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VIC Heavy Rigid Knowledge Test study materials
VIC Heavy Rigid Knowledge Test study resources

VIC Heavy Rigid Knowledge Test practice questions

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Question 1Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Which Victorian licence class is required to drive a rigid vehicle with a GVM of 15 tonnes and three axles?

  1. Light Rigid (LR)
  2. Heavy Rigid (HR) Correct answer.
  3. Medium Rigid (MR)
  4. Heavy Combination (HC)

Explanation

A rigid vehicle with a GVM over 8 tonnes and three or more axles falls within the Heavy Rigid class. Medium Rigid is limited to two-axle rigid vehicles over 8 tonnes. Heavy Combination covers articulated combinations, and Light Rigid covers 4.5 to 8 tonnes.

Question 2Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Which description matches a Medium Rigid (MR) vehicle?

  1. A rigid vehicle with three axles and a GVM over 8 tonnes
  2. A rigid vehicle with two axles and a GVM over 8 tonnes Correct answer.
  3. A rigid vehicle with a GVM between 4.5 and 8 tonnes
  4. An articulated vehicle consisting of a prime mover and semi-trailer

Explanation

Medium Rigid covers a rigid vehicle with two axles and a GVM greater than 8 tonnes, and it may tow a trailer up to 9 tonnes GVM. A three-axle rigid vehicle over 8 tonnes is Heavy Rigid. A 4.5 to 8 tonne rigid vehicle is Light Rigid, and a semi-trailer is Heavy Combination.

Question 3Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Which licence class covers a rigid vehicle with a GVM of 6 tonnes?

  1. Car (C)
  2. Medium Rigid (MR)
  3. Heavy Rigid (HR)
  4. Light Rigid (LR) Correct answer.

Explanation

Light Rigid covers rigid vehicles with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes and up to 8 tonnes. A car licence covers vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes GVM. Medium Rigid requires a GVM over 8 tonnes, and Heavy Rigid requires three or more axles over 8 tonnes.

Question 4Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Under Victorian heavy vehicle arrangements, a motor vehicle is generally a heavy vehicle when its GVM exceeds:

  1. 2 tonnes
  2. 4.5 tonnes Correct answer.
  3. 4.0 tonnes
  4. 3.5 tonnes

Explanation

Heavy vehicle law applies to motor vehicles with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes, and to combinations that include them. Vehicles at or below 4.5 tonnes GVM are dealt with under light vehicle and car licence rules.

Question 5Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

GVM stands for gross vehicle mass. What does it represent?

  1. The mass of the vehicle with no load
  2. The maximum loaded mass of the vehicle itself Correct answer.
  3. The mass of the vehicle plus any trailer it tows
  4. The maximum mass allowed on the rear axle

Explanation

GVM is the maximum mass of the motor vehicle when loaded, set by the manufacturer and subject to legal limits. It does not include the mass of a trailer, which is dealt with under the combination mass. Axle limits are separate from GVM.

Question 6Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

The tare mass of a heavy vehicle is:

  1. The maximum load it may carry
  2. The mass of the load plus the driver
  3. The maximum mass of a trailer it may tow
  4. Its unladen mass, including fluids and standard equipment Correct answer.

Explanation

Tare mass is the mass of the vehicle as built and operating with no payload, typically including fuel, oil, coolant and standard equipment. Payload is found by subtracting tare from GVM. Tare does not include the goods being carried.

Question 7Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A rigid truck has a GVM of 12 tonnes and a tare mass of 5 tonnes. What is its maximum payload under those ratings?

  1. 17 tonnes
  2. 7 tonnes Correct answer.
  3. 5 tonnes
  4. 12 tonnes

Explanation

Payload is calculated by subtracting tare from GVM: 12 tonnes minus 5 tonnes equals 7 tonnes. This assumes the load is distributed so that no axle or axle group limit is exceeded. The legal load may be lower if the vehicle's configuration or registration restricts it.

Question 8Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Gross combination mass (GCM) is best described as:

  1. The mass of the trailer when fully loaded
  2. The maximum mass permitted on a tandem axle group
  3. The mass of the prime mover alone when loaded
  4. The maximum loaded mass of a motor vehicle plus any trailers it tows Correct answer.

Explanation

GCM is the maximum loaded mass allowed for the whole combination, including the towing vehicle and trailer or trailers. It is different from GVM, which applies to the vehicle by itself. Both GCM and GVM must be satisfied.

