Alberta Class 2 cheat sheet

Default maximum speed on urban roads is 50 km/h unless posted otherwise; on provincial highways outside urban areas it is 100 km/h unless posted.

A vehicle must not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent; a common guideline is the two-second following distance in ideal conditions, increased to at least four seconds on ice, snow, or wet roads.

At an intersection with no signs or signals, the vehicle on the right has the right of way; a vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

School zones in Alberta are 30 km/h during posted times; playground zones are 30 km/h from 8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset unless otherwise posted.

Passing is prohibited when a solid yellow line is on your side, on or approaching a curve or hill where visibility is limited, and at intersections and railway crossings unless permitted by signs or a passing lane.

A driver must not consume alcohol while driving or have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more; graduated driver licensing rules impose a zero-tolerance limit for novice drivers.

Emergency vehicles approaching with lights and siren require drivers to pull to the right and stop; if on a two-way road, yield to the right; on a one-way road, yield to the nearest curb.

Seat belts are mandatory for all occupants; children under six years and weighing less than 18 kg must be secured in an appropriate child restraint.

At a railway crossing with flashing lights, gates, or a stop sign, a vehicle must stop at least 5 metres from the nearest rail and must not proceed until the signal has stopped and the way is clear.

A pre-trip inspection must cover lights, tires, brakes, steering, mirrors, windshield, wipers, horn, coupling devices, and cargo securement; defects affecting safe operation must be corrected before driving.

Daily trip inspections are required for commercial vehicles; the inspection report must be completed and signed by the driver, and defects must be recorded and reported to the carrier.

Air pressure loss in the brake system must not exceed 3 psi per minute for a single vehicle or 4 psi per minute for a combination of vehicles during a static leak test with the engine off and brakes released.

A low-air warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi (or 414 kPa); the spring brakes must apply automatically when pressure falls to between 20 and 45 psi.

A commercial driver must not drive after 14 consecutive hours on duty without at least 8 consecutive hours off duty; daily driving time is limited to 13 hours in Alberta under the provincial hours-of-service rules.

A vehicle must not be operated with a tire that has less than 1.6 mm (2/32 inch) tread depth or that has visible cord or sidewall damage; dual tires must not touch each other.

When coupling a tractor to a semi-trailer, the fifth-wheel jaws must be checked by a pull test with the trailer brakes applied, and the landing gear must be fully raised before moving.

A driver must inspect the load and securement within the first 80 km and every 3 hours or 240 km thereafter, and after any change in load or driving conditions.

Air brake systems operate on compressed air at 690–830 kPa (100–120 psi); the compressor governor cuts in to recharge the system when pressure drops below the cut-in pressure.

A dual-circuit air brake system has two separate circuits so that a failure in one circuit still leaves braking capability in the other; a warning must activate if pressure in either circuit drops below 60 psi.

The spring brakes (parking brakes) are held applied by mechanical springs and are released by air pressure; they apply automatically when system pressure falls below approximately 20–45 psi.

The tractor protection valve closes to prevent air loss from the tractor if the trailer breaks away or the trailer air line fails, preserving tractor braking ability.

The slack adjuster converts the linear motion of the brake chamber pushrod into rotary motion to apply the brake; pushrod travel must be within the manufacturer's specified limit, typically not more than 51 mm (2 inches) for a type 30 chamber.

A brake system air leak test: with the engine off, brakes released, and system fully charged, pressure loss must not exceed 3 psi per minute for a single vehicle or 4 psi per minute for a combination.

The low-air warning device must activate before the pressure drops below 60 psi; the system must build from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds at engine idle with the compressor at operating speed.

The alcohol evaporator or air dryer removes moisture from the air system; moisture can freeze in lines and cause brake failure in cold weather, so the air dryer must be drained regularly.

Alberta legal maximum gross vehicle weight is 63,500 kg for a combination of vehicles, subject to axle and tire limits; single axle maximum is typically 9,100 kg and tandem axle maximum is 17,000 kg on standard tires.

Loads must be securely fastened and must not extend beyond the front of the vehicle or more than 1.5 metres beyond the rear unless a red flag or light is attached; overhanging loads require warning flags.

Cargo must be distributed so that axle weights remain within legal limits and the vehicle remains stable; the centre of gravity should be kept as low and as close to the centre of the vehicle as possible.

A driver is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is not overloaded and that the load is properly secured before driving; overloaded vehicles can be ordered off the road and are subject to fines.

When transporting dangerous goods, the driver must carry the appropriate documentation, display required placards, and follow the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations.

Load securement devices must have an aggregate working load limit at least 50% of the weight of the cargo for tiedowns used to secure cargo, and cargo must not be able to shift or fall from the vehicle.

A vehicle must not tow more than one trailer unless specifically permitted; the towing vehicle must have adequate braking and hitch capacity for the load being towed.

Spilled loads or loose material must be cleaned up immediately; drivers are responsible for any cargo that falls from their vehicle and causes a hazard.