When should you downshift before going down a hill?

Before you pass the crest of the hill

Only if the brakes begin to fade

Halfway down, when speed starts to rise

At the bottom, before the next climb

What can happen if you use an engine retarder on a slippery road?

The drive wheels may lock and the unit may jackknife

The retarder will switch off the ABS system

The trailer brakes will apply on their own and stay applied

The air tanks will lose pressure quickly

A driver behind you wants to pass. What does SGI advise?

Let them decide, then help them complete the pass

Signal left to show them the road is clear

Speed up so they do not need to pass

Wave them past when you think it is clear

Saskatchewan Commercial overview

Saskatchewan Commercial: Braking, passing, parking and backing

Smooth stops, downgrades and retarders, combination braking, ABS warning lights, passing and being passed, curves, gear shifting, mirrors, parking on grades, warning devices for stopped vehicles, and safe backing.

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Braking, passing, parking and backing · Question 1Score 0/0

You have just driven through deep water. What should you do next?

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

Study reference: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook (2026-27), Ch. 2 Good driving habits — Braking, Antilock brake system, Passing, Curves and jackknifing, Getting started, Visibility, Parking, Backing

All 17 questions in this test

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

You have just driven through deep water. What should you do next?
1. Stop and drain the air tanks right away
2. Avoid braking until the drums are dry
3. Pump the brakes hard several times while keeping highway speed
4. Test the brakes and drag them lightly to dry them
When should you downshift before going down a hill?
1. Only if the brakes begin to fade
2. Halfway down, when speed starts to rise
3. Before you pass the crest of the hill
4. At the bottom, before the next climb
Trailers heavier than what weight must have their own service brakes?
1. 900 kg (2,000 lb.)
2. 1,360 kg (3,000 lb.)
3. 2,000 kg (4,400 lb.)
4. 4,600 kg (10,141 lb.)
What can happen if you use an engine retarder on a slippery road?
1. The drive wheels may lock and the unit may jackknife
2. The retarder will switch off the ABS system
3. The trailer brakes will apply on their own and stay applied
4. The air tanks will lose pressure quickly
A driver behind you wants to pass. What does SGI advise?
1. Signal left to show them the road is clear
2. Speed up so they do not need to pass
3. Let them decide, then help them complete the pass
4. Wave them past when you think it is clear
Your disabled truck sits partly in the lane. Where do the three warning devices go?
1. About 10 m, 50 m and 100 m behind the vehicle, all in the lane
2. All three about 30 m behind the vehicle in a straight line
3. 3 m behind on the traffic side, 30 m behind, 30 m ahead
4. About 3 m ahead, 3 m behind and 30 m behind
When the ignition is turned on, how should a working ABS indicator light behave?
1. Come on for a few seconds, then go out
2. Flash slowly until the brakes are applied
3. Stay off the whole time if ABS is working
4. Stay on until the vehicle reaches 20 km/h
With no guide available, what should you do before backing?
1. Back in one long move to save time
2. Rely on mirrors without leaving the cab
3. Set the brake, get out and check the area
4. Back quickly to limit time in the danger area
On a steep downgrade, how far below maximum governed rpm should you keep the engine?
1. At least 200 to 300 rpm below
2. At least 800 to 1,000 rpm below
3. Right at the governed maximum
4. At least 50 to 100 rpm below
How far from an intersection should you preferably park when stopping for a break?
1. 300 m (1,000 ft.) or more
2. 15 m (50 ft.) or more
3. 153 m (500 ft.) or more
4. 50 m (165 ft.) or more
Where is air turbulence from a fast-moving truck most dangerous to a car?
1. Just in front, beside the fuel tanks, or right behind
2. Only two or three car lengths behind the rear of the trailer
3. Only in the opposite lane of a divided road
4. Only directly beside the truck's cab door
Why do brakes lose power after long, hard use on a downgrade?
1. The brake fluid freezes in the lines
2. The linings swell and lock the wheels
3. Hot drums expand away from the linings
4. The air pressure in the tanks rises too high
Before backing into a loading dock, which step does SGI list?
1. Back toward the blind side for a wider view
2. Release the parking brake before getting out
3. Turn on four-way flashers and sound the horn
4. Turn off your lights so others are not dazzled
You park a tractor-trailer on a grade with no curb. What should you do with the wheels?
1. Turn them sharply left and set the brakes
2. Leave them straight and use the trailer hand valve
3. Leave them straight, set the brakes and block the wheels
4. Turn them sharply right and hold the unit with the hand valve
How should you drive through a curve to avoid skidding, rolling or jackknifing?
1. Slow before the curve, then apply gentle power
2. Keep your speed and steer sharply at the apex
3. Coast through the curve in neutral
4. Brake firmly in the middle of the curve
In a combination with air brakes, what does the foot valve do to the trailer brakes?
1. Applies them at the same pressure as the tractor's
2. Applies them at half the tractor's pressure
3. Applies them only after the tractor stops
4. Releases them so the tractor does the braking
You need to descend a steep grade. Which gear does SGI suggest you choose?
1. The highest gear, to keep engine rpm low
2. Neutral, using the service brakes only
3. Two gears above the one used to climb it
4. Usually one gear below the one used to climb it