Question 9Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Which licence class is required to drive a prime mover attached to a semi-trailer?

  1. Medium Rigid (MR)
  2. Heavy Combination (HC) Correct answer.
  3. Multi-Combination (MC)
  4. Heavy Rigid (HR)

Explanation

Heavy Combination covers articulated combinations such as a prime mover and semi-trailer, and rigid vehicles towing trailers over 9 tonnes. Multi-Combination is for multiple trailers such as B-doubles and road trains. Heavy Rigid and Medium Rigid are rigid vehicle classes.

Question 10Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Driving a B-double requires which Victorian licence class?

  1. Heavy Rigid (HR)
  2. Heavy Combination (HC)
  3. Multi-Combination (MC) Correct answer.
  4. Medium Rigid (MR)

Explanation

A B-double is a combination involving two trailers, so it falls under Multi-Combination. Heavy Combination covers a single semi-trailer. Heavy Rigid and Medium Rigid are rigid vehicle classes and do not cover multiple trailers.

Question 11Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

The holder of a Heavy Rigid licence may tow a trailer with a GVM of up to:

  1. 9 tonnes Correct answer.
  2. 12 tonnes
  3. 6 tonnes
  4. 4.5 tonnes

Explanation

Heavy Rigid allows a rigid vehicle over 8 tonnes with three or more axles to tow a trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9 tonnes. Towing a trailer over 9 tonnes generally requires Heavy Combination. A car licence towing limit is 4.5 tonnes.

Question 12Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A person with only a car (C) licence in Victoria may tow a trailer with a maximum GVM of:

  1. 2 tonnes
  2. 3 tonnes
  3. 4.5 tonnes Correct answer.
  4. 750 kg

Explanation

A car licence permits towing a trailer up to 4.5 tonnes GVM, provided the towing vehicle's capacity and GCM are not exceeded. Anything above 4.5 tonnes GVM requires an appropriate heavy vehicle class. The trailer's actual mass must also remain within its ratings.

Question 13Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A prime mover is loaded so that it is under its GVM, but the combination exceeds the prime mover's GCM. Is this permitted?

  1. No, the combination must also stay within the GCM Correct answer.
  2. Yes, because GVM is the only legal limit
  3. Yes, provided the trailer is under its ATM
  4. No, because the prime mover must be empty when towing

Explanation

Both GVM and GCM, as well as axle and axle-group limits, must be satisfied. GCM limits the total mass of the towing vehicle and trailer or trailers. Staying under GVM alone does not make an over-GCM combination legal.

Question 14Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A tandem axle group on a heavy vehicle is found to be above its specified group mass limit. The vehicle's total mass is under GVM. What is the status?

  1. Legal, because each individual axle is under its own limit
  2. Legal, because total GVM is not exceeded
  3. Legal if the steer axle is under its limit
  4. Overloaded on that axle group, even though GVM is not exceeded Correct answer.

Explanation

Axle and axle-group limits apply independently of GVM. A group can be over its limit even when total vehicle mass is under GVM. The load must be redistributed or reduced to bring the group within its limit.

Question 15Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

When a manufacturer's GVM rating is lower than the legal mass limit for the vehicle's configuration, the maximum legal operating mass is:

  1. The manufacturer's rating Correct answer.
  2. Whichever figure the driver chooses
  3. The legal limit, because legislation overrides the plate
  4. The higher of the two figures

Explanation

The lower of the manufacturer's rating and the legal limit applies. A vehicle must not be loaded beyond its manufacturer's GVM even if legislation would allow more for that axle configuration. This protects the vehicle's design limits.

Question 16Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Aggregate trailer mass (ATM) is:

  1. The mass of the trailer when empty
  2. The maximum mass of a loaded trailer, including its own weight and load Correct answer.
  3. The maximum mass a trailer may impose on the towing vehicle's coupling
  4. The mass of the trailer plus its payload divided by the number of axles

Explanation

ATM is the maximum loaded mass of the trailer, as specified by the manufacturer and subject to legal limits. It includes the trailer's tare plus its payload. It is not the same as the mass imposed on the towing vehicle's coupling.

Question 17Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A rigid truck is rated to tow a trailer with a maximum ATM of 8 tonnes. The driver wants to tow a trailer with an ATM of 10 tonnes. What applies?

