Ontario Class A (AZ) study guide: key rules on all 13 topics

Free Ontario Class A (AZ) study guide: 353 key points from the The Official MTO Truck Handbook in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.

By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team · Updated October 17, 2026

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This study guide collects our notes on every topic of the Ontario Class A (AZ) Truck Knowledge Test on one page: 353 short points in our own words, grouped by topic and by handbook section. Read it from top to bottom before your first practice test, or jump to a topic from the list below.

Each topic ends with a link to its practice questions, so you can check what you just read straight away, and a link to the official chapter for the full wording. The notes summarise the The Official MTO Truck Handbook from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO); they do not replace it, and where our notes and the official source differ, the official source wins.

Study these notes as flashcards →

Class A licence and requirements

What a full Class A, restricted AR and manual-transmission-restricted licence let you drive, the 4,600 kg towing threshold, age, medical, MELT training and documents needed to apply.

Practise Class A licence and requirements questions Flashcards Official chapter

Licence classification chart

Class A covers any tractor-trailer combination; a Class A holder may also drive Class D and Class G vehicles.
Class D covers a motor vehicle over 11,000 kg gross or registered gross weight, towing no more than 4,600 kg.
Class G covers cars, vans and small trucks, including a combination up to 11,000 kg total when the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.
Classes B and E are school-purposes buses (E: up to 24 passengers); classes C and F are regular buses (F: up to 24 passengers, plus ambulances).
A "Z" air brake endorsement is needed on top of the licence class to drive any motor vehicle equipped with air brakes.

Class A

Class A lets you drive a motor vehicle towing vehicles whose total gross weight is more than 4,600 kg (10,000 lb), plus anything in classes D and G.
Class A does not cover a bus carrying passengers, a motorcycle or a moped.
Full Class A configuration: truck/tractor and trailer with an MGVWR of at least 4,600 kg, and a full air brake system on both the truck/tractor and the trailer.
Restricted Class A configuration: same weight rating, but the trailer has no air brakes.
A road test taken in a vehicle that is not a full Class A configuration earns an AR (A restricted, condition R) licence, which does not allow driving a full Class A vehicle.

Minimum requirements

Minimum age to apply for Class A or D: 18.
You must already hold a valid Ontario Class G or higher licence (not G1, G2, M, M1 or M2).
You must pass a knowledge test on operating large trucks and tractor-trailers, meet the vision standard and provide a satisfactory medical certificate, both on application and periodically after that.
A learner practising on a tractor-trailer must hold Class G or higher and be accompanied by a driver holding a valid Class A licence.
From January 1, 2027, you must have held a Class G or higher licence for at least 6 months before taking the Class A road test.
When applying for Class A, B, C, D, E or F you must document Ontario residence, legal presence in Canada and eligibility to work in Canada.
Blank medical report forms are available at any DriveTest centre; doctors and optometrists must report conditions that may affect safe driving.

Knowledge test checklist

Bring 2 pieces of identification (or your Ontario licence), the completed medical report form, money for the test fee and any glasses or contacts you need to read or write.
The knowledge test is written from the Official MTO Truck Handbook.

Introduction (mandatory entry-level training)

Since July 1, 2017, new Class A applicants must complete mandatory entry-level training (MELT) before attempting the Class A road test.
The MELT course takes roughly four to six weeks with a ministry-approved provider.
Drivers who already held a Class A licence before MELT did not have to take the training.

Class A transmission restriction

Since July 1, 2022, a Class A or AR road test taken in a vehicle without a manual transmission of at least eight forward gears with a high-low range adds a restriction to the licence.
With that restriction you may drive only automatic, semi-automatic or automated-manual Class A/AR vehicles in Ontario; it does not affect lower classes such as D or G.
A restricted Class A (condition R) holder cannot pull a trailer with air brakes, drive a full-size tractor-trailer, pull double trailers or train another driver on a full Class A vehicle.
A full Class AZ licence is the only licence that covers full air brake systems on both tractor and trailer and allows double trailers.

Who may assess the road test

The road test is held at a DriveTest centre, or by an employer or college the ministry authorizes as a Recognized Authority, which issues a certificate of driving competence.
A truck licence from another Canadian province is exchanged for the same Ontario class.

Size, weight, CVOR and documents

Legal width, height and length limits for semi-trailers and combinations, CVOR registration, documents a driver must carry, inspection stations, weigh scales, impoundment and dangerous goods.

Practise Size, weight, CVOR and documents questions Flashcards Official chapter

Definitions

Gross weight is the vehicle plus its load.
Registered gross weight is the weight a permit has been issued for under the Highway Traffic Act; the permit fee is based on it.
MGVWR (manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating) is the gross weight set by the manufacturer, usually shown on a decal or plate on the cab.
A semi-trailer rests its front end on the towing vehicle; any trailer counts as a separate vehicle from the vehicle drawing it.
A commercial motor vehicle has a permanently attached truck or delivery body; buses and tractors used to haul loads also count.

