49 topics · Updated 2026-09-17
A Class 1 licence permits semi-trailer trucks and all other motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles except motorcycles. Minimum age is 19.
A Class 2 licence permits buses, including school buses, special activity buses and special vehicles. Trailers or towed vehicles may not exceed 4,600 kg — they may exceed 4,600 kg only if bus and trailers do not have air brakes. Includes any Class 4 vehicle. Minimum age 19.
A Class 3 licence permits trucks with more than two axles (dump trucks, large tow trucks) but not buses transporting passengers. Trailers may not exceed 4,600 kg unless neither truck nor trailer has air brakes. Includes tow car towing any weight, mobile truck cranes and Class 5 vehicles. Minimum age 18.
Class 4 (unrestricted) permits buses seating up to 25 persons (including driver), taxis, limousines, ride-hailing vehicles and ambulances. Class 4 (restricted) permits taxis, limousines, ride-hailing (up to 10 persons including driver), ambulances and special vehicles for people with disabilities seating not more than 10. Minimum age 19 for both.
Heavy trailer endorsement (code 20) on Class 4 or 5 allows towing trailers exceeding 4,600 kg provided neither truck nor trailer has air brakes. House trailer endorsement (code 07) allows recreational trailers exceeding 4,600 kg under the same air brake condition. Minimum age 18.
You must hold a full-privilege Class 5 or equivalent licence before you can apply for a commercial licence, a heavy trailer endorsement, or a house trailer endorsement.
Drivers of passenger cars, taxis, limousines, ride-hailing vehicles, ambulances or vans should use the two-second rule: watch the vehicle ahead pass a checkpoint and count 'one thousand and one, one thousand and two.' If you reach the checkpoint before finishing, drop back. Buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles need at least a five-second following distance. Increase seconds when conditions are less than ideal. Leave even more space when following a motorcycle.
The danger zone is the section of road a vehicle travels through before it can stop, where it is physically impossible to stop in time to avoid a collision. As speed increases, danger zone length increases; poor road conditions (rain, snow, ice, gravel) increase it further. Reduce your danger zone by slowing down and by covering the brake pedal when you see a potential hazard.
The inside wheel turns more sharply and has a shorter turning radius than the outside wheel. Off track is the difference between the path of the front wheels and the path of the rear wheels around a curve. Greater distance between front and rear wheels (longer wheelbase) increases off track. Combination vehicles usually have more off track than single-unit vehicles.
Inertia is the tendency of a moving vehicle to continue in a straight line; when braking, inertia keeps the vehicle moving, and in a curve it pushes the vehicle away from the curve path. The faster and heavier the vehicle, the more inertia. Traction is the grip of tires on the road. Reduce speed before entering a curve; enter at a speed that requires no braking and allows gradual power application. Braking in a curve can cause skidding, rollover or jackknife.
When turning right, consider vehicle length including trailers, rear wheel off track, street layout and traffic. If the turning arc is too small, off tracking may cause trailer wheels to scrape the curb, crowd cyclists, or hit poles. Check for smaller vehicles, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians on the right. The most dangerous point is when the tractor has turned but the trailer hasn't, making the right mirror nearly useless. Keep the rear close to the curb to prevent passing on the right; if you must turn wide, watch oncoming traffic and do not back up.
Large vehicle drivers rely on outside mirrors and may not see tailgaters in the blind spot directly behind. Allow tailgaters to pass. Make gradual stops to lessen impact. Leave at least 60 m (200 ft) between your vehicle and other large commercial vehicles on a highway. Use the right lane when travelling more slowly, and use four-way flashers when driving slowly up or down a hill.
Vehicles, machinery or combinations that travel at less than 40 km/h should display a red triangle slow moving vehicle sign. Do not put this sign on any stationary object or on any vehicle travelling faster than 40 km/h.
