TESDA Driving NC III study plan

Label the major components of a tractor-trailer combination - fifth wheel, kingpin, landing gear, glad hands, trailer protection valve, pigtail, slack adjusters - and state the function of each.

Explain pivot point, off-tracking, rearward amplification and trailer swing, and sketch the swept path of a 40-ft trailer through a 90-degree turn.

Recite the 20-step coupling and uncoupling sequence in order, including alignment, backing, tug test and post-coupling checks.

Narrate aloud a left turn and a right turn in traffic, stating mirror checks, signal timing, off-track allowance and the space needed to complete the turn without mounting the curb.

Perform a complete pre-trip inspection in the correct sequence - paperwork, walk-around, under-hood, cab, brake tests - within a 30-minute timed window.

Run the three air-brake checks (static leak, applied leak, low-pressure warning) and record gauge readings against the reference limits in the NC III checklist.

Inspect the fifth wheel jaws, kingpin, safety latch, air lines, electrical cord, mud flaps and landing gear, listing every defect found.

Convert the defect list into pass, repair-before-departure or out-of-service decisions using a written criteria table.

Classify regulatory, warning and guide signs and pavement markings, and state the exact driver action each one requires of a heavy combination.

Apply right-of-way rules, the four-second-plus following rule (extended for length and load), and lane-use rules at intersections, roundabouts, railway crossings and merging ramps.

Identify the legal documents and limits that apply to heavy combinations - registration, driver licence class, GVW/GWCR and axle-load ceilings, height and width limits - and where each is verified.

Plan a route around restricted zones such as truck bans, weight-limited bridges, school zones and low-clearance structures.

Compute stopping distance and safe following gap in metres for a given speed, load and road surface, and explain how wet or gravel surfaces change the result.

Calculate GVW, payload and axle distribution on a worksheet, then compare each figure against the vehicle plate rating and flag the over-limit case.

Convert between kg and lb, km/h and m/s, and compute fuel burn in L/100 km plus cost per trip for a fixed route.

Enter trip data into a spreadsheet or phone app and set a formula that automatically flags out-of-limit values.

State the preventive maintenance intervals and service points for the air system, foundation brakes, tyres, fluids, belts, filters and fifth wheel.

Diagnose five common faults - slow air pressure build-up, brake drag, uneven tyre wear, coolant loss and hard steering - by writing symptom, probable cause and corrective action for each.

Measure tread depth, brake chamber pushrod stroke and slack adjuster free play, and compare each reading to the manufacturer limit.

Explain the safe procedure for a wheel torque re-check and tyre inflation on a heavy combination, including the stand-clear rule.

Compute weight distribution for a palletised load and explain how forward or rearward placement changes steer-axle load, traction and braking balance.

Calculate the number of tiedowns required using working load limit and the aggregate WLL rule, then justify the count in writing.

Inspect chains, straps, binders, ratchets and edge protection, and reject every damaged item against a written criterion.

Prepare the document set for a delivery - bill of lading, cargo manifest, delivery receipt, permits and any hazardous-goods paperwork - and check each field for completeness.

List the immediate corrective actions for brake failure, tyre blowout, jackknife onset, trailer breakaway, vehicle fire and load shift, in the order they must be performed.

Describe where and how to place warning devices, how to notify authorities, and what information to give on the call.

Apply scene-management and basic first-aid principles, including when a casualty must not be moved.

Complete an incident report recording the factual sequence, witnesses, vehicle condition and photographic evidence.

Perform the post-trip inspection, secure the unit, drain the air tanks, chock the wheels and record every defect on the handover sheet.

Produce a shift-end report covering trip log, fuel used, defects found, incidents and notes for the next driver.

Deliver a three-minute toolbox talk on a safety topic and assign follow-up actions with named owners and deadlines.

Resolve a simulated team performance or conflict issue using a documented four-step approach, and record the agreed action.