Ireland Truck Theory Test Practice 2026: Practice test 3

Practice test 3 of 8 for the Ireland Truck Theory Test Practice: 30 more questions with answers and explanations.

Commercial vehicle
Ireland
230 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 30
At a roadside check, records for what period must a truck driver be able to show?
- The whole of the previous year
- The current day only
- The current day and previous 7 days
- The current day and the previous 28 days
Show answer
Answer: D. The current day and the previous 28 days
Drivers must be able to produce records for the current day and the previous 28 days.
Question 2 of 30
How many valid driver cards may a driver hold?
- Only one
- One per truck
- One per employer
- Two
Show answer
Answer: A. Only one
A driver may hold only one valid driver card, and it is personal.
Question 3 of 30
Which tachograph symbol records rest and breaks?
- A steering wheel
- A square with a diagonal line
- A bed
- Crossed hammers
Show answer
Answer: C. A bed
The bed symbol means rest or break. The steering wheel means driving.
Question 4 of 30
Which tachograph activity should you select while loading the truck?
- Rest or break
- Other work
- Availability
- Driving
Show answer
Answer: B. Other work
Loading and unloading are other work, shown by the crossed hammers symbol.
Question 5 of 30
Which tachograph symbol shows periods of availability, such as waiting with no fixed end?
- A steering wheel
- A square with a diagonal line
- Two crossed hammers
- A bed shape
Show answer
Answer: B. A square with a diagonal line
Availability is shown by a square with a diagonal line through it.
Question 6 of 30
May you lend your driver card to another driver?
- Yes, if they are on the same shift
- No, the card is personal to you
- Yes, for short journeys
- Yes, with your employer's permission
Show answer
Answer: B. No, the card is personal to you
A driver card is personal and must only be used by the driver it was issued to.
Question 7 of 30
Why must you take extra care before turning left in a truck?
- Trucks cannot turn left without a guide
- The engine may stall in a tight left turn
- Left turns are banned for trucks in towns
- Cyclists and pedestrians can be hidden beside the cab
Show answer
Answer: D. Cyclists and pedestrians can be hidden beside the cab
Check mirrors carefully before and during a left turn. Vulnerable road users can be hidden beside the truck.
Question 8 of 30
You need to overtake a cyclist in your truck. What should you do?
- Follow closely so they move in
- Pass close to save time
- Sound the horn, then pass
- Give them plenty of room and only pass when it is safe
Show answer
Answer: D. Give them plenty of room and only pass when it is safe
Leave plenty of space when overtaking cyclists. Large vehicles also cause turbulence.
Question 9 of 30
Why does a truck need a much longer following distance than a car?
- Trucks have better brakes
- Trucks cannot see the road ahead
- Trucks are always slower
- Heavy vehicles take longer to stop
Show answer
Answer: D. Heavy vehicles take longer to stop
A loaded truck needs much more distance to stop. Keep a bigger gap, and more in bad weather.
Question 10 of 30
How should you deal with a long, steep downhill road in a loaded truck?
- Ride the footbrake all the way down
- Use a lower gear and the engine brake or retarder
- Speed up at the top so the descent is shorter
- Coast down in neutral to save fuel
Show answer
Answer: B. Use a lower gear and the engine brake or retarder
A low gear and retarder help stop the brakes from overheating and fading.
Question 11 of 30
What happens if brakes overheat on a long descent?
- They lose effectiveness (brake fade)
- Nothing; brakes cannot overheat
- They grip better and stop faster
- They lock the steering wheel
Show answer
Answer: A. They lose effectiveness (brake fade)
Overheated brakes fade, so it takes longer to stop.
Question 12 of 30
You are driving a high-sided truck in strong crosswinds. What should you do?
- Slow down and be ready for gusts, especially on bridges
- Speed up so you get through the windy area quickly
- Follow closely behind other trucks for shelter
- Drive in the middle of the road away from the edge
Show answer
Answer: A. Slow down and be ready for gusts, especially on bridges
Strong winds can push high-sided vehicles off course. Slow down and take extra care.
Question 13 of 30
Before you drive a truck, who is responsible for making sure the load is secure?
- Only the person who loaded it
- Only the vehicle owner
- The driver
- Only the customer
Show answer
Answer: C. The driver
The driver must make sure the vehicle is not overloaded and the load is secure before driving.
Question 14 of 30
How does overloading a truck affect it?
- It shortens stopping distances
- It improves grip on the road
- Braking, steering and stability get worse
- It makes no difference to handling
Show answer
Answer: C. Braking, steering and stability get worse
An overloaded truck is harder to control and stop.
Question 15 of 30
What must a load on a truck not do?
- Be carried after dark
- Weigh more than 1 tonne
- Shift, fall or stick out dangerously
- Be covered with a sheet
Show answer
Answer: C. Shift, fall or stick out dangerously
Loads must be secured so they cannot move, fall or stick out in a way that endangers others.
Question 16 of 30
A truck driver must wear a seat belt where one is fitted. When does this apply?
- Only on motorways
- Only when carrying passengers
- Whenever driving, unless legally exempt
- Never; truck drivers are exempt
Show answer
Answer: C. Whenever driving, unless legally exempt
Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts where they are fitted, unless exempt.
Question 17 of 30
When may you hold a mobile phone while driving a truck?
