COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S GUIDE - Alberta

1 COMMERCIAL . DRIVER'S GUIDE . to Operation, Safety and Licensing TRUCKS, BUSES, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS & TAXIS. CITY. CENTRE. STOP. L BUS. SCHOO. TAXI. MAXIMUM. 30. A COMMERCIAL . DRIVER'S. GUIDE and Licensing to Operation, Safety TRUCKS, BUSES, EMERGENCY. RESPONDERS AND TAXIS. Introduction Being a professional driver involves more than just driving a different type of vehicle. It means taking pride in your work and being recognized as a professional driver. As a professional driver you must always make sure you are mentally and physically fit to drive, your vehicle is well maintained and is in good working condition, and you drive within the law including driving without distractions.

2 Always drive defensively. Be patient and tolerant of other drivers . Protect yourself, the vehicle, the passengers and the cargo. The more you can anticipate and avoid dangerous situations, the less likely you will be in a collision. Being involved in a collision may result in loss of income, job, health and possibly a life. Remember that road safety is everyone's business. This GUIDE is also available on-line. Web site: (under drivers and Vehicles). 2 A COMMERCIAL Driver's GUIDE to Operation, Safety and Licensing Guides available: Geared to Go A Workbook for Coaching New drivers The following guides provide information used when preparing for the knowledge about the safe operation of cars and test and when learning to operate a light trucks, COMMERCIAL vehicles, tractor-trailer unit, large truck, ambulance, and motorcycles, and the licensing of taxi, bus or school bus, as well as when drivers and riders.

3 These guides provide handling dangerous goods. information for all classes of operator licences in Alberta , and will help you A RIDER'S GUIDE TO OPERATION, obtain an Alberta operator's licence. SAFETY AND LICENSING. Consider keeping the guides in your Motorcycles, Mopeds and Power- vehicle as a reference. Assisted Bicycles This GUIDE provides information on the A DRIVER'S GUIDE TO OPERATION, safe operation of motorcycles, mopeds SAFETY AND LICENSING and power-assisted bicycles. It is used Cars and Light Trucks with A Driver's GUIDE to Operation, Safety This GUIDE provides information and Licensing. for all drivers . GEARED TO GO: A WORKBOOK. A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S GUIDE TO FOR COACHING NEW drivers .

4 OPERATION, SAFETY AND LICENSING This GUIDE assists coaches who are Trucks, Buses, Emergency Responders providing supervision to new drivers and Taxis as they gain experience and skills. This GUIDE provides information about driving COMMERCIAL vehicles. It is used with A Driver's GUIDE to Operation, Safety and Licensing. Both of these guides should be INTRODUCTION 3. This GUIDE , along with the Driver's GUIDE to The laws that apply to driving a vehicle Operation, Safety and Licensing (Cars and can be found in the Traffic Safety Act and Light Trucks) will give you the necessary its related regulations. These documents information for learning to drive a truck, are available at tractor-trailer, ambulance, taxi or bus.

5 , and: These two guides provide information that will help you obtain a COMMERCIAL Alberta Queen's Printer Bookstore operator's licence. It is recommended that Main Floor, Park Plaza you obtain training and education from a 10611 98 Avenue licensed driving school to enhance your Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2P7. knowledge and skill. Driver education courses are available for the operation of Tel: 780 427 4952. passenger vehicles, COMMERCIAL vehicles, Fax: 780 452 0668. and motorcycles. For toll free service anywhere in Alberta , If you require information about call 310-0000, then the number. schools that provide driver education, or information about the testing process to Some registry agent offices provide obtain an operator's licence: knowledge tests and arrange road refer to your local Yellow Pages tests with driver examiners.

