Basic Control
What the exam tests
Basic control covers starting, moving, steering, and stopping a heavy vehicle smoothly. Questions test your understanding of clutch and throttle coordination, idle creep, and control at low speed.
Core rules
- Complete the pre-trip and secure the cab before starting.
- Start in neutral with the clutch depressed and the parking brake set.
- Build air pressure and check gauges before moving.
- Use idle creep to move slowly without stalling.
- Steer with both hands and look well ahead.
- Stop progressively: release the accelerator, apply the brake smoothly, and downshift as speed drops.
Worked example
You are starting on a slight upgrade. With the parking brake set, shift into first, release the clutch to the friction point, add throttle, and release the parking brake only when the vehicle begins to pull. Releasing the brake too early lets the vehicle roll backward; too late stalls the engine. The reasoning is that the clutch must carry the load before the brake is released.
Traps that cost marks
- Riding the clutch, which overheats it and shortens its life.
- Oversteering and then correcting repeatedly; heavy vehicles respond slowly.
- Skipping the gauge check after start.
- Rolling backward on a hill because the parking brake is released too soon.
Exam tip
Smoothness is the theme: smooth clutch release, smooth braking, and smooth steering corrections.