Steering and handling differ among conventional, cab-over and forward-control designs. In a conventional design the driver's seat is behind the steering axle; in cab-over it is above the steering axle; in forward-control it is in front of the steering axle. The seat position affects your turning viewpoint and where you start your turn. Vehicle length and number of articulation points also affect turn start point.
Each unit with more than one set of wheels has its own turning radius and off-track pattern. Off track depends on wheelbase and the location of pivot points (draw bar connection or fifth wheel). The longer the wheelbase, the longer the draw bar, or the farther back the fifth wheel is mounted, the greater the off track.
When curving right, keep the front wheels close to the centre line so rear wheels don't drop off the pavement or onto the shoulder. When curving left, keep the front wheels close to the right edge of the lane to keep driver's-side rear wheels out of the next lane. For narrow bridges with curved approaches, know your off track and adjust speed and approach.
Ensure the turning arc is large enough to avoid cutting the corner; turning too soon may cause the left side to hit another vehicle or run over a median due to off tracking. On a multi-lane street you may turn into a lane to the right if it is safe. With two turning lanes, turn from the right-hand turn lane to accommodate off tracking. Check for pedestrians and cyclists.
Choose the lane that gives best vision, lets you go where you want and blends with traffic. A right-hand lane is best on a multi-lane divided highway, especially when driving slowly. On freeways, drive in the far right or centre lane, leaving the left lane for higher-speed and passing traffic. Fewer lane changes reduce collision risk and fuel use.
Commercial vehicles may have manual transmissions with 10 or more gears, usually diesel engines with fuel governors. Most heavy manual transmissions lack synchromesh, so you must double-clutch — depressing the clutch pedal twice when changing gears. Upshifting is done to go faster; downshifting to slow down. Be familiar with the shift pattern and shift points before a trip.
To upshift: release accelerator and depress clutch to neutral, release clutch, let engine/gears slow to the r.p.m. for the next higher gear, depress clutch and shift up, then release clutch while depressing accelerator. To downshift: release accelerator and depress clutch to neutral, release clutch, increase engine speed to match the lower gear's r.p.m., depress clutch and shift down, then release clutch keeping constant accelerator pressure. If a shift is difficult after too long in neutral, do not force it — return to neutral, release clutch, match engine to road speed and try again.
Torque moves the vehicle; horsepower develops speed. Peak torque occurs at a lower engine speed than peak horsepower. Operate the vehicle between peak torque and peak horsepower — the normal operating r.p.m. range. Shift progressively, using only enough torque to get moving before shifting up. Lugging occurs when the engine operates below peak torque for any length of time.
You can establish a safe following distance using different rules depending on the vehicle type. All following distance rules apply to ideal conditions; when conditions are less than ideal, increase your following distance. Driving conditions are affected by road, vehicle, physical/mental, traffic, lighting and weather conditions.
Drivers of passenger cars and light trucks (taxi, limousine, ride-hailing, ambulance, van) should use the two-second rule: watch the vehicle ahead pass a checkpoint and count 'one thousand and one, one thousand and two.' If you reach the checkpoint before finishing, drop back. Buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles need at least a five-second following distance because they need more time and distance to stop. Leave even more space behind motorcycles as they stop quickly.
The section of road a vehicle travels through before it can stop is called the danger zone, because it is physically impossible to stop in time to avoid a collision with any object in it. As speed increases, the danger zone lengthens; poor road conditions increase it further. Reduce your danger zone by slowing down and by covering the brake pedal when you see a potential hazard, which reduces reaction time.
The inside wheel in a turn has a shorter turning radius and pivots more sharply than the outside wheel. Off track is the difference between the path of the front wheels and the path of the rear wheels around a curve. The greater the wheelbase, drawbar length or the farther back the fifth wheel is mounted, the greater the off track. Combination vehicles have more off track than single-unit vehicles and display several sets of off tracking.
