Alberta Air Brake (Q) Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 2 for the Alberta Air Brake (Q) Practice Test: 35 more questions with answers and explanations.

Commercial vehicle
Alberta
60 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 35
How quickly should the compressor build pressure from 50 to 90 psi at the governed engine speed?
- Within 10 seconds
- Within 3 minutes
- Within 10 minutes
- Within 30 minutes
Show answer
Answer: B. Within 3 minutes
Compressor build-up from 50 to 90 psi should take no more than three minutes.
Question 2 of 35
In the Alberta trip test, what is the normal range for governor cut-out pressure?
- 90 to 100 psi
- 60 to 80 psi
- 150 to 175 psi
- 120 to 135 psi
Show answer
Answer: D. 120 to 135 psi
The governor should cut out between 120 and 135 psi.
Question 3 of 35
How far below the cut-out pressure should the governor cut in?
- It cuts in at the same pressure
- 50 to 60 psi lower
- 20 to 25 psi lower
- 1 to 2 psi lower
Show answer
Answer: C. 20 to 25 psi lower
The cut-in pressure should be about 20 to 25 psi lower than the cut-out pressure.
Question 4 of 35
In the applied leakage check with full brake application, what is the most a power unit alone may lose in 2 minutes?
- 4 psi
- 1 psi
- 20 psi
- 10 psi
Show answer
Answer: A. 4 psi
The guide allows a loss of 4 psi in 2 minutes for a power unit, plus 2 psi for each trailer.
Question 5 of 35
What is the minimum size of wheel chocks for a commercial vehicle?
- 10 cm by 10 cm
- 30 cm by 30 cm
- 15 cm by 15 cm
- 5 cm by 5 cm
Show answer
Answer: C. 15 cm by 15 cm
Wheel chocks must be at least 15 cm by 15 cm.
Question 6 of 35
About how much time is added to your stopping distance by air brake lag?
- No time at all
- About 0.4 seconds
- About 4 seconds
- About 1 minute
Show answer
Answer: B. About 0.4 seconds
Air brake lag time is about 0.4 seconds, added to about 0.75 seconds of perception and 0.75 seconds of reaction.
Question 7 of 35
According to the Commercial Driver's Guide, about how long does it take a driver to perceive a hazard?
- About 0.1 seconds
- About 0.75 seconds
- About 5 seconds
- About 3 seconds
Show answer
Answer: B. About 0.75 seconds
Perception time is about 0.75 seconds, and reaction time is about another 0.75 seconds.
Question 8 of 35
Why should you not pump air brakes during a normal stop?
- Pumping wastes air and lowers system pressure
- It is the only way to stop
- It locks the steering
- It makes the brakes too hot to touch
Show answer
Answer: A. Pumping wastes air and lowers system pressure
Apply steady pressure and ease off as you slow. Pumping uses up air.
Question 9 of 35
You are about to descend a hill and the air pressure is dropping abnormally. What should you do?
- Do not go down the hill until the problem is fixed
- Go down quickly before the pressure is gone
- Shift to neutral and coast down slowly
- Use only the trailer hand valve on the way down
Show answer
Answer: A. Do not go down the hill until the problem is fixed
Test your brakes before descending, and do not proceed if air pressure drops abnormally.
Question 10 of 35
Why should you not hold a combination on a hill with only the trailer hand valve?
- It drains the fuel tank and stalls the engine
- It is the safest way to hold a combination
- It turns off the trailer lights and the horn
- The trailer brakes can leak off, and using them alone risks a jackknife
Show answer
Answer: D. The trailer brakes can leak off, and using them alone risks a jackknife
Do not rely on the trailer hand valve alone. Use the spring brakes to park.
Question 11 of 35
This diagram shows an air brake system. What drives the air compressor?
- The engine
- The brake pedal
- The trailer wheels
- A hand pump
Show answer
Answer: A. The engine
The compressor is driven by the engine and pumps air into the storage tanks.