Size and weight limits

Maximum width of a commercial motor vehicle: 2.6 m (8.5 ft); mirrors are not counted if they stick out no more than 30 cm on each side.
Auxiliary equipment is not counted in the width if it sticks out no more than 10 cm and is not used to carry a load.
Semi-trailers are limited to 14.65 m (48 ft), or 16.2 m (53 ft) when the trailer and tractor meet special requirements.
No combination may be longer than 23 m (75.5 ft), except double-trailer combinations that meet special requirements.
Maximum height of any vehicle and load: 4.15 m (13.6 ft), to keep clearance at bridges and overpasses.
Gross allowable weight depends on number of axles, tire size, suspension, axle spacing, aggregate or non-aggregate load and steering-axle weight; the lowest of the calculated limits applies.
Drivers, operators and shippers can all be charged for an overweight commercial vehicle.

CVOR

CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration) tracks the safety performance of truck and bus operators in Ontario.
A CVOR certificate is needed for trucks with a registered or actual weight over 4,500 kg and buses designed for 10 or more passengers, including Ontario, US and Mexican plated vehicles.
The original CVOR certificate application fee is $255.
Items such as collisions, convictions and inspections stay on the operator's CVOR record for five years from the date of the offence.
A poor CVOR record can lead to a warning letter, audit, interview and then sanctions up to suspension or cancellation of the certificate, plates and permits.

Documents to carry

Carry and surrender on demand: a licence of the right class, the registration (or true copy) for truck and trailer, the CVOR certificate (or true copy), the original insurance certificate, a daily inspection report completed within 24 hours with its schedule, and a daily log for today and the previous 14 days.
Supporting documents such as fuel, bridge, toll and accommodation receipts must also be carried.
A driver who stays within 160 km of the starting point and returns there the same day may not need a daily log, but hours-of-service limits still apply.

Inspection stations

If a truck inspection station is open, trucks must enter and stop; signs show whether it is open.
Vehicles are checked for weight, height, length, width and axle spacing, and the driver's licence class is checked.
Police or ministry officers can inspect a commercial vehicle at any time and place and may direct you to the nearest station; you must help with the inspection if asked.
Failing to go to a weigh scale when told: fine up to $20,000 and a possible licence suspension of up to 30 days.
Refusing to redistribute or remove part of a load, or obstructing a weighing: fine of $200 to $20,000.

Commercial Vehicle Impoundment Program

The Registrar can impound a commercial vehicle found with critical defects in brakes, steering, wheels and rims, tires, or frame and suspension.
Impoundment: 15 days for a first offence, 30 days for a second within two years, 60 days for a third or later within two years.
Fines for driving with critical defects can reach $20,000.

Dangerous goods

There are nine classes of dangerous goods.
The current employer trains drivers who carry dangerous goods and issues a certificate that must be carried while transporting them.
Safety marks, placards and labels identify the class and danger of the goods on trucks, cargo and pallets.

Long commercial vehicles

A long commercial vehicle (LCV) is a double-trailer combination up to 40 m long, identified by a placard on the rear; expect extra length and limited speed when passing one.

Daily inspection and defects

Schedule 1 circle checks within 24 hours, major versus minor defects, reporting, tire tread and wheel checks, annual inspection decals and the defect limits for tractor-trailer air, coupler and suspension items.

Practise Daily inspection and defects questions Flashcards Official chapter

classes A and D

The daily inspection is also called a circle check or pre-trip inspection, and the Highway Traffic Act requires it.
You may not drive a truck unless you or someone else did a Schedule 1 inspection and completed an inspection report within the previous 24 hours.
The inspection follows an inspection schedule (O. Reg. 199/07) that lists the systems to check and splits defects into major and minor.
A minor defect must be written on the inspection report and reported to the operator; you may not drive with a major defect.
Defects found during the trip must also be reported to the operator as soon as possible; major defects must be repaired before the vehicle is driven again.
Carry both the current inspection report and the schedule; electronic versions are allowed.
The most common reason a commercial vehicle is put out of service is air brakes out of adjustment; insecure loads, defective lights or tires and broken springs are other common reasons.
Out-of-adjustment brakes can get the vehicle detained and the operator's CVOR certificate suspended or cancelled.
You may adjust your own air brakes only if you have passed an approved air brake adjustment course or are a certified mechanic.

Items to inspect

Schedule items include air brakes (if equipped), cab, cargo securement, coupling devices, driver controls and seat, electric and hydraulic brakes, emergency equipment, exhaust, frame and cargo body, fuel system, glass and mirrors, heater/defroster, horn, lamps and reflectors, steering, suspension, tires, wheels/hubs/fasteners and wipers/washers.
Dangerous goods items are checked only by a driver qualified to carry them.

Tires, wheels and steering

Rear tires need at least 1.5 mm of tread, measured in two adjacent grooves.
Front tires on a vehicle with a gross vehicle rating over 4,500 kg need at least 3 mm of tread.
After new wheels or tires are installed, wheel makers recommend re-checking the wheel fasteners between 80 and 160 km; installation must be done by a certified tire installer or mechanic.
Steering free play (lash) is checked with the engine on and wheels straight: turn the wheel each way with your fingers until you feel the tires resist; too much rotation means excessive lash.

