How can an unevenly loaded trailer start a fire?

It cross-connects the air lines

Before any trip, what should you check on a van trailer besides the cargo itself?

Doors latched; racks and tarps secured

The condition of the paint on the roof

The shipper's business licence number

The tire brand fitted on each axle

Ontario Class A (AZ): Cargo securement and oversize loads

Securing and re-checking loads (80 km, 3 hours, 240 km), NSC Standard 10, rear overhang markings and the flags and signs required for oversize loads.

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Cargo securement and oversize loads · Question 1Score 0/0

What must you do with the oversize load sign when you are not carrying an oversize load?

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Study reference: MTO Truck Handbook (online edition, 2026), Ch. 1 Getting your licence — Cargo securement

All 17 questions in this test

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

What must you do with the oversize load sign when you are not carrying an oversize load?
1. Turn it upside down
2. Remove it or cover it
3. Move it inside the cab window
4. Leave it showing at all times
What size must the warning flags on an oversize load be?
1. Any size if bright red
2. At least 40 cm square
3. Exactly 1 m square
4. At least 10 cm square
Who is responsible for making sure the cargo on your trailer is balanced and secured?
1. The driver
2. Only the shipper
3. Only the receiver
4. Only the carrier's dispatcher
How can an unevenly loaded trailer start a fire?
1. It cross-connects the air lines
2. It leans and rubs on a tire
3. It drains the battery
4. It overheats the engine
Before any trip, what should you check on a van trailer besides the cargo itself?
1. The condition of the paint on the roof
2. The shipper's business licence number
3. Doors latched; racks and tarps secured
4. The tire brand fitted on each axle
What can happen if a load shifts or breaks loose?
1. Better fuel economy
2. Only a fine at the scale
3. A collision or rollover
4. Nothing if the doors are shut
When are vehicle lights required under the overhang rule?
1. Only when it is raining or snowing
2. Only on 400-series highways at night
3. Only between midnight and 5 a.m.
4. ½ hour before sunset to ½ after sunrise
An "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign must have letters at least how high?
1. 100 mm
2. 500 mm
3. 200 mm
4. 50 mm
How much may you load onto a truck?
1. Up to 10% over its plate weight
2. No more than its licensed capacity
3. Any weight if driving slowly
4. As much as the axles can hold
After loading, within what distance must you re-check the cargo for the first time?
1. 8 km
2. 500 km
3. 160 km
4. 80 km
After the first check, how often must you re-inspect cargo securement while driving?
1. 3 hours, 240 km or a duty change
2. Once per day at the start of the shift
3. Only at border crossings and scales
4. Every 8 hours or every 500 km
In daylight, how do you mark a load that overhangs the rear by 1.5 m or more?
1. With a red flag or marker
2. With an amber light
3. With a yellow sign
4. No marking is needed in daylight
When are you NOT required to inspect your load during the trip?
1. It is sealed and you may not open it
2. The load weighs less than 4,500 kg
3. It is a short local trip under 50 km
4. It was loaded by the shipper's forklift
Where must the oversize load sign be displayed?
1. Only on the trailer's right side
2. Only on the driver's door
3. Front of vehicle and rear of load
4. Only on the roof of the cab
What does the law require of every load carried on a truck or trailer?
1. It must be covered with a tarp
2. It must weigh under 10 tonnes
3. It must be loaded at the front
4. No part can fall off
A load sticks out 1.5 m past the rear of your flatbed at night. What marking is required?
1. A blue flag
2. A white reflector
3. An amber flasher
4. A red light
Which national standard sets Ontario's cargo securement rules?
1. ISO Standard 9001
2. CSA Standard 1
3. NSC Standard 11
4. NSC Standard 10

Cargo securement and oversize loads: 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 ↗

Cargo securement

The driver is responsible for making sure cargo is evenly balanced and secured against shifting; loose or shifting cargo can cause a collision or rollover.
Every load must be bound, covered or fastened so that no part of it can fall off the vehicle or trailer.
Know what you are carrying and how it must be secured; some goods need driver protection such as bulkheads.
Before any trip, check that doors are latched and that racks, tarps and other equipment are secured.
Re-check the cargo within the first 80 km after loading.
After that, re-inspect cargo and securement at whichever comes first: a change in your duty status, 3 hours of driving, or 240 km of driving.
You do not have to inspect cargo that is sealed and you have been ordered not to open, or that you cannot reach.
Ontario has adopted National Safety Code Standard 10 (CCMTA) for cargo securement; every commercial vehicle carrying cargo must comply. See also O. Reg. 363/04 Security of Loads.

Rear overhang

A load that sticks out 1.5 m (5 ft) or more past the rear must be marked with a red light when lights are required, and a red flag or marker at other times.
Lights are required from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and whenever light is poor.

Oversize loads

Vehicles or loads beyond the dimensions in section 109 of the Highway Traffic Act need bright red or orange flags at least 40 cm square at the extremities, kept clean.
They also need an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign (black letters at least 200 mm high on yellow, visible from 150 m) or a "D" sign, on the front of the vehicle and the rear of the load.
At night the sign must be high-intensity retro-reflective; it must not block lights, and must be removed or covered when not in use.

Loading

Never load a truck beyond its licensed capacity.

Fire and cargo

Drivers must know the nature of their cargo so the right fire precautions can be taken; spontaneous combustion can occasionally happen in a van or trailer.
Uneven load distribution can make a trailer lean and rub on its tires, a common cause of truck fires.

Study the Cargo securement and oversize loads rules as flashcards →