B.C. Class 1 Knowledge Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

Practice test 5 of 5 for the B.C. Class 1 Knowledge Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Commercial vehicle
British Columbia
130 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
When do you need an air brake endorsement in B.C.?
- Only to drive a bus with air brakes
- Only to drive outside B.C. in another province
- To drive an air-brake vehicle on a highway, except construction vehicles
- Only for vehicles heavier than 63,500 kg
Show answer
Answer: C. To drive an air-brake vehicle on a highway, except construction vehicles
The endorsement is required to operate air-brake vehicles on a highway, except construction vehicles.
Question 2 of 25
How should you apply air brakes for a normal stop?
- Pump the pedal quickly to build air
- Use only the trailer hand valve
- Smoothly and steadily, easing off as you slow
- Press as hard as you can every time
Show answer
Answer: C. Smoothly and steadily, easing off as you slow
Smooth, steady pressure stops the vehicle without wasting air or locking wheels.
Question 3 of 25
What must a low air pressure warning do?
- Warn you with a light, buzzer or both when pressure is low
- Stop the engine so the vehicle cannot move
- Fill the air tanks from a reserve supply
- Turn on the hazard lights for other drivers
Show answer
Answer: A. Warn you with a light, buzzer or both when pressure is low
The warning tells you pressure is getting low so you can stop safely before the spring brakes apply.
Question 4 of 25
On a tractor-trailer, what colour is the gladhand for the service (control) line?
- Red
- Yellow
- Black
- Blue
Show answer
Answer: D. Blue
The service line is usually blue, and the supply (emergency) line is red.
Question 5 of 25
You drive through deep water. What should you do afterward?
- Brake lightly for a short distance to dry the brakes
- Drain the air tanks right away at the roadside
- Speed up so the wind dries the brakes
- Pump the brakes hard several times at speed
Show answer
Answer: A. Brake lightly for a short distance to dry the brakes
After driving through water, use light brake pressure for a short distance to dry the brakes.
Question 6 of 25
What does the tractor protection system do if the trailer breaks away?
- Keeps the tractor's air, while the trailer's spring brakes apply
- It speeds the tractor up to get clear of the trailer
- It turns on the trailer lights to warn others
- It releases all of the tractor's brakes
Show answer
Answer: A. Keeps the tractor's air, while the trailer's spring brakes apply
The tractor keeps its air supply, and the trailer brakes apply when its air is lost.
Question 7 of 25
Do vehicles with air-over-hydraulic brakes need the air brake endorsement in B.C.?
- No, never
- Yes, most of them do
- Only school buses
- Only if they are over 30 years old
Show answer
Answer: B. Yes, most of them do
The endorsement is also required for most air-over-hydraulic vehicles.
Question 8 of 25
What is at the bottom of each air tank?
- A pressure gauge
- A fuel filter
- A drain valve
- A brake shoe
Show answer
Answer: C. A drain valve
Each tank has a drain valve to remove water and oil.
Question 9 of 25
What happens after three failed attempts at the air brake knowledge test in B.C.?
- You must take a road test instead
- You can never take the test again
- You must wait 5 years to try again
- You must complete or repeat a 7-hour course
Show answer
Answer: D. You must complete or repeat a 7-hour course
After three failures, you must complete or repeat a 7-hour air brake course.
Question 10 of 25
On a downgrade your speed creeps above your safe speed. When should you brake to bring it down by 10 to 15 km/h?
- Never; use only the gears
- Only after the brakes start to smell
- Only at the bottom of the hill
- Right away, while the brakes are still cool
Show answer
Answer: D. Right away, while the brakes are still cool
ICBC advises braking hard enough to cut 10 to 15 km/h while the brakes are still cold, then shifting to a lower main gear.
Question 11 of 25
Why must you not apply the service brakes hard while the spring brakes are on?
- Because it is the best way to park on a steep hill
- Because it cools the brakes far too quickly
- Because it uses no air at all from the tanks
- The combined forces can overload and damage brake parts
Show answer
Answer: D. The combined forces can overload and damage brake parts
Applying full service air on top of applied spring brakes can over-stress the brake parts.
Question 12 of 25
What does the brake pedal (foot valve) do in an air brake system?
