Absolute ruler getting to cart I'd replaced (8)
I believe the answer is:
dictator
'absolute ruler' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'to cart i'd replaced' is the wordplay.
'replaced' indicates anagramming the letters.
'to'+'cart'+'id'='tocartid'
'tocartid' anagrammed gives 'DICTATOR'.
'getting' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for dictator that I've seen before include "Autocrat" , "Authoritarian, tyrant" , "Eg, Stalin" , "One who reads out for others to scribe" , "person in charge? Absolutely!" .)