  1. It is permitted if the truck is under its GVM
  2. It is permitted if the driver holds an HR licence
  3. The combination is not permitted because the trailer exceeds the truck's towing rating Correct answer.
  4. It is permitted if the trailer is only partly loaded

Explanation

A towing vehicle must not exceed its rated towing capacity or ATM, even if the trailer is partly loaded. The combination must also satisfy GCM and axle limits. Licence class does not change the vehicle's mass ratings.

Question 18Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

In Victoria, the registered mass of a heavy vehicle should be:

  1. Always exactly the GVM
  2. The tare mass only
  3. Lower than GVM to reduce registration cost
  4. At least the maximum mass at which the vehicle will operate Correct answer.

Explanation

Registration is based on a mass that covers the vehicle's intended operating mass; operating above the registered mass can breach registration conditions. The registered mass must be sufficient for actual loads. It is not necessarily the tare or exactly the GVM.

Question 19Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A combination cannot comply with standard mass limits for a particular journey. What is the usual lawful pathway?

  1. Apply for an oversize or overmass permit or follow an approved notice Correct answer.
  2. Reduce speed and proceed without any approval
  3. Drive at night to avoid detection
  4. Use hazard lights and exceed limits by up to 10%

Explanation

Mass and dimension limits can only be exceeded under an appropriate permit or notice. Penalties apply to unapproved overmass operation. Speed, lighting or time of day does not create an exemption.

Question 20Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A load is moved rearward on a rigid truck. What is the likely effect on axle loads?

  1. Front axle load decreases and rear axle load increases Correct answer.
  2. Both axle loads decrease
  3. Front axle load increases and rear axle load decreases
  4. Both axle loads stay the same if total mass is unchanged

Explanation

Moving mass rearward shifts weight from the steer axle to the rear axle group. This can overload the rear group even if total mass is unchanged. Load position is critical to compliance with axle and group limits.

Question 21Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A driver holds an HR licence and wants to tow a trailer with a GVM of 10 tonnes using a three-axle rigid truck. Which class is required?

  1. Heavy Rigid (HR) is sufficient
  2. Heavy Combination (HC) Correct answer.
  3. Medium Rigid (MR)
  4. Multi-Combination (MC)

Explanation

Heavy Rigid covers towing trailers only up to 9 tonnes GVM. A trailer over 9 tonnes behind a rigid vehicle requires Heavy Combination. Multi-Combination is only for multiple trailers.

Question 22Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A rigid truck has a GVM of 15 tonnes and a GCM of 20 tonnes. It is loaded to its GVM and tows a trailer with a loaded mass of 6 tonnes. What is the combination mass and is it compliant?

  1. 20 tonnes; compliant because GCM is not exceeded
  2. 21 tonnes; not compliant because GCM is exceeded Correct answer.
  3. 21 tonnes; compliant because the truck is within GVM
  4. 15 tonnes; compliant because only the truck's mass counts

Explanation

Combination mass is 15 plus 6, which equals 21 tonnes and exceeds the 20 tonne GCM. Meeting GVM does not excuse exceeding GCM. The load or trailer mass must be reduced.

Question 23Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

GTM (gross trailer mass) differs from ATM because GTM is:

  1. The total loaded mass of the towing vehicle and trailer together
  2. The maximum loaded mass carried by the trailer's axles, excluding the mass imposed on the towing vehicle Correct answer.
  3. The maximum mass the trailer's coupling can impose on the towing vehicle
  4. The trailer mass when empty

Explanation

GTM is the maximum mass supported by the trailer's own axles. It excludes the portion of the trailer's mass carried by the towing vehicle through the coupling or fifth wheel. ATM includes the whole loaded trailer mass.

Question 24Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A rigid truck has a GVM of 12 tonnes and a GCM of 18 tonnes. It is loaded to 12 tonnes and tows a trailer rated to ATM 8 tonnes. What maximum trailer load mass does the GCM allow?

  1. 8 tonnes
  2. 18 tonnes
  3. 6 tonnes Correct answer.
  4. 12 tonnes

Explanation

GCM of 18 tonnes minus the truck's 12 tonnes leaves 6 tonnes for the trailer. This is less than the trailer's 8 tonne ATM, so the GCM is the controlling limit. The lower limit must be used.