- It pumps air into the tanks
- It releases air from the tires
- It switches the compressor on
- It sends air from the tanks to the brake chambers
Show answer
Answer: D. It sends air from the tanks to the brake chambers
Pressing the pedal opens the foot valve, which sends air to the brake chambers.
Question 13 of 25
In the cab, how can you recognise the trailer supply control?
- A black dial
- A yellow, diamond-shaped knob
- A blue, square knob
- A red, eight-sided push-pull knob
Show answer
Answer: D. A red, eight-sided push-pull knob
The trailer supply (tractor protection) control is a red, eight-sided knob.
Question 14 of 25
How long is a certified air brake course in B.C.?
- 1 hour of online video, with no practical training
- 40 hours of classroom theory over two weeks
- 7 hours of classroom theory and 4 hours of practical training
- 2 weeks of driving on the road with a trainer
Show answer
Answer: C. 7 hours of classroom theory and 4 hours of practical training
A certified course has 7 hours of classroom theory and 4 hours of practical training.
Question 15 of 25
What is the first step to get an air brake endorsement in B.C.?
- Complete an air brake course
- Get a medical exam
- Book a road test
- Buy a truck with air brakes
Show answer
Answer: A. Complete an air brake course
The steps are: complete an air brake course, study, apply and take the knowledge test, then pass the air brake pre-trip inspection test.
Question 16 of 25
While driving, your low air pressure light and buzzer come on. What is the right action?
- Pull over and stop safely as soon as possible
- Speed up to reach the next town sooner
- Pump the brake pedal to build up air
- Keep driving to the end of your shift
Show answer
Answer: A. Pull over and stop safely as soon as possible
Low air means you are losing braking ability. Stop safely and find the cause.
Question 17 of 25
Why is a spring brake chamber dangerous to open?
- It contains hot oil under pressure
- Opening it cancels your licence
- It has no parts that can be serviced
- The spring is under great force and could injure you
Show answer
Answer: D. The spring is under great force and could injure you
The spring in the chamber is under great force. Only trained people with the right tools should service it.
Question 18 of 25
Which low air warning device is a mechanical arm that drops into view?
- A wig wag
- A slack adjuster
- A governor
- A gladhand
Show answer
Answer: A. A wig wag
A wig wag is a mechanical warning arm that drops into view when pressure falls too low.
Question 19 of 25
What should you watch on the gauge while the engine builds air?
- That pressure drops while the engine runs
- That the fuel gauge rises with the air pressure
- That the needle stays at zero until you drive
- Steady pressure build-up and cut-out at the right pressure
Show answer
Answer: D. Steady pressure build-up and cut-out at the right pressure
Pressure should build at a normal rate and the governor should stop the compressor at the cut-out pressure.
Question 20 of 25
Which mix of things requires the most stopping power?
- Double the speed and double the weight
- Double the weight only
- Double the speed only
- Half the speed and double the weight
Show answer
Answer: A. Double the speed and double the weight
Doubling both speed and weight needs eight times the stopping power.
Question 21 of 25
What protects the air tanks from too much pressure?
- The safety valve
- The slack adjuster
- The low air warning
- The brake drum
Show answer
Answer: A. The safety valve
If pressure gets too high, the safety valve lets air out.
Question 22 of 25
In B.C., which code on your licence shows the air brake endorsement?
- Code 7
- Code 5
- Code 20
- Code 15
Show answer
Answer: D. Code 15
The air brake endorsement is code 15.
Question 23 of 25
After passing the air brake knowledge test, what practical test must you pass in B.C.?
- A parallel parking test with a trailer
- The air brake pre-trip inspection test
- A night driving test on a highway
- A two-hour road test in traffic
Show answer
Answer: B. The air brake pre-trip inspection test
You book and pass an air brake pre-trip inspection test. No road test is required for the endorsement.
Question 24 of 25
What happens to the spring brakes if the air system loses all its pressure?
- They apply
- They stay exactly as they were
- They switch to hydraulic power
- They release
Show answer
Answer: A. They apply
Loss of air pressure lets the springs apply the brakes. This is a safety feature.
Question 25 of 25
How does a non-certified air brake course differ from a certified one in B.C.?
- It is taught only in a truck, with no theory
- It includes a road test in traffic
- It is longer, with extra classroom days
- It has only the 7 hours of classroom theory
Show answer
Answer: D. It has only the 7 hours of classroom theory
A non-certified course has 7 hours of classroom theory without the practical training.

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