Question 12 of 35
Which part tells the compressor when to start and stop pumping air?
- The foot valve
- The governor
- The slack adjuster
- The brake drum
Show answer
Answer: B. The governor
The governor senses tank pressure and controls the compressor's cut-in and cut-out.
Question 13 of 35
Why do air tanks have drain valves?
- To check the tire pressure at each wheel
- To release the parking brakes by hand
- To let fresh air into the tanks
- To remove water and oil that collect in the tanks
Show answer
Answer: D. To remove water and oil that collect in the tanks
Compressed air leaves water and oil in the tanks. Drain them so they do not freeze or damage valves.
Question 14 of 35
What happens when you press the brake pedal (foot valve) in an air brake system?
- Air is sent to the brake chambers, which apply the brakes
- The spring brakes release so the wheels can turn
- The compressor stops and the tanks are sealed
- Air is released from the tires to slow the wheels
Show answer
Answer: A. Air is sent to the brake chambers, which apply the brakes
The foot valve sends air from the tanks to the brake chambers, which push the rods that apply the brakes.
Question 15 of 35
What does the slack adjuster do?
- It dries the air before it reaches the tanks
- It turns the brake camshaft when the push rod moves
- It measures the air pressure in the tanks
- It holds the trailer to the tractor
Show answer
Answer: B. It turns the brake camshaft when the push rod moves
The push rod moves the slack adjuster, which turns the camshaft and forces the shoes against the drum.
Question 16 of 35
In an S-cam brake, what forces the brake shoes against the drum?
- A hydraulic cylinder
- Magnets
- The driver's leg strength
- The S-shaped cam turning
Show answer
Answer: D. The S-shaped cam turning
When the camshaft turns, the S-cam spreads the shoes against the drum.
Question 17 of 35
What does the safety valve do?
- Applies the brakes when you go too fast
- Releases air if tank pressure gets too high
- Removes water and oil from the tanks
- Stops the engine if the air gets too hot
Show answer
Answer: B. Releases air if tank pressure gets too high
The safety valve protects the tanks from too much pressure by letting air out.
Question 18 of 35
What is the main safety feature of spring brakes?
- They only work at high speed on highways
- They apply automatically if air pressure is lost
- They replace the service brakes when driving
- They need extra air pressure to apply
Show answer
Answer: B. They apply automatically if air pressure is lost
Air holds spring brakes off. If pressure is lost, the springs apply the brakes.
Question 19 of 35
How should you park an air-brake vehicle?
- Apply the spring (parking) brakes
- Put a brick on the brake pedal
- Hold the service brakes with the trailer hand valve
- Leave it in gear only
Show answer
Answer: A. Apply the spring (parking) brakes
Use the spring brakes to park. Service brakes rely on air, which can leak away.
Question 20 of 35
What is the advantage of a dual air brake system?
- If one circuit fails, the other can still stop you
- It never needs a pre-trip inspection
- It lets you drive at a higher top speed
- It does not need an air compressor
Show answer
Answer: A. If one circuit fails, the other can still stop you
A dual system has two separate circuits, so a failure in one still leaves braking from the other.
Question 21 of 35
Which colour is usually used for the emergency (supply) air line between tractor and trailer?
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
- Green
Show answer
Answer: A. Red
The emergency or supply line is usually red and the service line is blue.
Question 22 of 35
What does the tractor protection valve do?
- Controls the headlights and trailer lights
- Protects the tractor's air if the trailer lines break
- Locks the fifth wheel jaws around the kingpin
- Measures the trailer's weight on each axle
Show answer
Answer: B. Protects the tractor's air if the trailer lines break
It closes off the trailer lines so the tractor keeps its air if the trailer breaks away.
Question 23 of 35
What does a low air pressure warning tell you?
- The compressor is working normally
- The air tanks are completely full
- Pressure is dropping and you are losing braking ability
- The tires need more air in them
Show answer
Answer: C. Pressure is dropping and you are losing braking ability
The warning means pressure is low. Stop safely and find the cause before the spring brakes apply.