Braking, passing, parking and backing: 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 ↗

Ch. 2 Braking and retarders (pp. 31–33)

A normal stop on level road needs one brake application, eased off near the end to avoid a jerk.
On ice, threshold brake to keep wheels from locking (follow the maker's instructions with ABS).
On a steep grade choose a gear low enough to control speed, usually one gear below the one used to climb, and use the engine retarder.
If you reach an unsafe speed going downhill, brake and downshift; being on a hill is no excuse for a collision.
Heated drums expand away from the linings, causing brake fade or failure; worst on long downgrades from highway speed.
Trailers over 1,360 kg (3,000 lb.) must have service brakes.
On steep downgrades keep engine rpm at least 200–300 below the maximum governed rpm.
Avoid unnecessary engine retarder use in cities; be careful on slippery roads, where a retarder can lock drive wheels and cause a jackknife.
Choose the gear before starting down a grade, not on it.
Balanced braking: the foot valve applies trailer brakes at the same pressure as tractor brakes; the hand valve applies trailer brakes alone.
Brake gently in curves and on wet or icy roads; over-braking can cause a skid or jackknife.
After driving through water, test the brakes and drag them lightly to dry them.

ABS (pp. 33–34)

ABS releases pressure only on a wheel that is about to lock, keeping stability.
ABS lights are amber and marked ABS; trailer lamps are near the left rear red side marker; dollies have one on the left side.
Vehicles built after March 1, 2001 that can tow have two dash ABS lights (tractor and trailer).
At ignition the light comes on for a few seconds and goes out; staying on means a fault; never lighting means a bulb, wiring or controller problem.
A working ABS is a CVSA roadside inspection item.

Passing, curves, sharing the road (pp. 35–39)

Do not wave following drivers past; when they pass, help them finish, slowing if needed.
Do not encourage passing across solid lines.
Air turbulence is strongest just ahead of the truck, beside the fuel tank area and right behind the trailer.
Pass on the right only with two or more lanes your way, or when the vehicle ahead is turning left and you need not use the shoulder; never pass on the shoulder.
Before entering a street from an alley or lane in a city or town, yield to pedestrians and vehicles.
Slow down before a curve and apply gentle power through it; braking in a curve can cause a skid or jackknife.
Motorcycles need a full lane; their size makes them look farther away and slower; check twice for them.
Most engine makers recommend about 85% of governed engine speed for normal operation; double-clutch on most manual truck transmissions.
Downshift before the crest of a hill; if brakes fail on level road, shift down and use engine compression.

Visibility, parking and warning devices (pp. 40–42)

Class 1, 2, 3 vehicles, school buses and vans depend heavily on mirrors; convex mirrors help in tight spaces.
Wide loads need mirrors that reach beyond the load.
Park at least 153 m (500 ft.) from an intersection when stopping for a break; never block the view of an intersection.
With a semi-trailer, apply spring brakes on both power unit and trailer when parked.
Manual transmission on a grade: lowest forward gear facing uphill, reverse facing downhill; two-speed axle and auxiliary transmission in low range.
With a curb: front wheels right facing downhill, left facing uphill; no curb: straight truck wheels sharply right; tractor-trailer wheels straight, brakes set, wheels blocked.
Never use the trailer hand valve to hold an unattended parked vehicle.
Clear of the roadway, not disabled, under four hours: hazard lights. On the road, disabled or over four hours: three warning devices — about 3 m (4 paces) on the traffic side behind, and about 30 m (40 paces) ahead of and behind the vehicle.

Backing (pp. 43–47)

The driver is always responsible when backing, even with a guide.
Avoid unnecessary backing, use a guide, back toward the driver (view) side, and back out of traffic rather than into it.
Before backing into a dock: four-way flashers, horn, back to the view side, use a guide.
Without a guide: set the park brake, walk around and check clearances, then flashers and horn before backing slowly in short stages.
Offset backing (driver side): wheel hard right to angle the trailer, back until the tractor tires line up with the middle of the landing gear, then wheel hard left.
Alley dock from the driver's (left) side is recommended because the left mirror shows the space.

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