Ontario Class D (DZ): Daily inspection and defects

The Schedule 1 inspection every 24 hours, minor versus major defects, tires, wheels and steering lash, annual inspection decals and straight-truck defect limits for brakes, suspension and wheels.

No sign-up
Every answer explained
Independent · not a government site

20 questions
Topic drill

0/20

Daily inspection and defects · Question 1Score 0/0

You see an air-suspension bag that is damaged and completely flat. How is it classed?

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

Study reference: MTO Truck Handbook (online edition, 2026), Ch. 1 Getting your licence — Daily trip inspection, classes A and D

All 20 questions in this test

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

You see an air-suspension bag that is damaged and completely flat. How is it classed?
1. Minor
2. Minor if the truck is empty
3. Not a defect
4. Major
The hydraulic brake fluid is just below the minimum mark. How is it classed?
1. A major defect
2. A minor defect
3. Not a defect
4. A critical impound defect
Which item is on the daily inspection list?
1. Hydraulic brake system
2. Radio and speakers
3. Cup holders
4. Seat covers
How does the inspection schedule divide defects?
1. Into legal and illegal
2. Into red and green
3. Into minor and major
4. Into front and rear
Must the truck driver personally do the Schedule 1 inspection?
1. No, it can be another person
2. Only the fleet owner
3. Yes, always the driver
4. Only a licensed mechanic
Your flares and reflectors are missing from the cab. How is this classed?
1. Not a defect
2. A critical defect
3. A major defect
4. A minor defect
What does the annual inspection decal show?
1. The name of the insurance company
2. Vehicle type, month and year
3. The truck's maximum top speed
4. The driver's name and licence number
You notice a gap between a wheel nut and the wheel. What does it suggest?
1. Over-tightened nuts, a minor defect
2. A minor cosmetic issue only
3. Normal heat expansion, not a defect
4. A loose fastener: major
How is a leaking wheel seal classed?
1. A minor defect
2. A critical defect
3. A major defect
4. Not a defect
Which regulation contains the full Schedule 1 inspection lists?
1. O. Reg. 512/97
2. O. Reg. 363/04
3. O. Reg. 199/07
4. O. Reg. 555/06
Besides the pre-trip check, what must a driver do about vehicle condition?
1. Check it only at weigh scales
2. Nothing until the next day
3. Monitor it throughout the trip
4. Check it only after a collision
With brakes held applied for one minute, what air drop is a major defect on a Class D truck?
1. More than 1 psi
2. More than 5 psi
3. More than 8 psi
4. More than 3 psi
Where is tire tread depth measured for the minimum rule?
1. At the edge of the sidewall
2. Only at the centre rib
3. Across the whole tire width
4. In two adjacent tread grooves
Who must install wheels and tires on a commercial vehicle?
1. Any service station attendant on duty
2. A certified installer or mechanic
3. Any driver who carries a jack
4. The shipper's loading-dock staff
The driver's seat belt will not latch. How is this classed?
1. Minor if the trip is short
2. A minor defect
3. A major defect
4. Not a defect
What are other names for the daily vehicle inspection?
1. Annual safety or PMVI inspection
2. Weigh-in or scale check at a station
3. Road test or skills assessment
4. Circle check or pre-trip
Which national standard sets the annual inspection requirements?
1. CSA Standard B620
2. NSC Standard 10
3. ISO Standard 14001
4. NSC Standard 11, Part B
A clearance light on your cube van is broken. What does the handbook say to do?
1. Cover the lens with red tape
2. Ignore it until the next rainstorm
3. Park the truck out of service at once
4. Report it for prompt repair
On a straight truck, where may the annual inspection decal be placed?
1. On the sidewall of the right front tire
2. The centre of the rear bumper
3. Lower left windshield or left of cab
4. Inside the glove box, with the papers
When is a low brake fluid level a major defect?
1. Never; low fluid is always minor
2. When it is under three-quarters full
3. Under one-quarter full
4. When it is at exactly half full

Daily inspection and defects: 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 ↗

classes A and D

The daily (circle, pre-trip) inspection is required by the Highway Traffic Act, not just good practice.
No one may drive a truck unless a Schedule 1 inspection was done and an inspection report completed within the previous 24 hours, by the driver or another person.
You must also monitor the vehicle's condition throughout the trip.
The schedule (O. Reg. 199/07) lists what to inspect and divides defects into minor and major.
Minor defect: record it on the report and tell the operator. Major defect: the vehicle may not be driven until it is repaired.
Carry both the current report and the schedule; electronic copies are accepted.
Serious problems found at roadside take the vehicle out of service; for small ones, such as a broken clearance light, report them so the operator can repair them promptly.
Air brakes out of adjustment are the most common reason trucks are taken out of service.
Only drivers who passed an approved air brake adjustment course, or certified mechanics, may adjust air brakes.

Items to inspect

The schedule includes air brakes (if equipped), cab, cargo securement, coupling devices (if equipped), driver controls, driver seat, electric brakes, emergency equipment, exhaust, frame and cargo body, fuel system, glass and mirrors, heater/defroster, horn, hydraulic brakes, lamps and reflectors, steering, suspension, tires, wheels and fasteners, and wipers/washers.

Tires, wheels, steering

Minimum tread: 1.5 mm on rear tires; 3 mm on front tires of a vehicle rated over 4,500 kg, measured in two adjacent grooves.
Re-check wheel fasteners between 80 and 160 km after wheels are installed or removed for repairs.
Excessive steering lash shows when the wheel turns too far before the tires start to move (engine on, wheels straight).

Annual inspection

Every commercial vehicle and trailer must pass an annual inspection by a licensed mechanic (National Safety Code Standard 11, Part B).
The decal shows the vehicle type and the month and year of inspection; on a truck it goes on the lower left corner of the windshield or the left side of the cab.
Checking that the decal is still valid is part of the daily inspection.

Straight truck defect limits

Air loss with brakes fully applied over one minute is a major defect above 3 psi (21 kPa) for a Class D vehicle.
Hydraulic brake fluid below the manufacturer's minimum mark is a minor defect; a reservoir less than one-quarter full, or any noticeable fluid leak, is a major defect.
Air in an air-suspension bag that is noticeably leaking is a minor defect; a damaged bag with no air in it is a major defect.
A hub oil level below minimum, or a leaking wheel seal, is a minor defect; signs of imminent wheel, hub or bearing failure are major.
Any wheel with a loose, missing or ineffective fastener is a major defect; a gap between nut and wheel is one visible sign.
A damaged, cracked or broken wheel, rim or attaching part is a major defect.
A mirror or window whose view is reduced by damage or poor adjustment is a minor defect; broken mirror attachments are also minor.
A driver seat that will not stay in position is minor; a missing or malfunctioning seat belt is major.
Missing or defective emergency equipment (flares, lamps or reflectors) is a minor defect.
A heater or defroster that does not work correctly is a minor defect.

Study the Daily inspection and defects rules as flashcards →