A train has just passed on a crossing with two tracks. What should you do before starting across?

Make sure no train is coming on the other track

Go at once before the gates come back down

Follow the train's direction across the tracks

Sound your horn and cross quickly

You park a tractor-trailer on an incline. How should the front wheels be turned?

So the unit, trailer included, would roll off the road

Toward the curb only on a downhill

So the unit would roll toward traffic

Straight ahead in every case, with the brakes set

When may you cross with the crossing's warning lights flashing?

After stopping, with no gates, in a restricted speed area

Only if you sound your horn the whole time

Whenever no train is visible from the cab of your truck

On any highway if you can see a long way in both directions

Manitoba Commercial overview

Manitoba Commercial: Backing, parking and railway crossings

Backing rules and guides, leaving alleys and lanes, securing an unattended vehicle, and Manitoba railway crossing distances, prohibitions and when you may cross with lights flashing.

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Backing, parking and railway crossings · Question 1Score 0/0

How close to the nearest rail of a crossing may you park, unless posted otherwise?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: MPI Professional Driver's Manual (PDF, Dec. 2025), Ch. 2 Efficient and safe vehicle operation — Backing, Parking lots and alleys, Unattended vehicles, Railway crossings

All 12 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

How close to the nearest rail of a crossing may you park, unless posted otherwise?
1. No closer than 30 m
2. No closer than 5 m
3. No closer than 15 m
4. No closer than 100 m
A train has just passed on a crossing with two tracks. What should you do before starting across?
1. Make sure no train is coming on the other track
2. Go at once before the gates come back down
3. Follow the train's direction across the tracks
4. Sound your horn and cross quickly
Who is responsible if something goes wrong while backing a large vehicle?
1. The guide directing the driver
2. The owner of the property
3. The driver, always
4. Whoever is behind the vehicle
You park a tractor-trailer on an incline. How should the front wheels be turned?
1. So the unit, trailer included, would roll off the road
2. Toward the curb only on a downhill
3. So the unit would roll toward traffic
4. Straight ahead in every case, with the brakes set
When may you cross with the crossing's warning lights flashing?
1. Only if you sound your horn the whole time
2. Whenever no train is visible from the cab of your truck
3. On any highway if you can see a long way in both directions
4. After stopping, with no gates, in a restricted speed area
Where should a guide stand when helping you back up?
1. On the passenger side, out of the mirror's view
2. Beside the cab door, so you can hear the directions clearly
3. At the rear, seeing the path and visible in your mirror
4. In front of the vehicle, facing the driver
You are driving out of an alley onto a street. Where must you first stop?
1. Right at the edge of the roadway
2. Partly across the sidewalk for a better view
3. Only if pedestrians are on the sidewalk
4. Immediately before the sidewalk area
Which side should you back toward when you have a choice?
1. Whichever side is shorter
2. The view side
3. The side away from the curb
4. The blind side
Your low-bed trailer snags and shifts a rail at a crossing. What must you do?
1. Tell your dispatcher at the end of the day
2. Notify the railway authority right away
3. Push the rail back yourself and continue
4. Report it at your next weigh station
Outside a restricted speed area, how far from the nearest rail must you stop at a railway crossing?
1. At least 30 m
2. At least 3 m
3. At least 15 m
4. At least 5 m
Inside Winnipeg, how far from the nearest rail must you stop at a railway crossing?
1. At least 30 m
2. At least 15 m
3. At least 5 m
4. At least 1 m
With no guide available, what good practice does MPI suggest while backing?
1. Back as quickly as possible to clear traffic
2. Sound the horn for each vehicle length travelled
3. Back in one long move without stopping
4. Keep the hazard lights off to avoid confusion

Backing, parking and railway crossings: 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 ↗

Ch. 2 Backing (pp. 39–41)

The driver is always responsible for any incident while backing; most backing collisions come from failing to look.
Avoid unnecessary backing and plan to minimize it.
A guide should stand at the rear with a clear view of the path and stay visible in the driver's mirror.
Plan the approach so you see the area you will back into; back to the view side rather than the blind side.
Back out of traffic, not into it.
With no guide: get out and check, look above, below and all around, then sound the horn and back very slowly using both mirrors.
Sound the horn for each vehicle length travelled; make a series of short backing moves rather than one long one.

Ch. 2 Alleys and parked vehicles (p. 42)

Leaving a parking lot, alley, private road or side road: stop before the sidewalk area, yield to pedestrians, then stop again before the road and yield to vehicles.
Before leaving a vehicle: set the parking brake, stop the engine, use the recommended gear, two-speed axle in low range, remove the key.
On a hill, turn the wheels so the vehicle would roll off the road; with a combination, so the trailer would roll off the road.
Never use the trailer hand valve alone to hold an unattended tractor-trailer.

Ch. 2 Railway crossings (pp. 43–44)

When stopping at a crossing, stay at least 5 m from the nearest rail in a restricted speed area and at least 15 m outside one.
A restricted speed area means Winnipeg, an urban municipality, a local urban district or another designated area.
Trains always have the right of way; most drivers misjudge their speed.
With more than one track, make sure no second train is coming after the first passes.
Half of nighttime crossing collisions are vehicles hitting trains.
Do not start across unless the rear of your vehicle will clear; if traffic is backed up, wait at least 5 m from the crossing.
Buses, school buses and vehicles carrying flammable materials must stop at crossings.
Illegal: crossing when signals are on (with exceptions), shifting gears on the tracks outside a restricted speed area, going around a gate, entering without room on the far side, parking within 30 m of the nearest rail.
With lights flashing you may cross only after a full stop, where there are no gates, inside a restricted speed area, with the train stopped or far away, and when safe.
Never pass a lowered gate unless directed by a flag person or authority.
If you damage a crossing or track, notify the railway right away.

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