Ontario Class D (DZ) study guide: key rules on all 14 topics

Free Ontario Class D (DZ) study guide: 372 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

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

14 topics
372 key points
Free, no sign-up

This study guide collects our notes on every topic of the Ontario Class D (DZ) Truck Knowledge Test on one page: 372 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 D licence and requirements

What Class D covers (over 11,000 kg, towing up to 4,600 kg), the RV-restricted Class D, the licence class chart, age, medical and document requirements.

Practise Class D licence and requirements questions Flashcards Official chapter

Class D

Class D lets you drive a motor vehicle over 11,000 kg (24,000 lb) gross weight or registered gross weight.
It also covers any truck or combination over 11,000 kg as long as the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg (10,000 lb).
If the towed vehicle weighs more than 4,600 kg, you need a full or restricted Class A licence instead.
A Class D holder may also drive Class G vehicles.
Class D does not allow you to drive a bus carrying passengers, a motorcycle or a moped.
A "Z" air brake endorsement is needed in addition to Class D to drive a truck equipped with air brakes.

Class D with RV restriction

A Class D licence with RV restriction (condition Q) lets you drive a recreational vehicle of any weight, including over 14,000 kg, plus Class G vehicles, but no other Class D vehicles.
Applicants for the RV-restricted Class D must complete the Recreational Vehicle Learning Module and take the road test in an RV over 14,000 kg.
RV-restricted applicants do not demonstrate a daily inspection on the road test and do not need to show work-eligibility documents.

RV rules since July 1, 2025

Any recreational vehicle, whatever its weight, may be driven with a full Class A, B, C or D licence or a Class D with RV restriction.
A full Class E, F or G licence with an RV endorsement covers RVs up to 14,000 kg.
A full Class E, F or G licence alone covers RVs up to 11,000 kg.

Licence classification chart

Class A: any tractor-trailer combination, plus classes D and G.
Class B: any school-purposes bus, plus classes C, D, E, F and G. Class C: any regular bus, plus classes D, F and G.
Class E: school-purposes bus up to 24 passengers. Class F: regular bus up to 24 passengers and ambulances, plus Class G.
Class G: cars, vans and small trucks, or a combination up to 11,000 kg with the towed vehicle not over 4,600 kg. A pick-up towing a trailer over 4,600 kg is still Class G if the combined weight stays at or under 11,000 kg.

Requirements

You must be at least 18 and hold a valid Ontario Class G or higher licence (not G1, G2, M, M1 or M2).
You must pass a vision test, a knowledge test on operating large trucks, and a road test in a vehicle that meets Class D requirements.
You must provide a satisfactory medical certificate on application and periodically after that.
A learner practising on a heavy truck must hold Class G or higher and ride with a driver holding a valid Class D (or higher) licence.
From May 11, 2026, applicants for Class A, B, C, D, E or F must document Ontario residence, legal presence in Canada and eligibility to work in Canada.
A Recognized Authority (an authorized employer or college) can assess the road test and issue a certificate of driving competence.
A truck licence from another province exchanges for the same Ontario class; to upgrade, take the tests in an approved vehicle.

Knowledge test checklist

Study the Official MTO Truck Handbook before the knowledge test.
Bring 2 pieces of ID or your Ontario licence, the completed medical report, the test fee and any glasses you need to read.
Blank medical forms are available at any DriveTest centre.
You can apply and test at a DriveTest centre, or by appointment at the ServiceOntario Bay and College location in Toronto.

Weights, CVOR and documents

Gross, registered gross and manufacturer's weight ratings, size limits, CVOR, documents to carry, inspection stations and weigh scales, impoundment for critical defects and dangerous goods.

Practise Weights, 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; ambulances, hearses, buses and tractors used to haul loads also count.
Farm tractors, road-building machines, motorized snow vehicles, power-assisted bikes and rail cars are not motor vehicles under the definition.

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.
Ambulances, fire department vehicles, hearses, casket wagons and motor homes are exceptions; most personal-use pick-ups and short personal rentals are exempt too.
The CVOR record holds carrier information, reportable collisions, convictions and every fleet inspection, with or without defects.
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.
Mobile inspection units can be set up anywhere for varying lengths of time.
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

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.