Inertia is the tendency of a moving vehicle to keep going in a straight line; the faster and heavier the vehicle, the more inertia pushes it off the curve path. Traction is the grip tires have on the road and determines control. Entering a curve too fast and braking may cause loss of traction, skidding, rollover or jackknifing. Reduce speed before entering a curve and apply gradual power through it; obey suggested curve speed signs to avoid tipping over.
When turning right, consider vehicle length, off track of rear wheels, street layout and traffic. If the turning arc of the front wheels is too small, off tracking can cause the trailer's rear wheels to scrape the curb or leave the road, crowding cyclists on the right. Check for smaller vehicles, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians before turning. The most dangerous point is when the tractor has turned but the trailer hasn't — the right mirror becomes nearly useless. Keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb to prevent passing on the right; do not back up for oncoming vehicles.
Backing up must always be done with extreme caution; with few exceptions you are responsible for any crash while backing. Avoid backing when possible; if you must, plan to minimize distance and ensure the area is clear. Use a guide whenever possible, or get out and walk around the vehicle before backing and every vehicle length. Sound your horn at least once every vehicle length. Back out of traffic rather than into traffic, and back into the view side rather than the blind side.
Large vehicles have dangerous blind spots including the area immediately in front (longer with a longer hood), alongside on the passenger side, and immediately behind. Check carefully for vehicles and bicycles in blind spots, especially in slow urban areas. Convex/spot mirrors make objects look smaller and farther away. Never assume another driver has seen you.
Yield to vehicles using flashing red or blue lights and sirens: drive parallel and as close as possible to the nearest edge or curb, stop clear of any intersection, and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle passes. Do not assume there is only one emergency vehicle. On a divided highway with a median, if in the left/fast lane pull off to the left; the nearest edge could be the left shoulder.
Slow down and leave room when passing stopped vehicles displaying flashing yellow, red, white or blue lights (police, tow trucks, maintenance, utility, etc.). Drive no faster than 70 km/h where the speed limit is 80 km/h or more, and no faster than 40 km/h where the limit is less than 80 km/h. Change lanes to provide space if you are in the nearest lane and it is safe. Exception: does not apply on a divided highway approaching from the opposite direction.
Match your travelling speed with traffic flow while staying within the speed limit. Driving faster than the flow increases crash risk, prevents safe following distance, requires more lane changes and causes fatigue. Driving slower than the flow increases collision risk with vehicles behind or beside you. Large vehicles that cannot keep up with traffic flow must travel in the right lane.
Large vehicle drivers rely on outside mirrors and may not see tailgaters in the blind spot behind them. Allow tailgaters to pass and make stops gradual to reduce impact. On highways leave at least 60 m (200 ft) between your large commercial vehicle and other large commercial vehicles. Use four-way flashers when driving slowly up or down a hill. Vehicles travelling under 40 km/h should display a red triangle slow moving vehicle sign — never on a stationary object or a vehicle travelling faster than 40 km/h.
Watch for construction zones ahead and traffic-control people, workers and equipment, day or night. You may need to wait for a pilot car to escort you through. Leave plenty of following distance, avoid changing lanes, and leave space between you, crews and equipment. Check traffic reports and consider an alternate route.
When curving right, keep the front wheels close to the centre line so the rear wheels do not drop off the pavement or onto the shoulder. When curving left, keep the front wheels close to the right edge of the lane to keep the driver's-side rear wheels out of the next lane. Negotiating narrow bridges with curved approaches requires knowing your vehicle's off track.
For a sharp right turn (especially with a forward-control vehicle like a bus), position the vehicle one to two metres from the curb on approach, drive straight until the side street curb line is visible, then enter the turn at low speed. Use the hand-over-hand steering method for a lot of turning: pull the right half of the wheel for right turns, left half for left turns. Do not grasp the inside of the wheel and always use both hands.
