Denmark Category C Truck Theory Test cheat sheet

Danish speed limits: built-up areas 50 km/h, outside built-up areas 80 km/h, motorways (motorvej) 130 km/h, expressways (motortrafikvej) 80–90 km/h unless signed otherwise.

A truck over 3.5 t maximum permissible mass may not exceed 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 70 km/h on motorways/expressways unless a lower sign applies; posted signs override.

Trailer rule: a truck with trailer over 3.5 t total may generally drive 80 km/h on motorways where permitted; check the specific sign, since limits are sign-specific.

Mandatory sign shapes: red-bordered circle = prohibition/restriction; blue circle = mandatory instruction; triangle with red border = warning; rectangle = information.

Right-hand traffic; overtaking on the left only. Overtaking is prohibited where a solid white line, a no-overtaking sign, or a pedestrian crossing approach applies.

Roundabout: yield to traffic already circulating; signal on exit. In Denmark, cyclists and pedestrians have priority when entering/exiting.

Stopping/parking: no stopping within 5 m of a pedestrian crossing or junction corner; parking prohibited within 12 m of a junction unless otherwise marked.

Traffic light sequence: red, red+amber, green, amber. Amber alone means stop unless stopping is unsafe; red+amber means prepare to go, not go.

Priority-to-the-right applies at unsigned junctions; exiting a private road, gravel road or petrol station always yields to all traffic.

Air brake system: compressor charges reservoirs to about 8–10 bar; low-pressure warning at roughly 4.5–5.5 bar; spring (parking) brakes apply automatically when pressure drops below about 2 bar.

Air brake daily check: drain condensate from reservoirs, confirm pressure builds and holds, listen for leaks, test service and parking brake before driving.

Exhaust brake and retarder are auxiliary braking systems; they slow the vehicle without using the foot brake, reducing fade on long descents.

Retarder/engine brake must switch off automatically when ABS is active or the clutch is depressed; never use on slippery surfaces where drive wheels may lock.

Diesel engine: turbocharger, common-rail injection, EGR and SCR/AdBlue systems. AdBlue consumption is roughly 3–6 % of diesel consumption.

Tachograph: digital tachograph records driver card data; driver must insert card at start of shift and ensure correct manual entries for other work, availability and rest.

Fifth wheel (sadelkobling): check locking jaw fully closed, locking handle secured, and that the kingpin is greased; a visual pull test confirms coupling.

Tyre rules: minimum tread depth 1.6 mm for trucks (1.0 mm for cars); check pressures cold and inspect for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.

ABS and EBS: ABS prevents wheel lock under braking; EBS adds electronic brake distribution and stability control (ESP). Warning lamp means a fault - get it checked.

Stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance. Reaction distance = speed (m/s) × reaction time (about 1 s); braking distance grows with the square of speed.

At 80 km/h, total stopping distance on dry asphalt is roughly 60–70 m; on wet or icy roads it can double or more.

Engine braking: stay in a low gear on descents so the engine and retarder do the braking work; avoid continuous foot-brake use, which causes fade.

Cornering: slow before the bend, keep steady power through it. A high centre of gravity (loaded truck) increases rollover risk; avoid sudden steering.

Following distance: use the 2-second rule in good conditions, 4 seconds on wet roads, and 6+ seconds on ice or in poor visibility.

Blind spots: a truck has large blind areas in front, at the sides and behind. Use mirrors continuously; a cyclist or pedestrian beside the cab may be invisible.

Lane changes: signal early, check mirrors and blind spot, and allow for the trailer's longer swing path and off-tracking on tight turns.

Aquaplaning: reduce speed in heavy rain; if steering feels light, ease off the accelerator without braking and hold the wheel steady.

Hill starts: use the parking brake or hill-hold function; a loaded truck can roll back quickly on gradients.

Axle-load limits in Denmark: steering axle typically max 10 t (depending on tyre size and registration); drive axle(s) and trailer axles commonly max 10–11.5 t per axle; total combination limit 56 t for certain combinations.

Check the vehicle's registration certificate for its permitted maximum masses and axle loads; the lowest value applies.

Load distribution: place the heaviest cargo low and over or slightly ahead of the drive axle; never exceed the front-axle limit, which affects steering.

Securing: use lashing straps, chains or load bars rated for the load. The required lashing capacity depends on cargo weight and friction; a rule of thumb is at least one strap per 2–3 m of load length.

Friction coefficient: about 0.6 for wood on wood, about 0.2 for steel on steel. Low friction means more lashings are needed.

Cargo must be secured against forward, rearward and sideways movement; a headboard or front wall helps but is not a substitute for lashings.

Tarpaulin and side curtains: curtains alone do not secure cargo; use internal load bars or straps.

Overhang: mark projecting loads; check the maximum permitted rear overhang and total length with the load.

After loading, re-check lashings after the first few kilometres and at each stop; straps can loosen as cargo settles.

