl/maps/hQB2LSdmV6vUqjZe8
Cork Airport HGV Facility
A further HGV option has been put in place at Cork Airport to facilitate sailings from the Port of Cork and drivers in the Munster area. Follow signage on airport approach. Parking facilities for HGVS at the Airport are now in place. Pre-booking is mandatory at this facility.
Other Private Testing Facilities
Alternatively, hauliers and drivers can get an authorised COVID-19 antigen or PCR test at their own cost from a private testing facility around the country and firms may have their own arrangements.
Each driver should ensure that they have downloaded their test results.
Opening hours are as follows:
Dublin
- Monday to Saturday 10am - 6pm
Gorey
- Monday to Saturday 10am - 6pm
Wexford Holmestown
- Monday to Friday 11am-6pm
- Saturday 10am-6pm
Cork Airport HGV Facility
- Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm (subject to update)
- Pre-booking is mandatory at this facility.
All hours are subject to ongoing review and based on demand. Please revisit this site to keep up to date.
It is important that drivers make an appointment for their test. Please see point 6 below for guidance on setting up an account with RocDoc and point 7 below for how to book a test in advance. Walk-ins will be facilitated where possible. It should be noted, however, that pre-booked tests have priority.
Yes, COVID-19 testing will be free at the designated sites outlined above for all HGV/LGV/Coach drivers who are taking an international journey within 72 hours to a country requiring COVID-19 negative test results (currently travel to the Netherlands only IF travelling through the UK, or travel to Germany through the Moselle region in France. Drivers will also be asked to show photo identification to the testing provider and it is suggested that you bring your digital tachograph card as identification .
You may have to wait/queue for a COVID-19 test. Therefore, it is very important that drivers pre-book their test. Drivers can also book in for a test in the days before they travel.
The test is an antigen test taken using a swab. It takes about 10 minutes to get the test. Test results should be available within an hour of receiving the test.
You will receive an email notifying you that your test result can be viewed online on your portal. You will then have a QR code and the option of downloading your test result on your phone – if your result is negative, please download the test result.
To set up a new account
- Go to www.covidcheck.ie or www.rocdochealthcheck.ie and click on the green ‘Get Tested’ button at the top.
- Click on the orange ‘Create a New HGV Account’ button (the blue option is for general public accounts). You can also log into a current account here using the green bottom option.
- You will then be asked for personal information such as name, email, password, date of birth, gender and home address.
- You will need to upload a recent head and shoulder photo at this point also, please do not upload a photo of your passport, driving licence, tachograph card, etc. This must be against a plain white background with no other persons in the photo, no hats, no sunglasses, etc. This photo is used for identification purposes at the testing site and also will show on your testing information on the portal used for the applicable authorities.
- You will need to insert your personal digital tachograph card number here. If you do not have this you will not be able to book a HGV test. If you are a light goods vehicle driver then please add your driving licence number making it to 16 digits using zeros.
- Finally, you need to submit all details meaning that your account is now created. You will receive an email to notify you of this also (please check your junk, clutter, spam, other email inboxes as sometimes the email goes into these).
- Please note that if you do not register and set up an account, then you will be asked to do so at the test centre.
If you already have a Covid Check account and need to add your HGV details
- You can either use the Get Tested button on the website or by selecting ‘Personal Login’ from the Login menu option.
- Click on the bottom option ‘Book HGV Covid Test’
- At this point you can add your tachograph number, then submit
Yes , you should pre book a test in advance. Once you’ve created your profile/portal as outlined above, you should follow the below steps to book.
- Click ‘Book HGV Covid test’ on the home page
- Use the search function to look for an available tests on your desired date
- Once you find a date, time and location that suits you then click on the green ‘book’ button to the right
- Then you will just need to complete some specific booking details and tick the consent fields, sign, and submit.
- That is the test booking complete and notification will come up on the screen to confirm the details
- You will receive an email with all of this information on it and your unique appointment barcode
- If you need to check any details then please go to ‘My Tests/Tokens’ on the home page and all information will be on here also along with your unique appointment barcode
- When you arrive for your test you will need the unique appointment barcode and your photo ID (tachograph card)
Contact details
Administrative Support through a Customer Care Team is also available for assistance between 0800 – 2200, 7 days a week (00353(0)1 9697893) or email admin@rocdochealthcheck.ie . HGV drivers can also communicate with the testing provider via their personal customer portal messaging system.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, you should bring proof of your ferry booking (if you have this) with you to the test centre. The test provider will ask you to show them your ferry booking details to confirm that you intend to travel to the continent within the next 72 hours. Please also bring photo identification and this should ideally be in the form of your digital tachograph card.
If you undergo a test at one of the testing sites described above, you will receive an email enabling you to check your test result, along with the time and date of your result.
If you obtain a negative (non-detected) result, you can then proceed on your journey towards the port.
If you live in Ireland, contact your GP who will refer you for a free COVID-19 PCR test.
If you do not live in Ireland, the testing provider can contact a GP/doctor for you, who will formally refer you for a free COVID-19 PCR test in Ireland.
In all cases, if the PCR test result is positive, drivers must follow Irish public health guidance and self isolate in accordance with public health guidelines available here.
In all cases, your employer will need to make arrangements regarding the truck you are driving and the goods you are carrying.
The Netherlands
Drivers travelling from the UK to the Netherlands by ferry are required to show evidence of a negative antigen test obtained within 24 hours of boarding a ferry departing for a Dutch port. Drivers and crew of HGVs, and drivers of LGVs and vans must get tested before they arrive at their (UK) port of departure.
Germany
HGV drivers travelling from Ireland to Germany are (since 21 March) exempt from the requirement to have a negative Covid test result before entering Germany. This is because both Ireland and the UK (including Northern Ireland) are no longer classified by the German government as a virus variant area. However, if you are a HGV driver travelling from Ireland via the Moselle region in France (a virus variant area), you will need to register and have a negative Covid test result. The full list of Germany’s various risk designation areas can be found here .
The requirements in place for drivers travelling through France to enter Germany are currently as follows:
The La Moselle region in France is still considered as an area of variant of concern (virus variant area) by Germany. This means that if a driver spends time in the La Moselle area (even just transiting through), the driver must register on entering Germany and undergo a test/have proof of a negative test result.
If a driver is travelling through other parts of France (i.e. what are referred to as high incidence areas), then drivers travelling will have to:
- register on entry into Germany except in cases where they intend to spend less than 24 hours in Germany
The driver will not be obliged to present a negative Covid test result if:
- they only drove through the high incidence area without any stopover, or
- their stay in the high incidence area has not exceeded 72 hours and if appropriate health and safety protocols are complied with, or
- if they are staying in Germany for less than 72 hours and if appropriate health and safety protocols are complied with.
The German entry registration portal is available at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/ . If that is not available the alternate paper form available here: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus-infos-reisende/info-sheet.html . If using the paper form it must be completed before entering Germany handed over to German authorities upon request.
Belgium
HGV drivers travelling to Belgium do not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result however they must complete a Sworn Declaration in respect of the nature of their essential travel. The English version of the Sworn Declaration to be completed by those travelling for essential reasons to/from Belgium is available here. A hard copy paper form can be downloaded or an online version of the form can be filled out (from which a PDF can be downloaded as proof of completion).
Switzerland
HGV drivers travelling to Switzerland do not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. However, from 8 February 2021, drivers coming from high risk countries are required to provide contact details when entering Switzerland. The tool for online PLF registration can be found at: https://swissplf.admin.ch/home