Annual inspection

Operators must have each truck and trailer inspected every year by a licensed motor vehicle inspection mechanic to National Safety Code Standard 11, Part B.
A passed vehicle gets an annual inspection certificate, record and decal showing the vehicle type and the month and year of inspection.
On a truck the decal goes on the lower left corner of the windshield or the left side of the cab; on a trailer or converter dolly, on the front left outside surface.
As part of the daily inspection, check that the decal date is still valid.

Selected defect limits (combination vehicles)

Air pressure build-up is a minor defect when it takes longer than two minutes to rise from 85 to 100 psi at 600–900 rpm.
Any audible air leak is a minor defect.
Air loss with the brakes fully applied is a major defect above 4 psi (28 kPa) in one minute for a Class A combination.
The low-air warning is a major defect if it fails to activate or activates below 55 psi.
Fifth-wheel movement of more than 1/2 in. (13 mm) forward or back between upper and lower coupler is a major defect; for a pintle hook and drawbar eye the limit is 3/8 in. (10 mm).
A loose or missing coupler fastener is a minor defect; a damaged coupler or one that fails to lock is a major defect.
A missing, wrong-size or badly worn safety chain or cable is a major defect; two chains must be hooked and crossed with secured hooks.
Air escaping from the trailer service line when the trailer supply valve is closed and the service brakes are applied means the tractor protection valve is defective (major defect).

Other defect limits

A noticeable exhaust leak is minor; exhaust entering the cab is major.
A missing fuel cap is minor; an insecure fuel tank or dripping fuel is major.
A single broken leaf spring is minor; a broken main leaf, more than one broken leaf, or a loose U-bolt is major.
A tire leak you cannot hear or feel is minor; a flat tire or a leak you can hear or feel is major.
Tires touching another tire or a vehicle part other than a mud flap, or showing exposed cords, are major defects.
A cab or sleeper door that will not close securely is major; one that will not open is minor.
Wipers that cannot clear the driver's side when weather requires them are a major defect.

Coupling and uncoupling

Step-by-step uncoupling and coupling of a tractor and semi-trailer: securing both units, landing gear, fifth-wheel height, the tug test, visual checks of jaws and plate, air lines and the road-test scoring.

Practise Coupling and uncoupling questions Flashcards Official chapter

Before you start

Incorrect coupling or uncoupling can be very dangerous; learn the details of the specific truck and trailer you will drive.
Roll down the windows, turn off audio, sound the horn before backing (electric horn on the road test) and confirm the spot is suitable and safe.

Uncoupling steps

Secure both units: apply tractor and trailer parking brakes, put the transmission in park or neutral and chock the trailer wheels.
Check that the ground is level and firm, then lower the landing gear until it is just above the ground or just touching it without lifting the trailer off the fifth wheel.
Stow the landing-gear handle in low gear.
Disconnect and stow the air and electrical lines and any safety chains or cables.
Unlock the fifth wheel (or coupling device).
Pull the tractor forward only far enough to release the fifth wheel, leaving the tractor frame still under the trailer; apply the parking brakes and select neutral.
Get out and confirm the trailer is stable before pulling the tractor fully clear.
On a non-fifth-wheel combination, raise the trailer until its coupling clears the truck's coupling, confirm it is stable, then release the truck parking brake and pull ahead slowly.

Coupling steps

Inspect the fifth wheel (or coupling device), air and electrical lines and connections before backing.
Line up the tractor and trailer and check trailer height and alignment; before reversing, check the path, turn on the four-way flashers and sound the horn (not needed if an automatic backing alarm is fitted).
Reverse slowly at a walking pace until the fifth wheel is just ahead of, touching or slightly under the trailer, but not against the kingpin.
For a non-fifth-wheel unit, stop about one foot ahead of the trailer connection point; touching the trailer is acceptable but moving the wheel chocks is not.
The trailer should be low enough that the tractor lifts it slightly when backed under it; too low and the tractor can hit the trailer nose, too high and it may not couple correctly.
Back under to engage the fifth wheel, then do a tug test by pulling against the trailer to prove it is locked.
Safety chains or cables are connected crossed.

Checking the hook-up

"Hitting the pin" is backing in a short, sharp motion to drive the kingpin into the jaws.
Then set the trailer brakes (hand control or trailer parking brake) and try to pull forward against the pin in the lowest gear.
Get out and look: there must be no space between the trailer upper plate and the fifth wheel; any gap means the coupling is not secure.
The release lever must be in the locked position and any secondary lock engaged.
From behind the tractor and under the trailer, confirm the jaws are fully closed around the kingpin.

After hook-up

Connect the air lines (blue = service, red = supply or emergency) and the electrical line, plus any breakaway device.
Raise the landing gear fully before moving and stow the handle; with a two-speed crank, leave it in low range.
Charge the trailer with the trailer supply valve, then shut the engine off and listen for leaks at the supply connection, then apply the service brakes and listen at the service connection.
Drive forward slowly and test the brakes as soon as possible.