Practise Daily inspection and defects questions Flashcards 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.

Brake checks: hydraulic and air

Testing hydraulic brakes with and without power assist, brake fluid limits, and the straight-truck air checks: build-up, air loss of 3 psi, low-air warning, pushrod stroke and spring brakes.

Practise Brake checks: hydraulic and air questions Flashcards Official chapter

Hydraulic brakes with power assist

Drivers are not expected to repair brakes but must recognize when they are not working properly.
With the engine off, pump the pedal several times to use up the power assist, then apply moderate pressure.
Start the engine: the pedal should drop slightly and then stop.
If the pedal keeps dropping, or does not drop at all (no power assist), stop the engine; the vehicle must be taken out of service and inspected professionally.

Hydraulic brakes without power assist

Apply moderate pressure and hold it.
A steady drop of the pedal means the vehicle must be taken out of service for professional inspection.

Air-brake trucks

Before moving, the air gauge must show enough pressure and the low-air buzzer or light must have stopped.
For more detail on air brakes, the truck handbook refers you to the Official MTO Air Brake Handbook.

Air brake items on a straight truck

Build-up rate: with the engine at 600–900 rpm, pressure must rise from 85 to 100 psi within two minutes; slower is a minor defect.
To test build-up, first pump the brakes to bring pressure down to 80 psi or less.
Any air leak you can hear is a minor defect; when you hear one, do the air-loss test.
Air-loss test: chock the wheels, release the spring brakes, have pressure between cut-in and cut-out (80–145 psi), shut off the engine, hold the pedal fully applied and watch the gauges for one minute after the initial drop settles.
A straight truck fails (major defect) if pressure drops more than 3 psi (21 kPa) in that minute.
Low-air warning test: start above 90 psi with the key on, pump the pedal down and note when the warning comes on; it is a major defect if it fails or activates below 55 psi.
Pushrod stroke is checked with air at 90–100 psi, the engine off and the brakes fully applied; a stroke past the adjustment limit is a major defect.
Vehicles with air disc brakes, low bodies or covering panels may not allow stroke measurement; the examiner then asks you to explain the check.

Spring brakes and low air

Spring brakes apply automatically when system pressure drops below a set level, normally 60 psi (414 kPa).
If the low air-pressure warning activates at any time, stop immediately in the safest place and correct the air loss before going on.
Fanning the brakes on a long downgrade can drop the air pressure below what the brakes need.

Brake adjustment

Brakes out of adjustment are unsafe, can get the vehicle detained, and can put the operator's CVOR certificate at risk.
You cannot adjust your own air brakes unless you passed an approved adjustment course or are a certified mechanic.
Do a full air brake pre-trip inspection, as described in the air brake handbook, before the day's trip.

Brake heat

Overheated brakes, from misuse or poor adjustment, are a common cause of truck fires; check hub temperatures whenever you check tires.

Cargo securement and loads

Balancing and tying down loads, re-inspection intervals, NSC Standard 10, rear overhang marking, oversize load flags and signs, and loading within licensed capacity.

Practise Cargo securement and 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

Hours-of-service limits for trucks over 4,500 kg, exemptions, duty statuses, daily and cycle limits, cycle resets, the 160 km log exemption 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.

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.

Practise Engine, gears and braking technique questions Flashcards 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.

Off-track, turns, clearances and backing

Wheelbase and off-track, right and left turns, curves and roundabouts, the 4.15 m height limit, truck bans and safe straight backing with a guide.

Practise Off-track, turns, clearances and backing questions Flashcards Official chapter

Turns and steering

In a turn, the rear wheels of a truck follow a shorter path than the front wheels; allow for it so you do not hit vehicles or fixed objects.
Rear wheels do not pivot, so they cut inside the front wheels' path; this is off-track.
The longer the wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles), the greater the off-track.
On a curve to the right, keep the front wheels near the left side of your lane so the rear wheels do not drop off the pavement.
On a curve to the left, keep the front wheels near the right edge so the rear wheels stay out of the opposing lane.
If possible do not change lanes to turn; if you must use part of another lane, make sure it is safe.

