The semi-trailer has no spring brakes on any axle. What must you do before backing under it?
Alberta Class 1–4 overview
Alberta Class 1–4: Coupling, trains and long combinations
Coupling and uncoupling a tractor and semi-trailer or a pintle hitch, A, B and C trains, trailer order by weight, and the rules for long combination vehicles.
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Study reference: Commercial Driver's Guide (Spring 2023), Ch. 4 Operating Class 1 Vehicles — Coupling and uncoupling, Coupling mechanisms, Operating long combination vehicles
All 17 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
The semi-trailer has no spring brakes on any axle. What must you do before backing under it?
- Hook up the air lines and set its brakes
- Raise the landing gear fully before backing
- Chock only the tractor wheels
- Back under it faster so the jaws lock firmly
When backing the tractor toward the trailer, where should you first stop?
- Once the landing gear lifts
- Right after the kingpin has entered the jaws
- Two metres from the trailer
- Just before the fifth wheel meets the apron
Before backing under a semi-trailer, what position should the fifth wheel jaws be in?
- Half locked
- It does not matter
- Closed and locked
- Open (unlocked)
What connects the second trailer in an A train?
- A rigid frame with no hitch
- A converter dolly with a single A-shaped drawbar
- A fifth wheel built onto the lead trailer
- A dolly with two drawbars
You have only one wheel chock when coupling to a semi-trailer. Where should it go?
- Behind the semi-trailer wheel
- Under the landing gear pad
- Under the tractor drive wheel
- In front of the semi-trailer wheel
What does the guide call the most important task in any coupling procedure?
- Checking every connection
- Reading the trailer's registration
- Coupling as quickly as possible
- Backing in a perfectly straight line every time
When coupling a pintle hitch with a no-slack ram, what confirms the ram is working?
- Listening for the latch click
- Measuring the drawbar height
- A tug test after charging the air
- Checking the trailer lights
How much experience must a driver have before a carrier issues an LCV Driver's Certificate?
- 36 months of commercial driving with no collisions
- Five years with a Class 1 licence
- 12 months or 100,000 km driving any type of truck
- 24 months or 150,000 km in Class 1 units
You are building a double with one heavy and one light trailer. Which goes directly behind the tractor?
- Either, if both are full
- The heavier trailer
- The lighter trailer
- The longer trailer
Why does a C train move less from side to side than an A train?
- Its trailers must always be shorter than an A train's
- It has no fifth wheel at all
- Its rear trailer must always be the heavier trailer
- Its double drawbar leaves one pivot point
What makes a B train different from an A train?
- Its converter dolly uses two separate drawbars
- It needs a self-steering dolly
- The lead trailer carries the fifth wheel
- It has three articulation points
Which step comes LAST when coupling a tractor and semi-trailer?
- Check the jaws visually
- Hook up the electrical line
- Remove the wheel chocks
- Raise the landing gear
When uncoupling, what do you do before disconnecting the air and electrical lines?
- Raise the fifth wheel
- Pull the tractor ahead slowly
- Remove the wheel chocks
- Lower the landing gear
After the fifth wheel connects, how do you check the hook-up first?
- Do a firm tug test
- Raise the landing gear
- Drive forward at road speed
- Release the tractor brakes
During uncoupling, why stop when the fifth wheel just clears the trailer?
- To reconnect the air lines for the next trailer
- To lower the fifth wheel so it slides out easily
- To check the landing gear holds the trailer
- To release the trailer brakes
What is the maximum speed for a long combination vehicle in Alberta?
- 90 km/h on every highway, whatever the sign
- The posted limit minus 10 km/h
- 110 km/h on divided highways with a permit
- 100 km/h or the posted limit, if lower
You have only one wheel chock when uncoupling. Where should it go?
- Beside the fifth wheel
- Behind the semi-trailer wheel
- In front of the semi-trailer wheel
- Under the tractor steer wheel
Coupling, trains and long combinations: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
Coupling a truck-tractor and semi-trailer (pp. 43–44)
- First chock the semi-trailer wheels: with one chock, place it behind the trailer wheel; with two, one in front and one behind.
- Check that the fifth wheel jaws are open (unlocked).