Coupling scoring

On the road test you uncouple first, then couple, at a location chosen as safe.
You are allowed up to two errors in total for uncoupling and coupling, and must complete the coupling in no more than 5 pull-ups.

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.

Practise Cargo securement and oversize loads questions Flashcards 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.

Hours of service and logs

Who must follow Ontario's hours-of-service rules, the four duty statuses, daily limits of 13 hours driving and 14 on duty, 7- and 14-day cycles, resets and daily log contents.

Practise Hours of service and logs questions Flashcards Official chapter

Who must comply

Hours-of-service rules (O. Reg. 555/06) apply to drivers of commercial motor vehicles over 4,500 kg gross or registered gross weight, and to buses, school buses and school-purposes buses.
Exempt examples: commercial vehicles (other than buses) of 4,500 kg or less, vehicles leased by an individual for 30 days or less, tow trucks, motor homes, ambulances, fire apparatus, police and emergency-relief vehicles, and personal-use pick-ups with an MGVWR of 6,000 kg or less.
Two- or three-axle vehicles carrying primary farm, forest, sea or lake products are also exempt.

Duty status

There are four duty statuses: off duty (not in a sleeper berth), off duty in a sleeper berth, on duty driving, and on duty not driving.
On-duty time includes inspecting, cleaning or repairing the vehicle, loading and unloading, riding as a co-driver (not in the berth), and waiting at inspections, for loading or after a collision.

Daily limits

A driver must have 10 hours off duty in a day.
A driver may not drive more than 13 hours in a day, and may not drive after 14 hours on duty in a day.
After at least 8 consecutive hours off duty, a driver may not drive more than 13 hours, may not drive after 14 hours on duty, and may not drive once 16 hours have passed.

Cycles

The operator assigns either a 7-day or a 14-day cycle.
7-day cycle: no driving after 70 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days.
14-day cycle: no driving after 120 hours on duty in 14 consecutive days, and no driving after 70 hours on duty without having taken 24 consecutive hours off.
Every driver must have had at least 24 consecutive hours off duty in the preceding 14 days.
To reset or switch cycle: 36 consecutive hours off on the 7-day cycle, 72 consecutive hours off on the 14-day cycle.

Daily log

A daily log can be handwritten, computer-generated or made by a recording device.
It must show the driver and co-drivers, date, start time if not midnight, cycle, odometer at start and end, plates of each vehicle and trailer, operator name, home terminal and principal place of business, start and end of each duty status and where it changed, total time in each status, total distance and the driver's signature.
The graph grid (Form 1) is not required when a recording device is used.
No log is needed if the driver stays within 160 km of the starting location, returns there at the end of the day and works for only one operator that day; the operator then keeps a record of the day.
Drivers carry the log for the current day and the previous 14 days.

Controls, braking and jackknife control

Starting and moving off, transmissions and clutch brakes, the inter-axle differential lock, balanced braking with a trailer, the trailer hand valve, jackknife responses, downgrades and parking a combination.

Practise Controls, braking and jackknife control questions Flashcards Official chapter

Starting the engine

Apply the parking brake, press the clutch and put the transmission in neutral before operating the starter.
Check the oil pressure gauge once the engine is running.
On air-brake vehicles, the air gauge must show enough pressure and the low-air buzzer and/or light must have stopped before you move.

Putting vehicle in motion

Release the clutch gradually while releasing the hand control valve or parking brake.
Test the brakes right after the vehicle starts moving, within about 15 m (50 ft).

Transmissions

Start moving in the lowest appropriate gear and apply power gradually with heavy loads on hills.
Do not shock-load the driveline by dropping the clutch, and do not let the clutch slip too much (it overheats).
On vehicles with a clutch brake, do not push the clutch to the floor when shifting while moving; floor it only at a stop to engage low gear quietly.

Inter-axle differential lock

Used on tandem rear axles; it has only two positions, lock and unlock, and is normally kept unlocked.
Lock it only when approaching conditions where wheels may slip; it then drives both axles equally.
Never engage it while the wheels are actually spinning; unnecessary use wears tires and strains axles.

Stopping and grades

Press steadily at the start of a stop and ease off as you slow; just before stopping, release slightly to avoid a jerk, then re-apply to hold.
Do not fan the brakes on dry pavement: it wastes air and on a long downgrade can drop pressure below what the brakes need.
On long downgrades use engine braking as the main speed control, ideally in the same gear you would use to climb that hill, chosen before starting down.
If the low air-pressure warning comes on, stop at once in the safest available place and fix the air loss.
If brakes fail on a level road, downshift and use the engine; for a shorter stop use the tractor and trailer emergency brakes, and do not drive again until repaired.
Some municipalities restrict engine braking; obey their signs.

Combination braking

With the foot valve, tractor and trailer brakes apply together at equal pressure; this is called balanced braking.
The trailer hand valve applies the trailer brakes alone; pulling it harder during a foot application can raise the trailer brake pressure.
Over-braking a combination on a wet or slippery surface or in a curve can cause a skid or jackknife.
If the tractor's rear wheels slide sideways (tractor jackknife), apply only the trailer brakes.
If the trailer's rear wheels slide sideways, release all brakes and gradually apply the accelerator.
Spring brakes apply automatically when system pressure drops below a set level, normally 60 psi (414 kPa).