Question 25Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

The load a semi-trailer imposes on the prime mover through the fifth wheel:

  1. Is limited only by the trailer's ATM rating
  2. Is excluded from all mass limits because it is a trailer load
  3. Forms part of the prime mover's GVM and the combination mass Correct answer.
  4. Is counted only against the trailer's GTM

Explanation

The fifth-wheel or kingpin load is carried by the prime mover, so it counts toward the prime mover's GVM and the combination mass. GTM excludes it, but that does not remove it from the towing vehicle's limits. Exceeding it can overload the prime mover.

Question 26Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Under Victorian licensing rules, a light rigid vehicle is one with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of:

  1. over 12 tonnes
  2. 4.5 tonnes or less
  3. over 8 tonnes up to 12 tonnes
  4. over 4.5 tonnes up to 8 tonnes Correct answer.

Explanation

The light rigid (LR) class covers vehicles with a GVM above 4.5 tonnes and up to 8 tonnes. Anything at or below 4.5 tonnes is driven on a car licence, while heavier rigid vehicles move into the medium and heavy rigid classes.

Question 27Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Under general mass limits, the maximum mass permitted on a tandem axle group fitted with dual tyres is:

  1. 16.5 tonnes Correct answer.
  2. 20.0 tonnes
  3. 13.0 tonnes
  4. 15.0 tonnes

Explanation

General mass limits allow 16.5 tonnes on a tandem axle group with dual tyres. For comparison, a tri-axle group is allowed 20.0 tonnes and a single axle with dual tyres is allowed 9.0 tonnes.

Question 28Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

For registration and mass-management purposes in Victoria, a heavy vehicle is one that has a GVM of more than:

  1. 12 tonnes
  2. 8 tonnes
  3. 4.5 tonnes Correct answer.
  4. 3.5 tonnes

Explanation

A heavy vehicle is defined by its GVM exceeding 4.5 tonnes. At or below that figure the vehicle is a light vehicle and the heavy vehicle mass and registration rules do not apply.

Question 29Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A two-axle table-top truck has a GVM of 10 tonnes. Which Victorian licence class is required to drive it?

  1. Medium Rigid (MR) Correct answer.
  2. Heavy Combination (HC)
  3. Heavy Rigid (HR)
  4. Light Rigid (LR)

Explanation

The medium rigid class covers two-axle vehicles with a GVM above 8 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes. A 10 tonne two-axle truck therefore falls squarely within MR.

Question 30Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A three-axle rigid truck is loaded so that its steer axle carries 6.6 tonnes. Every other axle group and the truck's total mass are within their limits. What is the status of this load?

  1. It is lawful provided the drive group is under its limit
  2. It is lawful because the total mass is within the GVM
  3. It is unlawful because the steer axle exceeds its 6.0 tonne limit Correct answer.
  4. It is lawful because single steer axles are not subject to mass limits

Explanation

Under general mass limits a single steer axle may carry no more than 6.0 tonnes. Each axle and axle group must comply in its own right, so exceeding one axle limit is a breach even when total mass and the other groups are fine.

Question 31Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A trailer that carries its load on its own axle group at the front and another at the rear, and is connected to the towing vehicle by a rigid drawbar, is known as a:

  1. dog trailer Correct answer.
  2. converter dolly
  3. pig trailer
  4. semi-trailer

Explanation

A dog trailer has two axle groups of its own and is towed by a drawbar. By contrast, a pig trailer has only one axle group and a semi-trailer has no front axle group at all.

Question 32Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

A tandem axle group on a rigid truck carries a manufacturer's rating of 15.0 tonnes, while the general mass limit for a tandem group is 16.5 tonnes. What is the greatest mass the group may legally carry?

  1. No group limit applies as long as the GVM is not exceeded
  2. 15.0 tonnes, as the lower figure applies Correct answer.
  3. 16.5 tonnes, because that is the general mass limit
  4. 16.25 tonnes, which is the average of the two figures

Explanation

A vehicle must satisfy both the legal mass limits and the manufacturer's ratings stamped on the vehicle. Where the manufacturer's rating is the lower of the two, that rating becomes the effective maximum for the group.