- Check the trailer apron, kingpin and kingpin collar for wear or cracks.
- Back the tractor in line with the trailer and stop before the fifth wheel touches the apron.
- Check that the fifth wheel height matches the trailer height.
- If the trailer has no spring brakes on at least one axle (some older trailers), connect the air lines, fill the trailer tanks and set the trailer brakes before hooking up.
- Back under until the connection is made, then do a firm tug test; correct any noticeable slack.
- Visually check that the jaws are locked around the kingpin.
- Then raise the landing gear, connect the electrical line and remove the chocks.
Uncoupling (p. 44)
- Park the unit in a straight line and set the parking brakes.
- Chock the trailer: with one chock, place it in front of the trailer wheel; with two, one in front and one behind.
- Lower the landing gear before disconnecting.
- Disconnect the electrical and air lines, unlock the fifth wheel, and secure the lines on the tractor.
- Pull ahead slowly until the fifth wheel just clears the trailer, stop, and check that the ground and landing gear support the trailer.
- Then pull ahead slowly until the tractor frame fully clears the trailer.
Pintle hitch attachments (pp. 44–45)
- Uncoupling a pintle hitch: park straight, set both parking brakes, chock trailer wheels, disconnect air, electrical and other lines, remove safety chains, remove the safety pin, release the hook lock, lower the landing leg or block the drawbar, pull ahead slowly, and check the eye is free.
- Coupling a pintle hitch: line up, stop before contact, chock trailer wheels, open the hook, check hook and eye for cracks or wear, set the eye height, lower the eye onto the hook, snap it shut and lock the safety latch.
- Then attach safety chains, fasten the safety pin, connect lines, charge the air system and, with a no-slack ram, do a tug test to make sure the ram is energized.
- Finish with a visual check of all locking mechanisms, stow the landing leg, remove chocks and recheck the safety latch.
- The most important part of any coupling is to check every connection physically and visually; skipping it can cause a serious incident.
Double trailer combination types (pp. 45–46)
- Adding a second trailer behind a lead trailer needs a converter, and each converter has its own fifth wheel.
- A train: an A-shaped drawbar (A-dolly) joins a single pintle hitch point on the lead trailer.
- An A train has two points of articulation: at the pintle hitch and at the fifth wheel.
- B train: the fifth wheel is mounted on the rear of the lead trailer, fixed or sliding out with the rear axle; no converter dolly is needed.
- C train: like the A train it uses an independent converter, but with two drawbars and two pintle hitches.
- The double drawbar of a C train leaves only one articulation point, so the trailer moves less side to side.
- C-dollies have a self-steering axle; check its air pressure is within the manufacturer's standard, because low pressure makes the wheels over-steer, the unit unstable and can lead to skid steering that damages converter and hitch.
- When linking two or more trailers, put the heaviest trailer directly behind the tractor and the lightest farthest back, whatever the trailer lengths.
- Trailers not arranged by weight make the unit unstable; the rear trailer can sway and control may be lost.
- Examples of long combination vehicles: Rocky Mountain double, triple, turnpike double.
Operating long combination vehicles (pp. 46–47)
- Long combination vehicles (LCVs) operate under a permit issued under section 62 of the Traffic Safety Act, with general provisions to follow.
- Carriers must prove drivers and driver trainers meet the Canadian Trucking Alliance's LCV driver/instructor manual requirements.
- The carrier issues an annual LCV Driver's Certificate, valid 12 months, which the driver must carry while driving an LCV.
- Driver must hold a valid Class 1 (or equivalent) and have passed a recognized air brake course.
- Driver needs at least 24 months or 150,000 km of articulated Class 1 driving experience.
- Driver must have passed a Professional Driver Improvement Course within the past 48 months and the CTA LCV driver training course or equivalent.
- Driver must have been instructed on current regulations and permit conditions within the past 12 months.
- Driver's abstract must be dated no more than one month before the certificate: no driving-related Criminal Code convictions in 36 months, no more than two moving violations in 12 months and no more than three in 36 months.
- LCV maximum speed: 100 km/h or the posted limit, whichever is lower.
Study the Coupling, trains and long combinations rules as flashcards →
Other topics
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