Parking

Set the parking brakes and chock the rear wheels (front and back of a wheel) on one or both sides of the unit or trailer.
Never hold a parked unit with the trailer hand valve or the tractor protection valve.

Hydraulic brakes

With power assist: engine off, pump the pedal several times, apply moderate pressure, then start the engine; the pedal should drop slightly and stop.
If the pedal keeps dropping or does not drop at all, stop the engine and take the vehicle out of service for professional repair.
Without power assist: apply and hold moderate pressure; a steady drop means the vehicle must be taken out of service.

Off-tracking, turns and backing

How a semi-trailer off-tracks on curves and right and left turns, roundabouts, clearances, straight backing, the driver's-side alley dock and offset backing.

Practise Off-tracking, turns and backing questions Flashcards Official chapter

Off-track

In any turn the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels; this is called off-track.
The longer the wheelbase, the greater the off-track.
A tractor-semitrailer has off-track at the tractor's rear wheels and even more at the semi-trailer's rear wheels; the total depends on combination length and the wheelbase of each unit.
In a curve to the right, keep the front wheels near the left side of the lane so the rear wheels stay on the pavement.
In a curve to the left, keep the front wheels near the right edge so the rear wheels do not cross into the other lane.
Avoid changing lanes to make a turn; if you must use part of another lane, it is your job to do it safely.

Right turns

You may need to drive well into the intersection before turning; use more space from the road you are leaving than from the road you are entering.
Move as far left in your lane as possible before turning; on a narrow street a tractor-trailer may need part or all of the left lane so the trailer wheels miss the curb.
When you block another lane, watch that small vehicles, motorcycles and cyclists do not squeeze up on your right.
The critical point is when the tractor is at its sharpest angle to the trailer, because the right mirror view is then limited.

Left turns

Watch the trailer's path in the left outside mirror, or it may hit a vehicle or a sign on an island.
Turn in a wide arc and finish just right of the centre line, then move to the right lane when safe as you speed up.

Roundabouts

A large vehicle may need the full width of a roundabout, may occupy both lanes before entering, and may run its rear wheels over the raised central apron.

Backing

Plan routes to avoid backing; drive around the block rather than back around a corner, and pull out into traffic rather than back into it.
Before backing: turn off the phone and radio, open the windows, turn on four-way flashers and sound the horn.
Get out and walk around to check overhead wires, side clearance, people and objects in the path.
Use both mirrors and remember the blind area directly behind.
Straight backing is the easiest and safest manoeuvre; line up tractor and trailer, keep the wheels straight and correct any drift slowly.
Alley dock: backing from the driver's side is recommended; turn hard right while backing slowly and watch the trailer out the driver's window. If the turn starts too early or sharp, steer slightly left; if too late or wide, steer right.
Offset backing can be to the left (driver side) or right (passenger side); you angle the trailer toward the new lane, then counter-steer to bring the tractor back in line.
In an offset back, reverse while watching the right mirror until the outside edge of the tractor tires lines up with the middle of the landing gear, then turn the wheel fully the other way.
A guide should stand where you can see them and they can see the area behind; back-up alarms do not remove the driver's responsibility.

Clearances

Know your vehicle's height and width and obey clearance signs at bridges and underpasses; the maximum vehicle height in Ontario is 4.15 m.
Road repairs, rough roads, ice and floods can reduce clearance that is normally enough.
Obey signs banning trucks on certain roads, times or days.

Class A road test

The three parts of the Class A road test, what to bring, how the daily inspection, coupling and backing are scored, and the habits examiners look for on the road.

Practise Class A road test questions Flashcards Official chapter

Components

The Class A and D road test has three parts: daily inspection test, backing skills test and on-road driving test.
The daily inspection test includes an exterior inspection, an in-cab check and an interior inspection; Class A adds uncoupling and coupling.
Backing skills: one manoeuvre, either an offset back (left or right) or a 90-degree alley dock from the driver's side.
On-road: left and right turns, intersections, lane changes, driving along, an expressway section, curves and a roadside stop/start.

Passing standard

You must drive safely and commit no moving violations.
Daily inspection: errors are allowed on one item only.
Uncoupling and coupling (Class A): up to two errors in total and no more than 5 pull-ups to complete the coupling.
On-road and backing combined: up to 30 errors, and the backing must be finished in less than 10 minutes.

Pre-test requirements

For every Class A or AR test (and any Class D test in a vehicle with air brakes) bring wheel chocks or blocks, a way to time seconds, a way to hold the brake pedal applied and a device to measure pushrod stroke.
Missing any of these makes the test "out of order" and you pay 50% of the road-test fee before rebooking.
Protective headgear and eyewear, a brake-adjustment chart and chalk for marking the pushrod are recommended but not mandatory.
Give the examiner a valid, completed daily inspection report and the schedule for your vehicle; the vehicle needs current annual inspection stickers or valid paper copies.
Your road-test vehicle must be in good working order; study its operating manual beforehand.