Question 33Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

In a heavy combination, a converter dolly is used to:

  1. add a second deck to a semi-trailer so its legal payload increases
  2. couple a semi-trailer behind a rigid truck or another trailer Correct answer.
  3. reduce the mass carried on the prime mover's drive axles when loaded
  4. lengthen a rigid truck's chassis so it can be registered as a prime mover

Explanation

A converter dolly is a separate axle group fitted with a fifth wheel and a drawbar. It lets a semi-trailer be towed behind a rigid truck or another trailer, producing combinations such as a truck and dog or a B-double arrangement.

Question 34Heavy vehicle licensing, vehicle categories and mass limits

Under general mass limits, the maximum gross mass of a six-axle articulated vehicle (three-axle prime mover with three-axle semi-trailer) is:

  1. 46.0 tonnes
  2. 45.5 tonnes
  3. 42.5 tonnes Correct answer.
  4. 39.0 tonnes

Explanation

General mass limits permit 42.5 tonnes for a six-axle articulated vehicle. The higher 45.5 tonne figure is only available where concessional or higher mass limits apply and the vehicle meets the extra conditions.

Question 35Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

What is the main purpose of a pre-start inspection on a heavy rigid vehicle?

  1. To find faults or damage before they become a safety risk Correct answer.
  2. To confirm that the vehicle's registration has been renewed for the current period
  3. To work out how much fuel the day's deliveries will use
  4. To decide whether the vehicle needs to be washed before departure

Explanation

A pre-start inspection is a systematic physical check of the vehicle carried out before it is used, so that faults are found and fixed before they cause a breakdown or crash. It does not replace scheduled maintenance or administrative tasks.

Question 36Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

When must a pre-start inspection be carried out on a heavy vehicle?

  1. Only after the vehicle has been serviced
  2. Once every seven days of operation
  3. Before the vehicle is first used each day Correct answer.
  4. Whenever the registration is due for renewal

Explanation

A check must be done before the vehicle's first use each day so defects are identified before it enters the road network. On a multi-day trip the checks continue each day, not just on the first day.

Question 37Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

During a pre-start check you find a deep cut in a rear tyre that exposes the cords. What should you do?

  1. Seal the cut with a plug and continue the journey
  2. Reduce speed for the trip and keep a close watch on the tyre
  3. Leave the vehicle parked until the tyre is repaired or replaced Correct answer.
  4. Record the cut and check the tyre again at the next scheduled service

Explanation

Exposed cords mean the tyre's structure is damaged and it can fail without warning. A tyre in that condition makes the vehicle unroadworthy, so it must not be driven until it is replaced.

Question 38Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

What should you check about the vehicle's lights during a pre-start inspection?

  1. That the headlights are brighter than the parking lights
  2. That every globe has been replaced within the last twelve months
  3. That each lamp works and the lenses are clean and unbroken Correct answer.
  4. That the lamps only come on when the engine is running

Explanation

All lamps and reflectors must work and be visible so the vehicle can be seen and can signal its intentions. Cracked lenses let water and dirt in and reduce light output.

Question 39Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

When is the best time to check engine oil and coolant levels on a heavy vehicle?

  1. When the engine is cold and the vehicle is on level ground Correct answer.
  2. While the engine is idling at operating temperature
  3. Straight after a long highway run
  4. Only when a warning light comes on in the dash

Explanation

Checking with a cold engine on level ground gives a true reading and avoids the risk of scalding from a pressurised, hot cooling system. Waiting for a warning light means the problem has already developed.

Question 40Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

Before leaving the depot with a loaded heavy rigid vehicle, the driver must ensure the load is:

  1. stacked as high as the vehicle body allows
  2. checked only by the person who loaded the vehicle
  3. covered by a tarpaulin in all weather conditions including fine days
  4. restrained so it cannot move or fall from the vehicle Correct answer.

Explanation

The load must be restrained so it can withstand the forces of braking, cornering and road shocks and cannot fall onto the road. The driver remains responsible for confirming the load is secure before moving off.

Question 41Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

You find a brake fault during your pre-start inspection. What should you do?

  1. Report the fault and do not use the vehicle until it is repaired Correct answer.
  2. Test the brakes on the road to see whether the fault really matters
  3. Ask another driver whether the fault is serious enough to report
  4. Drive the vehicle today and report the fault at the end of the shift

Explanation

A vehicle with a brake defect is unroadworthy and must not be driven. The fault must be reported to the operator and repaired and checked before the vehicle is used.

Question 42Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

What is the correct pre-start check for the windscreen, wipers and mirrors?