Ensure your turning arc is large enough to avoid cutting the corner; turning too soon may hit another vehicle or run over a median due to off tracking. On multi-lane streets, you may need to turn into a lane to the right rather than the leftmost. If there are two turning lanes, turn from the right-hand turn lane to accommodate off tracking. Check for pedestrians and cyclists.
Slow down as you approach, yield to any traffic already in the circle, yield to a vehicle on your right if arriving at the same time, and go around counter-clockwise (turn right to enter and exit). Traffic circles are for residential streets; large trucks/buses may encroach on the median. In multi-lane roundabouts, be in the proper lane before entering; due to off track you may need more than one lane. Signal right in advance of your exit. Large vehicles may use the truck apron around the central island.
Position a guide where they have a clear continuous view of the backing path and where you can see them throughout. Without a guide, step out to check for hazards above, below, sides, rear and front; then sound the horn and back very slowly watching both mirrors; stop and recheck periodically. A series of short backing manoeuvres is safer than one long one.
Scan traffic ahead, behind and to the sides constantly. Check mirrors frequently to spot passing drivers and vehicles behind. Watch traffic well ahead for lights, signals, pedestrians and lane changes. A 'stale' light that has been the same colour for a while could change — be prepared to stop. Give all drivers plenty of warning before stopping or changing lanes.
Choose the lane that gives the best vision, lets you go where you want, and blends with traffic. A right-hand lane is best on a multi-lane divided highway, especially when driving slower than others. On freeways drive in the far right or centre lane, leaving the left lane for higher-speed and passing traffic. Fewer lane changes reduce collision risk and fuel use.
Commercial vehicles may have manual transmissions with 10 or more gears and are usually diesel-powered with fuel governors. Most heavy vehicles lack synchromesh gears, so double-clutching (depressing the clutch twice when changing gears) is essential. Upshifting goes to a higher gear to go faster; downshifting goes to a lower gear as you slow. Be familiar with the shift pattern and shift points before a trip.
The engine develops torque (ability to move the vehicle) and horsepower (used to develop speed). Peak torque occurs at a lower engine speed than peak horsepower. Operate between peak torque and peak horsepower — the normal operating r.p.m. range. Shift progressively, using only enough torque to get moving before shifting up. Lugging occurs when the engine runs below peak torque too long.
How cargo weight is distributed affects vehicle handling and the life of tires, frame, springs, axles and bearings. A poorly distributed load can overload an axle or set of tires, stress the frame, cause permanent damage and steering misalignment. Correct loading is essential for safety.
Do not place a very concentrated heavy load against the cab, as this can permanently bend the frame, overload front tires, make steering difficult and make the load top heavy. Place concentrated heavy loads near the rear, partially over or just ahead of the rear axles, on the longest side, and block them securely to prevent forward sliding. Never load items on the tailgate.
Do not place a very heavy load on one side, as this overloads the springs and tires on that side and can cause the under-loaded side's brakes to lock and skid on wet surfaces, plus cause flat spots. Load so an equal amount of weight is on all rear tires to eliminate twisting and stress on the frame and prevent overloading the axle housing and wheel bearing.
The best weight distribution depends on the vehicle configuration. Five-ton freight trucks are designed for approximately 90% of cargo weight on rear axles and 10% on the steering axle. Cement mixers and dump trucks are designed for approximately 70% on rear axles and 30% on steering axles. Trailers should carry approximately 45% on the trailer axle unit, 45% on the drive axle unit, and 10% on the steering axle.
A tridem drive truck or truck tractor when loaded must have a combined steering axle weight of at least 25% of the tridem axle weight, or 40% in the case of twin steering axles. Place trailer cargo midway between the rear axle unit and drive axle unit to distribute weight equally.
Always use the correct vehicle for the job. Long, heavy loads require a tractor-trailer combination. On rough roads an improperly loaded vehicle may pivot on its rear wheels, lifting the front wheels off the road. For semi-trailers the load should be centred to distribute weight over the tires; the average semi-trailer has its central weight distribution point at approximately the middle of the trailer.
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