How it runs

Exterior: four randomly generated Schedule 1 items; demonstrate and describe the check, explain the defect and say what you would do about a minor or major defect.
Do the exterior inspection with the parking brake applied and the wheels chocked.
In-cab check: point to or touch every listed item (gauges, air gauge, seat and belt, mirrors and windshield, heater/defroster, steering wheel, wipers/washers) and explain the check; you do not have to list defects.
Interior: two randomly generated Schedule 1 items, handled like the exterior items.
You may use the Schedule 1 as a guide during the test.

Scoring

The examiner stays outside and visible but will not coach or guide you.
Cones mark the boundaries; you must not hit any, and you finish as straight as possible inside them, then secure the vehicle and tell the examiner.
Before backing you must get out to check the path; while backing, use the mirrors.
Turn on the four-way flashers and sound the electric horn before backing, and reverse at walking pace.
Stopping and pulling forward to reposition is a pull-up; stopping without changing direction is not. Initial pull-ups are not penalized, but too many count as errors.

Expected habits

Drive within 10 km/h of the posted limit when conditions allow, without exceeding it.
Choose the right-most lane that can be travelled safely; this keeps hazards on the left where your view is better.
Keep a two-handed grip except when operating controls or shifting, and avoid gear changes while crossing an intersection.
Turn signals on most commercial vehicles do not self-cancel; cancel them by hand.
Intersections, crosswalks, railway crossings and solid lines are not places to change lanes.
Signal for an expressway exit before slowing, while still in the through lane, and do your slowing in the exit lane.
When merging onto an expressway, the onus to merge safely is on you; signal early but remember you do not have the right-of-way.
Roadside stop: park parallel and close to the curb without touching it, keep the service brakes on until the parking brake is set, cancel the turn signal and turn on the four-way flashers. To leave, cancel the flashers and signal left.

Following distance for trucks, speed limiters, passing and bluffing, school buses, railway crossings, cyclists, emergency vehicles, right-of-way and HOV lanes.

Practise Driver conduct and sharing the road questions Flashcards Official chapter

Driver conduct

When unable to keep up with traffic on a hill, stay right so others can pass; turning on hazard lights is good practice.
Never use your left-turn signal to tell drivers behind that it is safe to pass; it is illegal and confusing.
Avoid pulling out to pass another large vehicle when the speed difference is so small that you block traffic for a long time.
Bluffing (using your size to force through traffic) creates serious hazards.
On a highway at over 60 km/h, a commercial motor vehicle must keep at least 60 m (200 ft) behind other vehicles, except when overtaking.
Speed limiters apply to commercial vehicles built in 1995 or later, with an MGVWR of 11,794 kg (26,000 lb) or more and an electronically controlled engine; they must be set to no more than 105 km/h.
Buses, mobile cranes, motor homes, ambulances and fire apparatus are exempt from the speed-limiter rule.

Precautions

Never let an unauthorized person sit in the driver's seat or operate the truck or its controls.
Back with the utmost care: use all mirrors, look back and, if possible, have someone guide you.

Smaller vehicles

A tractor-trailer needs about twice the stopping distance of an average car and takes much longer to reach normal speed.
When a faster vehicle is passing you, slow enough to let it fit in safely ahead.
Small vehicles often move into a large vehicle's turning space; check that no one has moved into it before you complete the turn.
Motorcycles and mopeds may use the whole lane; their turn signals often do not self-cancel, so make sure they are actually turning.

Cyclists, farm machinery, buses

When passing a cyclist leave at least one metre; change lanes to pass when possible, and do not follow closely (bicycles have no brake lights).
Stop behind a bike box at a red signal, never in it; enter a bike lane to turn right only when it is safe.
Farm tractors and machinery usually travel at 40 km/h or less and show an orange-and-red slow-moving vehicle sign.
You must let a municipal bus re-enter traffic from a bus bay when it signals to leave.

Stopping at railway crossings, school buses and crossings

When a train is coming, stop at least 5 m from the nearest rail or gate; a train can need up to 2 km to stop.
Avoid shifting gears while crossing tracks; if trapped on a crossing, get everyone out and away, then call authorities.
School buses must stop at all railway crossings; buses and public vehicles stop at crossings without gates, lights or a stop sign.
Coming from behind a stopped school bus with upper red lights flashing, stop at least 20 m back; from the front, stop at a safe distance. On a road with a median, only traffic behind the bus stops.
Failing to stop for a school bus: $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first offence; $1,000 to $4,000, six points and possible jail of up to six months for a second within five years.
At a pedestrian crossover, do not pass any vehicle within 30 m of it and wait until pedestrians have fully crossed.
Failing to obey a school crossing guard can bring a fine and three demerit points.

Right-of-way

At an uncontrolled intersection, yield to the vehicle approaching from the right.
At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first; if two stop together, the vehicle on the left yields to the one on the right.
Signalling does not give you the right-of-way.