Right turns

Lead the turning arc according to your off-track, or the rear wheels will ride over curbs and sidewalks.
Drive well into the intersection before turning if needed; take space from the road you are leaving rather than the one you are entering.
Depending on the vehicle and lane width you may have to cross the centre line or use the second lane of the street you enter.
When you block another lane, make sure cyclists and small vehicles are not moving up on your right.

Left turns

Use the left mirror to watch the rear wheels so they do not hit vehicles or signs on islands.
Finish just right of the centre line and move right when safe.

On the road test

Approach a curve from the outside part of the lane so the rear wheels do not cut across the inside.
Inexperienced drivers often misjudge safe curve speed; too much speed before the curve forces hard braking.

Roundabouts

Large trucks may need the whole roadway in a roundabout, including the mountable central apron; give them room.
If an emergency vehicle comes while you are in a roundabout, continue to your exit and pull over past the island.

Clearances

You must know your vehicle's height and width; the maximum legal height in Ontario is 4.15 m.
Obey clearance signs at bridges and underpasses, and remember snow, ice, floods and road repairs can reduce clearance.
Obey signs that ban trucks from certain highways, times or days.

Backing

Plan your route to avoid backing; drive out into traffic rather than backing into it.
Do not stop or park behind a vehicle that may soon reverse.
When backing into a driveway from the road, you are responsible for taking every precaution.
Before backing, turn off the phone and radio, open the windows, turn on the four-way flashers, sound the horn and walk around to check for overhead wires, pedestrians and objects.
Straight backing is the easiest and safest manoeuvre: line the vehicle up, keep the wheels straight, watch both mirrors and correct any drift.
Use a guide when possible: they should stand where you can see them and they can see the area behind.
Back-up alarms do not take away the driver's responsibility.

Class D road test

The daily inspection, backing and on-road parts of the Class D road test, items to bring for an air-brake truck, error limits and what examiners expect.

Practise Class D road test questions Flashcards Official chapter

Class D components

The Class D road test has a daily inspection test, a backing skills test and an on-road driving test; the coupling exercise is for Class A only.
The daily inspection test is done in this order: exterior inspection, in-cab check, interior inspection.
Exterior: four randomly selected Schedule 1 items. Interior: two randomly selected items. In-cab: every listed item.
For each selected item, demonstrate and describe the check, explain what the defect would be and say what you would do about a minor or major defect.
Class D applicants with the RV restriction do not do the daily inspection.

Passing standard

Errors are allowed on one daily inspection item only.
The on-road and backing parts together allow up to 30 errors, and the backing must be completed in under 10 minutes.
Any moving violation or unsafe operation ends the test.

What to bring

A Class D test in a vehicle with air brakes requires wheel chocks, a way of timing seconds, something to hold the brake pedal down and a device to measure pushrod stroke.
Without these items the test is declared out of order and 50% of the road-test fee must be paid before rebooking.
You must hand the examiner a valid daily inspection report and the schedule for the vehicle, or the test is cancelled.
Bring a vehicle of the right type in good working order, with valid annual inspection stickers.
If your licence requires corrective lenses, you must wear them to drive on the test.

In-cab check

Point to or touch each item and say what you are checking: all gauges, the air gauge (air-brake vehicles), driver seat and belt, mirrors and windshield, heater/defroster, steering wheel free play and wipers/washers.

Backing skills test

One manoeuvre: alley dock (90 degrees, driver's side) or offset back to the left or right, between cones.
Get out and check the path first, turn on four-way flashers, sound the electric horn and reverse at walking pace.
Hitting a cone is not allowed; finish straight and close to the final position, then secure the vehicle.
Stopping without changing direction is not a pull-up; repositioning forward is. Too many pull-ups count as errors.

