Vehicle loading
90 questions
What this topic tests
Weight, where you put it, and towing. A small topic, and a predictable one: the weight goes over the axles, the driver is responsible, and a trailer that starts to swing is slowed rather than braked.
- Heavy items over the axles. Too far forward loads the tow ball; too far back lifts it and starts the trailer swinging.
- A snaking trailer: ease off the accelerator. Do not brake hard, steer sharply or accelerate.
- The driver is responsible for the load, whoever put it there.
- A roof load raises the centre of gravity and reduces stability — it is the handling that changes, not the braking.
- Towing needs a breakaway cable on a braked trailer, and exterior mirrors if the trailer is wider than the car.
The mark people lose: Thinking that a stabiliser fixes bad loading. It damps side winds and buffeting; it cannot correct weight that is in the wrong place.
- Are passengers allowed to ride in a caravan that's being towed?
- How must spare sheets and ropes be carried on your trailer?
- How should a load be carried on your roof rack?
- How should you adjust your mirrors after recoupling your trailer?
- How should you load a vehicle?
- How should you load your trailer?
- How wide does a load need to be before an attendant is required?
- How will a heavy load on your roof rack affect your vehicle's handling?
- In what circumstances will short-wheelbase vehicles bounce more noticeably than long-wheelbase vehicles?
- Tankers carrying liquids can experience the 'wave effect'. What helps to reduce this problem?
- The lorry you're driving is heavily laden. How will the load affect the vehicle if you approach a left-hand bend too fast?
- What additional training do you need before transporting frozen foods?
- What can result from overloading an axle?
- What could be the result of overloading an axle while loading a lorry?
- What could happen if you drive a double-deck lorry with the top deck loaded and the lower deck empty?
- What do the legs on a demountable body allow you to do?
- What does it mean if your trailer has a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500 kg?
- What must you check first when uncoupling or recoupling your trailer?
- What must you do when you hitch an unbraked trailer to a towing vehicle?
- What restrictions apply if you're towing a trailer on a three-lane motorway?
- What’s the minimum depth of tread on the tyres of a trailer?
- What safety device must be fitted to a trailer braking system?
- What shape are the labels that indicate a vehicle is carrying hazardous cargo?
- What should you do before you tow a trailer for the first time?
- What should you do if the load on your lorry becomes insecure?
- What should you do if your trailer starts to swerve or snake?
- What should you do if you're towing a trailer and it starts to swing from side to side?
- What should you do when transporting a small quantity of livestock that does not fill the vehicle?
- What should you do when you're working on a vehicle platform?
- What will you need to transport livestock on journeys of less than 65 km (40 miles)?
- What would be affected if you carry a very heavy load on your vehicle?
- What's being carried on a lorry displaying this symbol?
- What's the best knot to use when securing sheeting with ropes?
- What's the main cause of a lorry shedding its load?
- What's the main reason for covering a skip that you're transporting?
- When is an articulated lorry most likely to jack-knife?
- When will an articulated car transporter be least stable?
- When would you increase the pressure in your tyres so that it's above the normal value?
- When you're carrying other vehicles piggyback, you should use restraints and the parking brake on each vehicle. What else should you do?
- Which articulated trailer is most at risk of jack-knifing?
- Which cargo needs to be transported at a controlled temperature?
- Which load is most likely to move forward with some force when you brake sharply?
- Which load may need to be transported at a controlled temperature?
- Which of these best describes a vehicle's payload?
- Which of these loads needs to be transported at a controlled temperature?
- Which of these vehicles will be most at risk of 'roll-over' when laden?
- Which symbol on a lorry means it's likely to be carrying compressed gases?
- Which symbol on a lorry shows its load is dangerous when wet?
- Which symbol on the back of a lorry means it's carrying a corrosive substance?
- Which type of load should be secured using chains?
- Which type of load would benefit most from being carried on a lorry fitted with road-friendly suspension?
- Which vehicle is most likely to be affected by 'vehicle bounce'?
- Who must you inform if the load on your trailer hits a railway bridge?
- Who's responsible for making sure that a vehicle is not overloaded?
- Why are baffle plates fitted to tankers carrying liquids?
- Why are straps unsuitable to tie down a load of scrap metal?
- You intend to move a heavy object using a barrow or trolley. What's the best height for the handles?
- You’re about to start a journey towing a trailer. What should you do if you notice that a light on your trailer is not working?
- You’ve just passed your driving test. What’s the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of any trailer that you can tow?
- You wish to tow a trailer. Where would you find the maximum noseweight for your vehicle’s tow hitch?
- Your lorry has a crane fitted. You're loading very heavy items. What should you do when you feel that the straps may break?
- Your lorry has a demountable body. What should you check before demounting the body?
- Your lorry has a double-deck body. The top tier is loaded and the lower deck is empty. When will the vehicle be most at risk of overturning?
- Your vehicle has a maximum authorised mass of 40 tonnes. The kerbside weight is 15 tonnes. What's your maximum payload?
- Your vehicle has a maximum authorised mass of 40 tonnes. The tare weight is 10 tonnes. What's your maximum payload?
- You're carrying a child under 3 years old in your car. Which restraint is suitable for a child of this age?
- You're carrying another vehicle piggyback on your lorry. Chocks should be used to secure the wheels. What else should you use to secure the load?
- You're covering a load using more than one sheet. Why should you start with the rearmost sheet, then work forwards?
- You're driving a loaded lorry with curtain sides. What should you do when you see the curtain bulging on one side?
- You're driving a tanker that's half full. The inside of the tank’s not divided into compartments. How should you use the footbrake when you're stopping?
- You're driving a vehicle with an unladen trailer. What could happen if you change down to a low gear while travelling at speed?
- You're driving an articulated tanker on a straight road. How will the liquid load affect the vehicle as you brake to a stop?
- You're driving an open tipper lorry carrying loose dry sand. Why should you sheet this load?
- You're going to drive an articulated lorry with an ISO container on the trailer. How should the container be secured to the trailer?
- You're going to tow a trailer that’s wider than your car. What must you fit to your car before you start towing it?
- You're loading a curtain-sided vehicle. What are the curtains for?
- You're loading goods of varying weights. How should they be distributed over the width of the vehicle?
- You're loading timber onto a flat-bed lorry. You want to cover it with sheets. Which sheet should be positioned first?
- You're making several deliveries. What problems may the decreasing payload cause?
- You're part-loading a lorry with an empty ISO container. Where should you position it on the trailer?
- You're planning to tow a caravan. What will help the handling of the combination?
- You're securing a load using chains. Which type of chain is unsafe for securing a load?
- You're securing a very heavy load with a ratchet strap. Which anchorage point is unsafe to use with ratchet straps?
- You're transporting a skip carrying loose waste. How should the material be carried?
- You're uncoupling a lorry and trailer. What should you do after disconnecting the electrical line?
- You're unloading an end-tipper lorry. What should you do before tipping the body?
- You're using a lorry-mounted crane to unload building materials. What safety features should you use?
- You're using three sheets to cover your load. Which is the correct overlap?
- You've finished recoupling. How should you make sure that the tractor and trailer are secure?
- You've parked your vehicle on level ground to deliver a load of building materials. What should you do before using the vehicle-mounted crane?