Emergency vehicles

When an emergency vehicle approaches from either direction with lights or siren, slow down, move as far right as possible and stop.
Do not follow within 150 m of a fire vehicle or ambulance responding to a call.
Passing a stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck with lights flashing: slow down and, on a road with two or more lanes, move over one lane if safe.
Failing to slow down and move over: $400 to $2,000 for a first offence, demerit points and a possible suspension of up to two years.
A flashing green light shows a volunteer firefighter or medical responder in a personal vehicle; yield to them.

HOV lanes

Large trucks are not allowed in HOV lanes regardless of how many people are on board.
A commercial vehicle may use an HOV lane only with two or more people and a total length under 6.5 m.
Crossing the striped buffer beside an HOV lane is illegal.

Night, weather and emergencies

Headlight use, fog and whiteouts, skids and ABS, warning devices for a disabled truck, fire classes and causes, collision reporting, drowsiness and distraction.

Practise Night, weather and emergencies questions Flashcards Official chapter

Emergency warning devices

From one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise, every commercial vehicle on a provincial highway must carry warning devices: flares, lamps or lanterns giving two lights each visible from 150 m for at least 8 hours, or portable reflectors.
If the vehicle breaks down, move it off the road if you can and turn on the hazard flashers; use low beams when visibility is limited.
Where the limit is over 60 km/h and you cannot get off the road, set a warning device about 30 m (100 ft) ahead of and behind the vehicle during limited visibility.
Limited visibility means one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise, or any time you cannot clearly see people or vehicles 150 m away.
Do not leave a vehicle on the road unless moving it is impractical or there is a clear view of it for 125 m in both directions; if a hill or curve hides it within 150 m, place an extra warning.
Using warning devices in every breakdown, day or night, is recommended.

Fire

Class A fires: wood, paper, textiles, tires. Class B: grease, oil, gasoline, solvents, paint. Class C: live electrical equipment. Class D: burning metals, which need special compounds.
Common truck fire causes: a soft tire, overheated brakes, fuel leaks, uneven loads rubbing tires, careless smoking, carelessly placed flares, and electrical short circuits.
Check hub temperatures every time you check tires.
If a fire starts: stop away from buildings and vehicles, uncouple a combination if possible, call the fire department and say what is burning, remove battery cables if a short circuit is suspected, and keep people back if the cargo could explode.

Collisions

Report a collision to police when anyone is injured or damage exceeds $5,000; below that you must still exchange information.
With fuel leaks, turn engines off, do not move the vehicles, keep flames and flares away and warn approaching drivers.
Unless there is fire danger, leave injured people where they are until medical help arrives; cover them to reduce shock.

Driving at night and in bad weather

Overdriving your headlights means your stopping distance is longer than the distance you can see.
Dim your high beams within 150 m of an oncoming vehicle and within 60 m when following.
For oncoming glare, look up, beyond and slightly to the right of the lights.
In fog or blowing snow use low beams (and fog lights if fitted), slow down gradually, use the right edge of the road as a guide and never stop in a driving lane.
Snow plows show flashing blue lights visible from 150 m and may have a wing extending 3 m to the right; never pass between staggered plows.
Bridges, overpasses and shaded areas freeze first; black ice looks like shiny new asphalt.
After driving through deep water, test the brakes (for example a firm stop at 50 km/h) to dry them.
In a skid, ease off the brake or accelerator, steer where you want to go and do not oversteer.
ABS keeps steering control by preventing wheel lock but does not shorten stopping distance; threshold braking is used without ABS.

Dealing with particular situations

Drowsy-driving crashes peak between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; commercial drivers are a higher-risk group.
The only cure for drowsiness is sleep: pull into a safe, well-lit rest stop and nap.
Hand-held phones are banned; commercial drivers may use a two-way radio whose microphone is securely mounted within easy reach.
If you see an animal, slow down and sound the horn; do not swerve around it. Report a collision with a deer or moose.
In construction zones obey workers and signs, avoid changing lanes and watch for sudden stops.

Signs, signals and markings

Truck-specific regulatory and warning signs (lane bans, weight limits, clearance, inspection stations), oversize and slow-moving vehicle signs, traffic lights and pavement markings.

Practise Signs, signals and markings questions Flashcards Official chapter

Basic shapes

Stop: red octagon. Yield: white triangle with red border. School zone: five-sided fluorescent yellow-green. Railway crossing: white X with red outline.
Regulatory signs are usually rectangles or squares; a green circle means allowed, a red circle with a slash means not allowed.
Warning signs are usually yellow diamonds; temporary-condition (construction) signs are orange diamonds; guide signs are green.

Truck-related regulatory signs

Signs can ban trucks from a lane, ban trucks over 6.5 m long from a lane, permit or ban heavy trucks on a road (sometimes only at set hours), limit vehicles to a weight (for example 10 tonnes) or to a load per axle (for example 5 tonnes).
Separate signs permit or ban trucks carrying dangerous goods on a roadway.
A sign with flashing signals means trucks must enter the inspection station.
Trucks over 5 tonnes need a valid 407 transponder to use the 407 ETR.
Bridge signs can show different weight limits for different truck types.