On-road driving test

Routes include turns, intersections, lane changes, driving along, curves, an expressway section and a roadside stop and start; you may be asked to describe a situation the route lacks.
Keep within 10 km/h of the limit when conditions allow, never over it.
Use the right-most safe lane; increase following distance because trucks need more room to stop; avoid riding in other drivers' blind spots.
Stop behind the stop line with enough gap to manoeuvre around the vehicle ahead, and keep wheels straight while waiting to turn.
Make any needed downshift before entering an intersection to avoid lugging the engine.
Cancel turn signals manually, since most commercial vehicle signals do not cancel themselves.
On a roadside stop, keep the service brake applied until the parking brake is set, then switch from the turn signal to the four-way flashers.

Truck following distance and speed limiters, courtesy on hills and when being passed, stopping for school buses and railway crossings, cyclists, emergency vehicles and right-of-way.

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.

More rules for truck drivers

When several trucks pull onto a highway after a stop, they should leave at intervals that keep enough space between them.
A large vehicle following closely can intimidate drivers of small vehicles and leaves you no room to stop.
Cyclists may use any part of the lane when needed for safety, for example to avoid potholes, debris or sewer grates or to cross tracks at 90 degrees.
When parked at the roadside, check mirrors and blind spots for cyclists before opening a door.
People using motorized wheelchairs or medical scooters are treated as pedestrians; with no sidewalk they travel on the left shoulder facing traffic.
Community Safety Zone signs mark areas with a special risk to pedestrians; traffic fines are increased there.
When entering a road from a driveway or private road, yield to vehicles on the road and to pedestrians on the sidewalk.
At a railway crossing with signals or a gate, wait until the lights stop and the gate rises; never drive around, under or through a gate.
If the driver of a vehicle that passed a stopped school bus is not charged, the registered owner may receive the fine.
Do not drive on or block a freeway shoulder; emergency vehicles use it when all lanes are blocked.
A subsequent move-over offence within five years brings a fine of $1,000 to $4,000.

Night, weather and emergencies

Glare and high beams, fog, rain, ice and snow plows, skids and ABS, warning devices when broken down, truck fires, collisions, drowsy and distracted driving.

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.

More conditions

Entering a tunnel on a bright day, slow down, remove sunglasses and turn on your headlights.
Hydroplaning is when tires ride on top of water like water skis; control becomes very difficult, so slow down on wet roads.
If stranded in severe weather, stay with the vehicle, open a window slightly, run the motor sparingly and use the flashers.
With ABS, keep firm pressure on the pedal in a hard stop; do not let the pulsing make you release it.
Drowsiness warning signs include trouble keeping eyes open, frequent yawning, missing signals and drifting out of your lane.
Driver-assistance features do not remove your duty to stay in control; you can still be charged with careless or dangerous driving.

Signs, signals and markings

Signs that restrict trucks by lane, length, weight or cargo, clearance and truck warning signs, slow-moving and oversize 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.

More signs and signals

EDR (emergency detour route) markers guide traffic around an unscheduled highway closure and back onto the highway.
Do not pass a pilot or pace vehicle carrying the temporary sign; milled or grooved pavement can reduce stopping ability.
A yellow light means stop if you can do so safely; otherwise go with caution.
A pedestrian already crossing when the hand symbol appears still has the right-of-way.
Two solid lines guide traffic around fixed objects such as bridge piers; yellow and black markings are painted on the objects.

Keeping your Class D licence

Class D renewal and medical rules since 2018, tests for drivers 65 to 79 and 80 and over, change of address, demerit points and zero tolerance for commercial drivers.

Practise Keeping your Class D licence questions Flashcards Official chapter

Class D renewal

Since July 1, 2018, Class D drivers under 65 must pass a vision test and a knowledge test to renew.
Class D drivers 65 and older also renew with vision and knowledge tests, usually every five years.
Drivers aged 65 to 79 with Class A to F must also pass a road test after an at-fault collision or after building up three or more demerit points.
Drivers 80 and over with Class A, B, C, D, E or F must pass vision, knowledge and road tests before each renewal.
Renewals that need tests are done at a DriveTest centre; renewals without tests are done in person at ServiceOntario.
If you do not receive a renewal form, contact the ministry; keeping a valid licence is your responsibility.