  1. Check the glass is clean and unbroken and the wipers work Correct answer.
  2. Adjust the mirrors after the vehicle is moving
  3. Apply a tinted film to the windscreen to reduce glare
  4. Wash the windscreen at the end of each shift

Explanation

The driver must have a clear view through the windscreen and mirrors, and working wipers are needed to keep that view in rain. Damage or dirt in the swept area reduces vision and must be dealt with before departure.

Question 43Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

After coupling a prime mover to a semitrailer, how does the driver confirm the fifth wheel is properly locked?

  1. The locking jaws are closed and the safety catch is engaged Correct answer.
  2. The trailer's landing legs are resting firmly on the ground
  3. The trailer sits level with the ground when viewed from behind
  4. The turntable has been greased and the air lines are connected

Explanation

The fifth wheel must be fully locked so the trailer cannot separate from the prime mover. The safety catch or dog clip stops the release handle from opening while the vehicle is in service.

Question 44Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

Before driving a heavy vehicle fitted with air brakes, the driver should confirm that:

  1. the brakes release only when the engine is switched off
  2. the compressor builds pressure up to the normal cut-out point Correct answer.
  3. the low pressure warning stays on while the vehicle is moving
  4. the air tanks are fully drained before the trip begins

Explanation

Air pressure must reach the normal operating range before the vehicle is driven, otherwise the brakes may not apply or release properly. The low pressure warning should go out once pressure is up.

Question 45Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

What is the purpose of the wheel nut indicators fitted to a heavy vehicle's wheels?

  1. They balance the wheel and reduce vibration at speed
  2. They lock the wheel nuts so they cannot be removed
  3. They show the correct inflation pressure for the tyre
  4. They make it easy to see if a wheel nut has begun to loosen Correct answer.

Explanation

Indicators are aligned with each other when the nuts are correctly torqued. If an arrow has moved out of line, the nut may be loose and the wheel must be checked before the vehicle is used.

Question 46Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

How should tyre pressures be checked on a heavy vehicle?

  1. By kicking the tyre and listening for a hollow sound
  2. After a long trip when the tyres are at their normal operating temperature
  3. Only when a tyre looks flat to the eye
  4. When the tyres are cold, against the manufacturer's recommendation Correct answer.

Explanation

Pressures rise as tyres heat up, so a hot reading is higher than the true cold setting and can hide under-inflation. Checking cold against the recommended figure gives an accurate result.

Question 47Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

After starting the engine you notice that the ABS warning light stays on. What does this mean?

  1. The vehicle's battery is not being charged by the alternator
  2. The trailer brakes have been applied automatically
  3. The anti-lock braking system has a fault to investigate Correct answer.
  4. The anti-lock braking system has been switched off deliberately

Explanation

Most systems run a self-test at start-up and the lamp should go out shortly afterwards. If it stays on, the anti-lock function may not operate and the fault should be reported and checked.

Question 48Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

You find a pool of fresh oil under the engine during the pre-start check. What should you do?

  1. Report and investigate the leak before the vehicle is used Correct answer.
  2. Wash the area with water and continue the trip
  3. Top up the oil and note the leak at the next scheduled service
  4. Wipe the oil away and look again at the end of the day

Explanation

A new or growing leak can lead to low oil levels and is also a slip hazard at the depot. The source should be identified and the fault reported before the vehicle is used.

Question 49Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

Why should a driver record the results of the daily pre-start inspection?

  1. To tell the loader how the vehicle should be loaded
  2. To provide a record that the vehicle's condition was checked Correct answer.
  3. To work out the vehicle's fuel consumption for the week
  4. To show that the driver has taken the required rest breaks

Explanation

Records show the check was carried out, allow defects to be tracked through to repair, and support the operator's maintenance obligations. They also provide evidence if the vehicle's condition is later questioned.

Question 50Pre-start checks, vehicle inspection and defects

A fault develops while you are driving along a highway. What is the correct action?

  1. Stop as soon as it is safe, assess the fault and act to keep the vehicle safe Correct answer.
  2. Stop in the traffic lane and inspect the vehicle where it is
  3. Phone your supervisor and keep driving until you are told to stop
  4. Keep driving at a reduced speed and report it on arrival

Explanation

The driver must stop in a safe location, judge whether the vehicle can continue, and report the defect. Continuing with a developing fault can turn a minor problem into a crash or breakdown.