6 The driver visit examiners operate independently and are (under drivers and Vehicles) not employees of the registry. contact a Driver Programs Administrator To find testing services, and information in Edmonton at 780 427 8901 or about driver licensing and vehicle registration: Calgary at 403 297 6679 visit visit the Association of Alberta Registries You can reach Alberta Government at offices toll-free from anywhere in the refer to your local directory under province by first calling 310-0000. License and Registry Services This GUIDE has no legal authority. call 780 427 7013 (Service Alberta ). Municipalities are given authority under the Traffic Safety Act to pass bylaws in areas such as speed zones, school zones, playground zones and parking.

7 You must know local municipal by-laws. 4 A COMMERCIAL Driver's GUIDE to Operation, Safety and Licensing Contents COMMERCIAL Operator's 35 Trip air brake inspection 1 Licence Requirements 36 Enroute check stop inspections 36 Reporting to a vehicle 9 Upgrading your licence inspection station 10 Knowledge test 37 Post-trip inspection 10 Vision requirements 10 Road test 12 Learning requirements Operating Class 1. 12 Air brake equipped farm vehicles 4 Vehicles 13 Licences: renewal and changes 40 Operating a truck-tractor 13 Definitions and semi-trailer 40 Air brakes 41 How long does it take to National Safety 2. stop a vehicle? Code 43 Coupling and uncoupling a truck- tractor and semi-trailer 20 Provincial ( Alberta ) legislation 45 Coupling mechanisms 21 Federal legislation 46 Operating long combination 22 Vehicle Inspection Program vehicles 23 Cargo securement 47 Driving skills and manoeuvres 47 Following distance between vehicles 48 Off-tracking Trip 3 Inspections 48 Turns 49 Curves 26 Purpose of daily vehicle 50 Parking inspections 50 Reversing 26 Vehicles that require inspections 52 Important information for 27 Driver inspection required COMMERCIAL drivers 28 Trip inspections 5 Operating Class 2.

8 Vehicles 8 Transporting Persons with Disabilities 54 Information for Class 2 and 72 General rules for communicating Class 4 bus operators 72 General rules for driving 54 Operating a school bus safely 73 General rules for assisting a 54 School bus breakdowns person with a wheelchair 55 Left / Right turns 55 Reversing Transporting 9. 56 Turnarounds 56 Passenger loading and unloading Dangerous Goods 58 Parking on a hill 76 Training requirements 58 Railway crossing procedures 76 What is a dangerous good? 59 Discipline and problem solving 78 Dangerous occurrences 59 Safe driving guidelines 78 Documents 79 Safety marks Operating Class 3. 6 Vehicles Responsible Driving 62 Loading and unloading 10 Tips for COMMERCIAL dump vehicles drivers 64 Mixer truck operators 64 Parking on a hill 82 Distracted Driving Law 83 Fatigue 84 Railway crossing 86 Fire and fire extinguishers Operating Class 4.

9 7 Vehicles 66 Emergency vehicles Fueling and Fuel 67 Operating a taxi 11 Efficiency 68 Seat belts 68 Reserved lanes 90 Fueling a vehicle: gasoline, diesel, propane 69 Other uses for a Class 4 licence 90 Fuel efficiency 6 A COMMERCIAL Driver's GUIDE to Operation, Safety and Licensing 1. COMMERCIAL Operator's Licence Requirements Information about the Class 7 and 5 a bus Alberta operator's licence classes, and any motor vehicle or combination of the vehicles that can be operated in each vehicles that the holder of a Class 3, 4. class, can be found in the Driver's GUIDE to or 5 operator's licence may operate Operation, Safety and Licensing (Cars and class 1 and 6 type vehicles for Light Trucks) book.

10 All guides are available learning only from any Registry Agent office or on-line at: (Under You must provide a bus with a seating drivers and Vehicles). capacity exceeding 24 passengers excluding the operator for a road test. An air brake Q endorsement is required to Class 1 operate air brake equipped vehicles. If the vehicle provided for the road test is The minimum learning or licensing age is equipped with air brakes, you must have 18 years. You may not apply for a Class 1 either an air brake Q endorsement or operator's licence as a probationary driver. a course completion certificate from an The holder of a Class 1 operator's approved air brake organization.