Eastern Province General Dept. of Traffic - Saudi Heavy Vehicle Skills Test 1

Q: How many questions is the Eastern Province General Dept. of Traffic truck & bus theory test?

The official General Dept. of Traffic truck & bus theory test in Eastern Province has 35 questions and you need 22 correct (63%) to pass. This practice test has 22 questions.

Q: Is this the real exam?

These are practice questions to help you revise, written to the published rules and to what candidates report from the real test. They are not the official Saudi exam and the real question bank, format, fees and pass mark are set by the General Department of Traffic (Moroor) and the driving schools, and can change. Always confirm the current requirements with your driving school or the traffic department.

Q: Is this practice test free?

The first 10 questions are free, with no signup, and each shows the answer and the reason. The full 22-question test, timed, is in the Saudi Driving Theory Online Practice Bank (SAR 39, one payment), with every question in the bank.

Q: What does the Eastern Province truck & bus theory test cover?

Road signs, traffic signals, right of way, roundabouts, speed limits, seat belts, penalties and safe-driving rules, plus the handling and safety topics specific to your vehicle.

Question 1

How does an exhaust brake (Jake brake or compression release brake) slow a heavy truck?

Accepted Answer

It uses engine compression to retard vehicle speed by opening exhaust valves at the top of the compression stroke, turning the engine into an air compressor. A compression release engine brake (commonly called a Jake brake) opens the exhaust valves at the top of the compression stroke. Instead of recovering the energy of compression on the power stroke, it is vented away, turning the engine into a powerful air compressor that retards the drivetrain and slows the vehicle.

Answer

It partially blocks the exhaust pipe to create back-pressure that slows the driveshaft

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It diverts exhaust gases back into the intake manifold to stall the engine gently

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It applies hydraulic pressure to all four wheel brakes through a separate circuit

Question 2

You are driving a fully laden semi-trailer on a long winding descent in the mountains near Taif. Your speed is gradually increasing even though you are in a low gear with the exhaust brake on. What is the safest immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Apply the service brakes firmly and briefly in repeated short applications to control speed, and seek a runaway truck ramp or safe stopping point. If speed is rising despite engine braking in a low gear, apply the service brakes firmly but in short controlled bursts rather than a long continuous application, which risks overheating. Look for a runaway truck ramp or safe area to stop. Shifting to a higher gear, turning off the engine, or accelerating are all dangerous actions that could cause loss of control.

Answer

Shift to a higher gear to stop the engine over-revving

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Turn the engine off to maximise engine-braking resistance

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Accelerate briefly to match road speed, then re-engage a lower gear

Question 3

Why is correct load distribution important in a heavy truck or trailer?

Accepted Answer

Uneven weight distribution can overload individual axles, reduce steering control, and increase rollover risk. Correct load distribution is critical for safety. Placing too much weight over the rear axle reduces front-axle steering force, while loading weight too far forward overloads the front axle and trailer coupling. An uneven or high load raises the centre of gravity and greatly increases rollover risk, especially in corners.

Answer

It only matters for the comfort of the driver over rough roads

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Load distribution only affects fuel consumption and is otherwise unimportant for safety

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Loads always distribute themselves evenly between axles regardless of placement

Question 4

Which method of load securing is most suitable for preventing a heavy steel coil from rolling on a flatbed trailer?

Accepted Answer

Chocks and chains or straps rated for the coil's weight, positioned to prevent forward, rearward, and lateral movement. A steel coil is a round, heavy, and potentially unstable load. It must be restrained with properly rated chocks to prevent rolling, plus chains or straps to resist fore-and-aft and lateral movement. A single strap or relying on friction alone is inadequate and unlawful.

Answer

A single ratchet strap placed over the top of the coil is sufficient for road transport

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The coil should be placed loose and braked by the trailer's friction surface alone

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Steel coils do not require securing because their weight prevents movement

Question 5

Why does a fully loaded articulated truck require a much greater stopping distance than a private car travelling at the same speed?