Truck-related warning signs

Clearance signs show the maximum vertical clearance (for example 3.9 m); some warn tall vehicles to choose another route.
A curve sign with a truck symbol advises trucks to slow down because of the curve's small radius.
Warning signs can advise trucks over 10 tonnes not to use a road, or show a truck entrance ahead on the side indicated.
Steep-hill warning: you may need a lower gear.

Other signs

Slow-moving vehicle sign: orange triangle with red border, for vehicles that travel 40 km/h or less.
Long commercial vehicle placard on the rear of a double-trailer combination up to 40 m long.
Temporary signs can double speeding fines in a construction zone when workers are present.

Traffic lights

A red light means stop at the stop line, or the crosswalk, or the sidewalk edge, or the intersection edge, in that order.
You may turn right on red after a full stop unless a sign forbids it, and left on red from a one-way road onto a one-way road.
A flashing green light or left green arrow with a green light is an advance green: oncoming traffic still faces red.
A yellow arrow after a left-turn arrow means do not start the turn; stop if you safely can.
Flashing red: full stop, then go when safe. Flashing yellow: proceed with caution.
Blank (power-out) signals: treat the intersection as an all-way stop.
A transit priority signal (white vertical bar) lets transit vehicles go while other traffic faces red.

Pavement markings

Yellow lines separate opposite directions; white lines separate traffic going the same way.
A solid line on your left means do not pass; a broken line means you may pass when clear.
Wide, closely spaced broken lines (continuity lines) on your left mean your lane is ending or exiting.
A pedestrian crossover is marked by double white lines with an X in each approaching lane and overhead yellow lights.

Keeping your Class A licence

Renewal tests by age, the medical report schedule, zero tolerance for commercial drivers, impaired driving, demerit points, vehicle branding and fuel-efficient driving.

Practise Keeping your Class A licence questions Flashcards Official chapter

Renewal

Carry your one-piece licence whenever you drive and show it when police ask.
Class A holders under 80 renew with a vision test and a knowledge test, usually every five years.
Drivers aged 65 to 79 with a commercial class need a vision, knowledge and road test after an at-fault collision or after reaching three or more demerit points.
Drivers 80 and over with Class A, B, C, D, E or F need a vision, knowledge and road test before every renewal.
For Z-endorsed drivers the written air brake requirement follows the knowledge-test cycle; the practical air brake test is needed only when a road test is triggered.
If any test is required, renew at a DriveTest centre; otherwise renew at ServiceOntario.
A licence suspended, cancelled or expired for more than three years means starting over through graduated licensing before applying for commercial classes again.

Medical reporting

Holders of commercial classes other than D must file a medical report every one to five years depending on age.
Under 46: every five years. 46 to 64: every three years. 65 and older: every year.
The notice and blank form arrive about three months before the report is due; not filing leads to a downgrade (usually to Class G).
Tell the ministry within six days of a change of name or address; there is no charge for the new licence.

Licence laws and demerits

It is illegal to lend your licence, let someone else use it, use an altered or fake licence, or hold more than one Ontario licence.
Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date; too many can lead to suspension.

Other ways to lose your licence

Commercial drivers (classes A to F, CVOR vehicles and road-building machines) must have zero alcohol and zero drugs in their system while driving those vehicles.
Breaking zero tolerance brings licence suspensions and administrative monetary penalties; impairment can also mean criminal charges.
Drivers 21 and under must have a blood alcohol level of zero.
You can be charged with impaired driving even if the vehicle is not moving.
Refusing a breath, field sobriety, drug-recognition or fluid sample demand is a Criminal Code charge.
Doctors must report anyone 16 or older with a condition that may affect safe driving; the licence can be suspended until new medical evidence clears it.

Mandatory Vehicle Branding Program

Written-off vehicles are branded "Irreparable" (parts or scrap only, never driven in Ontario) or "Salvage" (can be rebuilt).
A salvage vehicle that passes a structural inspection is branded "Rebuilt"; it then needs a safety standards certificate to be registered as fit.
Trailers are exempt from the branding program.

Driving efficiently

Warm up the engine 3 to 5 minutes, or 7 to 10 minutes below 0°C, without revving.
Progressive shifting (shifting before maximum governed rpm, about 1,600 rpm) reduces wear, noise and fuel use.
Turn the engine off when stopped for any length of time.

Written in our own words from: The Official MTO Truck Handbook

FAQ

Ontario Class A (AZ) study guide: common questions

What is the best way to use this Ontario Class A (AZ) study guide?

Read one topic, then answer that topic's practice questions while the rules are fresh. Note the questions you miss, re-read those notes, and finish with a full practice test across all 13 topics.

Is this the official Ontario Class A (AZ) handbook?

No. It is our own summary of the The Official MTO Truck Handbook. Use it to review, and use the official handbook when you need the exact wording of a rule.

Can I print the study guide?

Yes, with your browser's print command. For practice questions on paper with an answer key, use our printable questions and answers page instead.