QLD Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test key terms

A Queensland licence class allowing a person to drive a rigid motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass greater than 8 tonnes, or a bus, with a trailer of no more than 9 tonnes.

A licence class covering a prime mover or heavy rigid vehicle towing a trailer heavier than 9 tonnes, including semi-trailers, B-doubles and road trains.

A licence class for rigid vehicles with a gross vehicle mass greater than 4.5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes, with a trailer of no more than 9 tonnes.

A licence class for rigid vehicles with a gross vehicle mass up to 8 tonnes, or buses seating more than 12 adults, with a trailer of no more than 9 tonnes.

The maximum loaded mass of a vehicle as specified by its manufacturer, including the vehicle itself, fuel, occupants and any load it carries.

The maximum combined loaded mass permitted for a towing vehicle and its trailer or trailers together, as specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

The mass of a vehicle when unladen, including coolant, lubricants and fuel in the tanks, but excluding occupants, cargo and any trailer.

A heavy combination made up of a prime mover towing two trailers, where the first trailer is supported by a turntable mounted on the rear of the second trailer.

A heavy combination consisting of a prime mover towing two or more trailers, operated under specific mass, length and route conditions set by road authorities.

A motor vehicle whose chassis and body form a single unit that does not depend on a trailer for support, unlike a semi-trailer combination.

A motor vehicle designed mainly to tow a semi-trailer, with a turntable fitted to carry the front portion of the trailer's load.

A trailer that has no front axle of its own and is supported at the front by the towing vehicle's turntable, with wheels only at the rear.

A trailer that carries its own drawbar and is coupled to a towing vehicle or another trailer, typical of dog-trailer combinations.

A trailer with an axle group at the front and rear, steered by a drawbar attached to the towing vehicle, often used in truck-and-dog combinations.

The construction, equipment and performance rules a heavy vehicle must meet to be roadworthy, covering brakes, lights, steering, tyres, couplings and body condition.

A systematic check of a heavy vehicle before driving, covering tyres, lights, brakes, fluid leaks, couplings, load security and warning devices, with faults recorded.

A formal notice issued when a vehicle is found unsafe or non-compliant, requiring the fault to be repaired and the vehicle inspected before it can be used again.

A defect that makes a vehicle unsafe or likely to affect its safe operation, requiring the vehicle to be taken out of service immediately until repaired.

A defect that does not currently make the vehicle unsafe but must be repaired within a set period, such as a faulty interior light or minor body damage.

The combination of lashings, chains, straps, gates and anchor points used to stop a load from moving, sliding or falling off a heavy vehicle.

The maximum force a lashing or tie-down is rated to withstand in service, marked on the component and used to calculate load restraint.

Movement of cargo within or on a vehicle during travel, which can destabilise the vehicle, overload an axle or cause the load to fall onto the road.

The total mass carried by all wheels on one axle or axle group, which must not exceed the limits set for that axle configuration.

The maximum permitted width, height, length and rear overhang of a heavy vehicle, beyond which an oversize permit or pilot escort may be required.

A vehicle or combination that exceeds standard dimension limits and may need a permit, warning signs, flags or escort vehicles depending on its size.

An escort vehicle that travels ahead of or behind an oversize load to warn other road users, often required as a condition of an oversize permit.

The legal principle that parties who influence heavy vehicle operations, such as schedulers, consignors and loading staff, share responsibility for compliance and safety.

The systems and practices a driver and operator use to ensure adequate rest and limit driving hours, reducing the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.

The default work and rest limits applying to heavy vehicle drivers, including maximum work periods and minimum rest breaks within a set period.

An accredited fatigue management option allowing more flexible work and rest hours than standard hours, subject to documented scheduling and training requirements.

A record in which a heavy vehicle driver notes work, rest and driving periods, used to demonstrate compliance with fatigue management rules.

The gap a heavy vehicle driver keeps behind the vehicle ahead, which must increase with speed and load because stopping distances are much longer.

The distance a vehicle travels from the moment the brakes are applied until it stops, increasing sharply with speed and with a heavier load.

An area around a heavy vehicle that the driver cannot see in the mirrors, especially close alongside and directly behind, where smaller vehicles may disappear.

A device that uses engine compression to slow a heavy vehicle on long descents, helping prevent brake fade from overheating.

The loss of braking performance caused by overheating of brake components, common after repeated or prolonged heavy braking on long downhill grades.