Class D medical reports

Since July 1, 2018, Class D drivers must submit a satisfactory medical report periodically to keep Class D, or be downgraded to Class G.
Class D drivers aged 80 and older submit a medical report every year.
For other commercial classes the schedule is every five years under 46, every three years from 46 to 64, and every year from 65.
A medical notice and blank form come about three months before the report is due.

Records and documents

Report a change of name or address to the ministry within six days; the replacement licence is free.
Destroy the old licence when the new one arrives and carry the new one.
A licence that has been suspended, cancelled or expired for over three years means going back through graduated licensing before reapplying for any commercial class.
Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the date of the offence.

Other ways to lose your licence

Drivers of vehicles needing a Class A to F licence, of CVOR vehicles and of road-building machines must have no alcohol or drugs at all in their system.
Violations bring suspensions and administrative monetary penalties; impairment by any drug, including prescription or over-the-counter medicine, can lead to criminal charges and jail.
Police can demand breath, oral fluid, urine or blood samples, field sobriety tests or a drug-recognition evaluation; refusing is a criminal charge.
If you cannot give a breath sample, police can require a blood sample.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about medications; drugs and alcohol together can affect you even days later.
Doctors must report drivers with medical conditions that may affect driving; the licence can be suspended until new evidence shows no safety risk.

Fuel-efficient driving, HOV and branding

Warm-up times, progressive shifting, idling, tire pressure and route choice, HOV lane rules for trucks and the Mandatory Vehicle Branding Program.

Practise Fuel-efficient driving, HOV and branding questions Flashcards Official chapter

Starting and warm-up

Start with zero throttle in a gear that needs no throttle; pumping the throttle wastes fuel and can damage cylinder walls.
Use ether sparingly for hard starts; too much can harm the engine.
Warm up 3 to 5 minutes, or 7 to 10 minutes below 0°C, without revving; then drive gently until fully warm.
Make sure oil and air pressure are in their normal ranges during start-up.

On the road

Back off the accelerator going downhill and let gravity and momentum work.
Use cruise control where appropriate.
Progressive shifting means shifting before the engine reaches maximum governed rpm, around 1,600 rpm; it saves fuel, wear and noise.
Newer diesel engines can be downshifted at about 1,200 rpm and upshifted at about 1,600 rpm.
Turn the engine off whenever you stop for any length of time; an idling heavy truck engine can burn up to about four litres an hour at 900 rpm.
Lower average speed saves fuel; snow-covered roads can raise fuel use by 15 to 20 per cent.
Inflate tires to the tire maker's recommendation; under-inflation wastes about 1 per cent of fuel for every 10 psi.
Flat, multi-lane highways and routes that bypass towns and rush hour use less fuel than city or hilly routes.

HOV lanes

HOV lanes on provincial highways are open 24 hours a day for vehicles with at least two people, buses, licensed taxis, green-plate vehicles, airport limousines, motorcycles and emergency vehicles.
Large trucks are not allowed in HOV lanes, whatever the number of occupants.
A commercial vehicle may use the HOV lane only if it carries two or more people and is less than 6.5 m long.
Do not cross the striped buffer between the HOV lane and general lanes; misuse can bring a ticket.

Mandatory Vehicle Branding Program

Insurers, fleet self-insurers, auctioneers, importers, salvagers and used-vehicle dealers must brand severely damaged or written-off vehicles.
"None" means no Ontario brand has ever been applied; it does not prove the vehicle was never damaged.
"Irreparable": parts or scrap only, can never be driven in Ontario. "Salvage": can be rebuilt but cannot be registered as fit to drive.
"Rebuilt": a former salvage vehicle that passed a structural inspection; it can be registered as fit after a safety standards certificate.
If no insurer settles the claim, the brand is determined by an authorized mechanic at a Type 6 inspection station.
Trailers, farm tractors, mopeds and vehicles of model year 1980 or earlier are exempt.

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

FAQ

Ontario Class D (DZ) study guide: common questions

What is the best way to use this Ontario Class D (DZ) 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 14 topics.

Is this the official Ontario Class D (DZ) 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.