Daily driving limit: 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice per week. Weekly limit: 56 hours; two-week limit: 90 hours.

Breaks: after 4.5 hours of driving, take a break of at least 45 minutes, which may be split into 15 minutes plus 30 minutes in that order.

Daily rest: normally 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours up to three times between weekly rests. Split daily rest: 3 hours plus 9 hours.

Weekly rest: at least 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours (compensation required). A weekly rest must start no later than the end of the sixth 24-hour period after the previous weekly rest.

Reduced weekly rest compensation: the hours reduced must be taken in one block before the end of the third week following the week in question.

Tachograph: record all activities - driving, other work, availability and rest. Manual entries are required for activities not recorded automatically.

Driver card: personal, non-transferable. Losing or damaging it must be reported; a replacement is needed within 15 days.

Records: keep the last 28 days of tachograph data available for inspection; printouts may be requested by enforcement.

Ferry/train: a break or rest may be interrupted by boarding and disembarking; these interruptions count toward the break if the total interruption is within the allowed time.

Scene safety first: switch off the engine, apply the parking brake, put on a warning triangle at least 50 m behind the vehicle (100 m on motorways), and wear a hi-vis vest.

Emergency call in Denmark: 112 for fire, police and ambulance. Give location, number of casualties and hazards.

First aid priority: check airway, breathing and circulation; call 112; start CPR (30 compressions to 2 breaths) if the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or dressing; do not remove an embedded object - pad around it.

Fire: use a powder or CO2 extinguisher on the base of the flames; never open the engine cover fully if the engine is on fire - smother the fire.

Tyre blowout: hold the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, and steer to a safe stop.

Brake failure: use engine braking, the retarder, and the parking brake gradually; look for an escape route or runaway ramp.

Jack-knifing risk: on slippery roads, brake gently and avoid sudden steering; if the trailer starts to swing, ease off and steer into the skid.

Unconscious casualty: place in the recovery position if breathing; monitor breathing until help arrives.

Eco-driving: accelerate smoothly, shift up early (around 1,200–1,500 rpm for diesel), and keep engine speed low in the highest suitable gear.

Anticipate traffic: lift off the accelerator early and coast to a stop instead of braking late; this cuts fuel use and brake wear.

Idling burns fuel: switch off the engine for stops longer than about 1–2 minutes; modern engines do not need long warm-up idling.

Tyre pressure: under-inflation increases rolling resistance and fuel consumption; check pressures weekly and before long trips.

Aerodynamics: roof spoilers, side skirts and cab-roof fairings reduce drag; keep them fitted and correctly adjusted to the trailer height.

Route planning: avoid congestion, use motorways where possible, and combine deliveries to reduce empty running.

Load weight: every extra tonne increases fuel consumption; remove unnecessary equipment and avoid partial loads where possible.

AdBlue and SCR reduce NOx emissions; the system must not be tampered with, and running out of AdBlue can derate the engine.

Fuel log: track consumption (litres per 100 km) to spot mechanical problems such as dragging brakes or a faulty injector.

Driver CPC (beforeeruddannelse): 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years for professional drivers of trucks over 3.5 t.

Initial CPC: either 280 hours of basic training or a combination of training and tests, depending on the route chosen.

Periodic training covers: advanced driving and safety, regulations, health and safety, and eco-driving; courses must be approved.

Driver card: the digital tachograph card is personal and must not be lent or used by another driver.

Driver responsibilities: check the vehicle before driving, ensure the load is secure, and report defects that affect roadworthiness.

Documentation: carry a valid driving licence, CPC card, driver card and vehicle documents; enforcement may request them at any time.

Working time: road transport workers are covered by the Working Time Directive - max 48-hour average week, with night-work limits.

Medical fitness: report conditions that affect driving; the licence may be restricted or revoked.

Employer duties: provide training, maintain vehicles and plan routes that allow legal driving and rest times.

Winter tyres: in Denmark, winter tyres are not legally mandatory, but are strongly recommended in winter conditions; check tread depth and use M+S or 3PMSF tyres.

Snow chains: fit to drive wheels only, and only where required; remove them once the road is clear to avoid damage.

Darkness: use dipped headlights; main beam only when it does not dazzle others. Increase following distance in the dark.

Tunnels: switch on dipped headlights, keep a safe distance, do not overtake unless permitted, and note the emergency exits and refuge niches.

Tunnel fire: stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, leave the key, and evacuate on foot to the nearest exit or refuge; do not turn around.

Bridges: high winds can affect a high-sided truck; reduce speed and hold the wheel firmly. Some bridges close to high-sided vehicles in strong wind.

Ice and snow: reduce speed, brake gently and early, and avoid sudden steering; use a lower gear on descents.

Fog: use fog lights only when visibility is below about 50 m; switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling others.

Visibility: clean windows, mirrors and lights before driving; a dirty windscreen increases glare from low sun and oncoming lights.