- For calls under one minute
- When the road is quiet
- When stopped at lights in gear
- Never; it is illegal to hold a phone while driving
Show answer
Answer: D. Never; it is illegal to hold a phone while driving
It is an offence to hold a mobile phone while driving.
Question 18 of 30
You feel tired on a long truck journey. What should you do?
- Turn the radio up
- Stop in a safe place and rest
- Open the window and keep going
- Drink a coffee and drive faster
Show answer
Answer: B. Stop in a safe place and rest
Driver tiredness causes serious crashes. Stop and rest in a safe place.
Question 19 of 30
Why must you know the height of your truck?
- To choose which speed limit applies
- To avoid striking low bridges and other structures
- To calculate the road tax you must pay
- To find car parking spaces in towns
Show answer
Answer: B. To avoid striking low bridges and other structures
Check bridge height signs against your vehicle's height, including the load.
Question 20 of 30
You are approaching a level crossing in a long truck. What must you be sure of before crossing?
- That you can stop on the tracks if needed
- That you can clear the crossing completely on the other side
- That the train is far enough away to race it
- That the barrier is half-way down
Show answer
Answer: B. That you can clear the crossing completely on the other side
Never enter a level crossing unless you can clear it completely without stopping.
Question 21 of 30
A car is waiting to pull out of a junction as you turn into it with a long trailer. What should you expect?
- Your trailer may cut the corner and need extra space
- The trailer will follow the cab's path exactly
- You will have no blind spots on this turn
- The car will have to reverse out of your way
Show answer
Answer: A. Your trailer may cut the corner and need extra space
Long vehicles need extra space at junctions because the rear wheels cut in.
Question 22 of 30
Why should you avoid unnecessary engine idling when your truck is parked?
- It cools the engine
- It is needed to keep the tachograph working
- It wastes fuel and adds pollution
- It is required by law
Show answer
Answer: C. It wastes fuel and adds pollution
Switching off when parked saves fuel and reduces emissions and noise.
Question 23 of 30
Which drivers are not allowed to drive on Irish motorways?
- Coach drivers carrying standing passengers
- Learner permit holders, in the category being learned
- Truck drivers with full licences, at night
- Drivers towing trailers of any size
Show answer
Answer: B. Learner permit holders, in the category being learned
Learner permit holders must not drive on motorways in the category they are learning.
Question 24 of 30
What should you do if your truck breaks down on a motorway?
- Get onto the hard shoulder, use hazard lights and get away from traffic
- Stop in the right-hand lane and wait for help
- Reverse along the hard shoulder to the last exit
- Stay in the cab with the doors locked in a live lane
Show answer
Answer: A. Get onto the hard shoulder, use hazard lights and get away from traffic
Get your vehicle as far from traffic as possible, use hazard lights and wait in a safe place.
Question 25 of 30
What is the best way to use your mirrors when driving a truck?
- Only when reversing into a loading bay
- Often, especially before signalling, turning or changing lanes
- Only in heavy traffic in towns
- Once at the start of each trip
Show answer
Answer: B. Often, especially before signalling, turning or changing lanes
Regular mirror checks are essential in a large vehicle with blind spots.
Question 26 of 30
When you change lanes in a truck, what should you remember about the vehicle's length?
- The whole truck must be clear of the other vehicle before moving back
- Long vehicles do not need to signal lane changes
- Other drivers will always make room for you
- Only the cab needs to be clear before moving back
Show answer
Answer: A. The whole truck must be clear of the other vehicle before moving back
Make sure the entire vehicle, including the trailer, is clear before moving back in.
Question 27 of 30
Spray from your truck reduces other drivers' view in heavy rain. What should you do?
- Brake sharply now and then
- Slow down and leave a larger gap
- Use full beam headlights
- Drive closer to the vehicle ahead
Show answer
Answer: B. Slow down and leave a larger gap
Spray reduces visibility for everyone. Lower speed and bigger gaps reduce the risk.
Question 28 of 30
Your truck's daily walk-around check finds a tyre with a deep cut. What should you do?
- Check it again next week
- Drive slowly to your destination
- Let some air out of the tyre
- Do not drive until the tyre is replaced or repaired
Show answer
Answer: D. Do not drive until the tyre is replaced or repaired
A damaged tyre could fail. Report it and do not drive until it is fixed.
Question 29 of 30
You are at an incident where a truck has an orange hazard warning panel. What should you do?
- Move the truck yourself to clear the road
- Keep well back and give the panel details to the emergency services
- Hose down any spill to stop it spreading
- Climb onto the truck to read the label
Show answer
Answer: B. Keep well back and give the panel details to the emergency services
Vehicles carrying dangerous goods show hazard panels. Keep clear and let the emergency services deal with it.
Question 30 of 30
You bring a photocopy of your licence as ID to the theory test centre. Will it be accepted?
- Yes, if it is a colour copy
- Yes, if it is shown on your phone
- No, ID must be a hard-copy original
- Yes, any clear copy is fine
Show answer
Answer: C. No, ID must be a hard-copy original
Photocopies are not accepted. Bring the original ID document.

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