Question 24 of 35
What happens to stopping distance when you double your speed?
- It becomes about half as long
- It about doubles
- It stays about the same
- It becomes about four times as long
Show answer
Answer: D. It becomes about four times as long
Stopping distance grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed makes it about four times as long.
Question 25 of 35
Your brakes get very hot on a long hill and stop working as well. What is this called?
- Brake creep
- Brake fade
- Brake lock
- Brake lag
Show answer
Answer: B. Brake fade
Overheated brakes lose effectiveness. Use a low gear and engine braking on long grades.
Question 26 of 35
What is the best way to check whether a brake is out of adjustment?
- Feel the tire temperature after a trip
- Look at the paint on the brake drum
- Listen to the brake while driving slowly
- Measure the push rod stroke with the brakes applied
Show answer
Answer: D. Measure the push rod stroke with the brakes applied
Brake adjustment is checked by measuring push rod stroke with a full brake application.
Question 27 of 35
Why is moisture in the air system a problem?
- It makes the brakes grab too strongly
- It cools the compressor too much in summer
- It can freeze and block lines and valves
- It is not a problem in a modern system
Show answer
Answer: C. It can freeze and block lines and valves
Water can freeze and stop valves or lines from working. Drain tanks and use the air dryer.
Question 28 of 35
Brake lag means the brakes on an air-brake vehicle take time to apply. What does this mean for following distance?
- You can follow more closely
- Following distance does not matter
- You should brake later
- You need more space ahead than a car does
Show answer
Answer: D. You need more space ahead than a car does
Air brake lag adds to your stopping distance, so leave a bigger gap.
Question 29 of 35
Your spring brakes apply suddenly while you are driving. What is the most likely cause?
- A serious loss of air pressure
- The trailer is empty and light
- The engine is still too cold
- The governor has cut out normally
Show answer
Answer: A. A serious loss of air pressure
Spring brakes come on when system pressure drops too low.
Question 30 of 35
Before starting the air brake test, how should the vehicle be secured?
- Release all brakes
- Leave it in neutral without chocks
- Park on a hill facing down
- Park on level ground and chock the wheels
Show answer
Answer: D. Park on level ground and chock the wheels
Secure the vehicle with wheel chocks on level ground before testing the brakes.
Question 31 of 35
What appears on your licence card after you pass the Alberta air brake knowledge test?
- The Q endorsement
- A red stripe
- Nothing changes
- A new licence class
Show answer
Answer: A. The Q endorsement
Passing the knowledge test adds the Q endorsement to your licence card.
Question 32 of 35
What must you show at the registry agent before you can write the air brake knowledge test?
- A letter from your employer or school
- Your truck's registration and insurance
- Your Notice of Air Brake Program Completion
- Your Class 1 road test result
Show answer
Answer: C. Your Notice of Air Brake Program Completion
Bring the Notice you received after passing the practical assessment.
Question 33 of 35
After a failed practical reassessment, who decides what additional training you need?
- A police officer at a weigh scale
- Your insurance company
- The driver training school and the student
- The registry agent who sells you the test
Show answer
Answer: C. The driver training school and the student
Any additional training is decided by the driver training school and the student.
Question 34 of 35
In the applied leakage check, what is the most a tractor with one trailer may lose in 2 minutes under the guide's figures?
- 12 psi
- 2 psi
- 4 psi
- 6 psi
Show answer
Answer: D. 6 psi
The guide allows 4 psi for the power unit plus 2 psi for each trailer, so 6 psi for a tractor and one trailer.
Question 35 of 35
Which form is used for the one-on-one air brake practical assessment in Alberta?
- A daily log
- The Air Brake Practical Test form
- The vehicle registration form
- A trip inspection report
Show answer
Answer: B. The Air Brake Practical Test form
The practical assessment is done on the Air Brake Practical Test form within 15 minutes.

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