Page 28 - Driving Commercial Vehicles Manual

chapter 1 — getting your driver’s licence

Check with a driver licensing office for specific vehicle requirements.
fast fact
If the vehicle’s carrying a load, make sure that it’s properly secured and won’t
escape, shift or sway.
The Ministry of Transportation
and Infrastructure may post Commercial vehicles used for road tests may not contain the following:
seasonal restrictions limiting
axle weight on certain roads • dangerous goods or explosives
or highways districts. If
there’s a restriction in effect • unbaffled liquids or dry bulk
where and when you’ll be • livestock
taking your road test, the
weight of the vehicle used • oversized loads.
for the road test, including
its load, must not exceed the The load must not exceed the vehicle’s GVWR or licensed GVW, and in the
seasonal weight restriction. case of a Class 1 or heavy trailer endorsement road test, must meet minimum
weight and load requirements.
For example, if seasonal
restrictions limit loads to See chapter 5, skills for driving trucks and trailers, for definitions of GVW
50 per cent of legal axle and GVWR.
weight, a five-axle tractor/
combination with a total For more information on acceptable vehicles for taking a road test, contact a
maximum legal axle weight of driver licensing office.
40,500 kg would be restricted
to no more than 20,250 kg.
Strategies to ensure your vehicle is safe
You need to provide a safe, reliable vehicle that meets legal requirements
and is acceptable for the class of licence you’re applying for. Also, make sure
you’re familiar with the vehicle.
If your vehicle is unsafe or does not meet requirements, your road test may be
cancelled and you will have to reschedule your appointment to a later date.
Here is a list of some of the typical reasons that a Class 1 to 4 road test may
be cancelled. Avoid disappointment — conduct a pre-trip inspection of the
vehicle to find and correct any defects before going for your road test:
1. Brake lights, signal lights or headlights not working, obscured by mud
or dirt, or badly cracked or missing lenses — these lights help you to be
seen in traffic, so they need to be clean and function properly.

2. Air brakes out of adjustment — make sure the brakes are in good
working order and properly adjusted.
3. Cracked windshield or illegally tinted windows — it’s important that
you and the driver examiner be able to see out the windshield, so a badly
cracked windshield just won’t do. Tinted windows may reduce your ability
to see other road users — and their ability to make eye contact with you.
B.C. law only allows certain windows and only certain portions of the
windshield to be tinted and limits the degree of tinting — no aftermarket
tinting on the windshield or front side windows is allowed.
4. Insecure load — make sure the load is properly secured. For Class 1 and
code 20 heavy trailer endorsement road tests, the vehicle must be loaded
and meet minimum load requirements.
5. Vehicle not properly licensed or insured — B.C.-licensed vehicles must
display a valid licence plate and insurance decal. They must be clearly
visible, not obscured by mud or dirt. Make sure the insurance papers are
in the vehicle — with a combination vehicle, make sure both the tractor
and trailer insurance and registration papers are on hand. Also make sure

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