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Ontario Class D (DZ) overview

Ontario Class D (DZ): Engine, gears and braking technique

Starting the engine, moving off, transmission and clutch-brake use, the inter-axle differential lock on tandem axles, engine braking on grades, fanning and parking.

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Engine, gears and braking technique · Question 1Score 0/0

Which gear should you use when first moving off with a load?

Study reference: MTO Truck Handbook (online edition, 2026), Ch. 2 Driving — classes A and D — Starting, transmissions, use of brakes

All 20 questions in this test

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

  1. Which gear should you use when first moving off with a load?

    1. Reverse, then first
    2. The lowest appropriate gear
    3. Any middle gear
    4. The highest gear

  2. Where should you learn your truck's shift pattern?

    1. Other drivers' best guesses
    2. The maker's operating manual
    3. The annual inspection decal
    4. The CVOR certificate

  3. What extends the life of a truck's clutch and transmission?

    1. Shifting at the governed maximum
    2. Riding the clutch on every hill
    3. Skipping the clutch on upshifts
    4. Smooth, co-ordinated shifting

  4. Why do some municipalities post signs about engine brakes?

    1. They restrict engine braking
    2. They require engine braking
    3. They lower the speed limit
    4. They ban trucks entirely

  5. What does the inter-axle differential lock do when engaged?

    1. Stops the front wheels from turning
    2. Disables the brakes on one axle
    3. Drives both rear axles equally
    4. Raises the second rear axle off the road

  6. Your heavy truck slows to a crawl climbing a steep hill. What should you do?

    1. Stop in the lane and rest
    2. Pull over onto the median
    3. Switch off all your lights
    4. Keep going, four-ways on

  7. Which foot should you use for both the brake and accelerator?

    1. Either foot at random
    2. The right foot
    3. Left for brake, right for gas
    4. The left foot

  8. Which gauge should you check right after starting the engine?

    1. Trip odometer
    2. Fuel economy
    3. Outside temperature
    4. Oil pressure

  9. When is pumping (fanning) the brakes useful?

    1. On dry pavement
    2. When parked on a hill
    3. On long downgrades
    4. On slippery pavement

  10. Your tandem dump truck approaches a muddy site entrance. When should you lock the differential?

    1. Before reaching the slippery area
    2. After the wheels start spinning
    3. Only at highway speed
    4. Never on a work site

  11. What does "shock-loading the driveline" mean?

    1. Shifting with the engine off
    2. Releasing the clutch abruptly
    3. Driving on rough roads
    4. Overloading the cargo box

  12. On what kind of truck is an inter-axle differential lock found?

    1. One with a single rear axle
    2. Only all-wheel-drive pick-ups
    3. One with tandem rear axles
    4. Any truck with air brakes

  13. Roughly how much can professional, smooth shifting improve operating costs?

    1. About 60 per cent
    2. It has no effect
    3. About 30 per cent
    4. About 3 per cent

  14. On some trucks, what may you need to do while releasing the clutch to move off?

    1. Add a little throttle
    2. Turn off the engine brake switch
    3. Press the service brake hard
    4. Shift back into neutral

  15. Why choose your gear before starting down a long hill?

    1. It is required at all weigh scales
    2. It keeps the radio signal clear
    3. It saves wear on the tires
    4. Downshifting may be impossible later

  16. Where do you place chocks when parking a straight truck?

    1. Front and back of a rear wheel
    2. Against the rear bumper
    3. Only behind a front wheel
    4. Under the fuel tank

  17. What happens if you shift without using the clutch?

    1. The brakes adjust themselves
    2. Fuel economy improves
    3. Transmission gear teeth wear down
    4. The engine runs cooler

  18. How should you apply the brakes for a smooth stop in a loaded truck?

    1. Pump rapidly from the very start
    2. Steady, then ease off
    3. Light at first, then very hard
    4. Only with the parking brake lever

  19. Why should you operate the differential lock valve now and then?

    1. To drain water from it
    2. To recharge the air tanks
    3. To make sure it moves freely
    4. To reset the odometer

  20. Your engine is running rough after start-up. What does the handbook allow?

    1. Drive off right away in high gear
    2. Rev it to the red line at once
    3. Shut it off and restart five times
    4. Raise engine speed gently until smooth

Engine, gears and braking technique: 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 ↗

Starting the engine

  • Set the parking brake, press the clutch and put the transmission in neutral, then turn on the power and operate the starter.
  • If needed, raise engine speed gently until it runs smoothly, then check the oil-pressure gauge.

Putting vehicle in motion

  • Release the clutch gradually while releasing the parking brake; on some trucks you must add a little throttle at the same time to avoid stalling.
  • Check the brakes as soon as you are moving, within at least 15 m (50 ft).

Transmissions

  • Learn the shift pattern and procedure from the manufacturer's operating manual.
  • Start off in the lowest appropriate gear; apply power gradually when moving heavy loads uphill.
  • Abruptly releasing the clutch shock-loads the driveline; letting it slip too long overheats and damages it.
  • Smooth, co-ordinated clutch and gear changes extend the life of the vehicle.
  • With a clutch brake, do not press the clutch all the way to the floor while shifting on the move; push it to the floor only when stopped, to slip quietly into low gear.

Inter-axle differential lock

  • Found on trucks with tandem rear axles, controlled by a lever or push-pull valve on the dash, with only lock and unlock positions.
  • Operate the valve now and then to make sure it moves freely, but normally keep it unlocked.
  • Lock it only when approaching conditions where wheels may slip; it then sends power equally to both axles like a through drive.
  • Do not engage it while wheels are already spinning; needless use wears tires and strains the axles.

Use of brakes

  • Start a stop with steady pressure, ease off as you slow, release slightly just before stopping to avoid a jerk, then hold.
  • Fan (pump) the brakes only on slippery pavement, where threshold braking gives better control and a shorter stop.
  • Overheated brakes are dangerously ineffective; on long downgrades let the engine do most of the braking.
  • Choose the descending gear before the hill starts; it is often impossible to downshift once you are going down. Use about the same gear you would climb with.
  • If brakes fail on level road, downshift and use engine braking; use the emergency brakes if you need a shorter stop, and do not drive again until repaired.

Hills

  • When a steep climb slows you down, keep going and turn on your four-way flashers for the whole climb.
  • Use your right foot for both brake and accelerator so you never press both at once.

Parking

  • Set the parking brake and chock the rear wheels on the front and back of the tire, on one or both sides.

Driving efficiently

  • Shifting professionally can improve operating costs by about 30 per cent; always use the clutch to avoid wearing gear teeth.
  • Run in the highest gear range you can to keep engine revs low, and use the retarder only when needed.

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