Accepted Answer

Greater mass gives the truck far more kinetic energy, so the brakes must absorb much more energy before the vehicle stops. A fully loaded truck has far greater mass than a car, which means far more kinetic energy at any given speed. The brakes must absorb all that energy before the vehicle stops, so the stopping distance is significantly longer. Always allow a large gap to the vehicle ahead.

Answer

Truck air brakes are slower to react than a car's hydraulic brakes

Answer

Truck tyres are wider and create more wind resistance, which slows the braking

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A loaded truck sits lower, reducing tyre contact and grip

Question 6

Compared with the same truck when empty, a fully laden heavy truck travelling at 80 km/h will have a stopping distance that is

Accepted Answer

Considerably longer, because higher mass requires more braking force over a greater distance. A laden truck has considerably longer stopping distance than the same truck when empty. Higher mass means more kinetic energy, and the brakes must work much harder over a greater distance. This effect is even more pronounced on wet or sandy roads.

Answer

Roughly the same, because the brakes are identical on the laden and unladen vehicle

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Slightly shorter, because added weight presses the tyres harder onto the road

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Shorter only on wet roads, due to the extra mass improving tyre adhesion

Question 7

When following another vehicle on a Saudi highway in a fully loaded 40-tonne articulated truck, what following distance approach should you use?

Accepted Answer

A gap well beyond the two-second rule, because heavy vehicles need far more distance to stop safely. A fully loaded articulated truck needs a following distance far greater than the two-second rule designed for light vehicles. A gap of at least four to five seconds in dry conditions is widely recommended;

Answer

The same two-second rule used for a light vehicle at the same speed

Answer

A fixed 20-metre gap regardless of speed

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One vehicle length for every 10 km/h of speed

Question 8

You are driving a laden heavy truck at 90 km/h on a dry Saudi highway when the vehicle in front stops suddenly. Which factor most increases your stopping distance compared with a light vehicle?

Accepted Answer

The high kinetic energy of the truck's greater mass, which requires much more braking force and distance to dissipate. Kinetic energy increases with the square of speed and linearly with mass. A fully laden truck has far more mass than a car, so at the same speed it carries far more kinetic energy. That energy must all be converted to heat by the brakes before the vehicle stops, dramatically increasing the stopping distance.

Answer

The longer wheelbase, which forces the rear wheels to travel further before locking

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The elevated driving position, which reduces the driver's ability to judge distance accurately

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Air resistance acting against the front of the cab, which pushes the truck forward

Question 9

What type of braking system is fitted to most heavy trucks and buses operating in Saudi Arabia?

Accepted Answer

Pneumatic (air) brakes, which use compressed air to actuate the brake chambers. Most heavy trucks and buses use pneumatic (air) brakes. Compressed air from an onboard compressor actuates brake chambers to apply the wheel brakes. Understanding air-brake operation and the fail-safe spring-brake system is essential for every heavy-vehicle driver.

Answer

Hydraulic disc brakes identical to those fitted on light vehicles

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Electric regenerative brakes that charge the battery on every stop

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Cable-operated drum brakes similar to those used on motorcycles

Question 10

What is brake fade, and which situation most commonly causes it on a heavy truck?

Accepted Answer

A reduction in braking power caused by overheated brake drums or discs, most commonly on long downhill descents when brakes are applied repeatedly. Brake fade is the loss of braking effectiveness that occurs when brake components overheat. On long downhill gradients, repeatedly applying the service brakes heats the drums or discs until they can no longer absorb heat effectively. Always use engine or exhaust brakes to control speed on descents and avoid relying solely on the service brakes.

Answer

A sudden increase in braking force caused by air pressure building up too quickly in the chambers

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The delay between pressing the brake pedal and the air reaching the rear axle chambers

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The locking of the rear wheels caused by excessive brake pedal pressure on a slippery surface

Eastern Province General Dept. of Traffic - Saudi Heavy Vehicle Skills Test 1

The other 12 questions in this test

What this test covers

Frequently asked questions

Saudi Arabia driving test guides