Transport, Stability, and Load Handling
What this domain tests
Transport, Stability, and Load Handling tests your judgment about centre of gravity, slopes, ballast, secure hitching, and safe road travel with or without an implement.
Core rules
- Keep the centre of gravity low and the wheel track wide for the task. A raised loader, a high sprayer tank, or a heavy implement on the three-point hitch raises the centre of gravity and reduces the slope angle at which a rollover can occur.
- Travel straight up and down slopes where possible. Avoid turning on a slope, especially with a raised load; turning shifts the centre of gravity sideways.
- Carry loader buckets low, with the load tilted back. Travel in a low gear and keep the transmission engaged; do not coast.
- Hitch trailed loads to the drawbar, not the three-point hitch or a loader arm. Use a safety chain and match the load to the tractor’s braking and weight.
- For road transport: lock brake pedals, fit lights and SMV emblem, secure implements, observe width and speed limits, and use an escort where required.
Worked example
You must move a loaded front bucket down a firm slope. Lower the bucket close to the ground, select low range, engage four-wheel drive if available, keep the transmission in gear, and descend at a controlled speed without turning. If the bucket is raised, the load’s height moves the combined centre of gravity forward and upward, increasing the risk of a forward tip.
Traps
Riding with a raised loader, turning uphill on a slope, towing with the three-point hitch, and relying on the parking brake instead of chocking a trailed load are frequent errors. Check that the load is secured, not merely resting on the forks.