LGV Vehicle Safety Checks 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What should a driver check about the fuel/AdBlue levels during a walkaround check?
- Ensure both fuel and AdBlue are sufficient for the planned journey (Correct answer)
- Only check fuel — AdBlue is not the driver's responsibility
- Check AdBlue only on new vehicles
- Neither is required — depot staff refuel vehicles
Correct answer: Ensure both fuel and AdBlue are sufficient for the planned journey
Both fuel and AdBlue (diesel exhaust fluid used in SCR emission systems) must be checked. Running out of AdBlue causes the engine to derate (reduce power) and can trigger a no-restart condition on some vehicles.
Question 2: During a pre-departure check, a driver finds a tyre has a bulge on the sidewall. What must they do?
- Do not drive — a bulged tyre must be replaced immediately (Correct answer)
- Drive carefully at reduced speed to the nearest tyre centre
- Inflate the tyre to maximum pressure
- Report it at the end of the shift
Correct answer: Do not drive — a bulged tyre must be replaced immediately
A bulge on a tyre sidewall indicates internal structural damage. The tyre could fail catastrophically at any time and especially under load or speed. The vehicle must not be driven until the tyre is replaced.
Question 3: What is checked when testing the vehicle's horn during a walkaround inspection?
- That it sounds and is loud enough to be heard by other road users (Correct answer)
- Only that it has electrical power
- That it meets a specific decibel level
- Horns are tested only during annual MOT
Correct answer: That it sounds and is loud enough to be heard by other road users
The horn must sound clearly and be audible. A working horn is a legal requirement. The driver should briefly sound it in a safe area to confirm it operates.
Question 4: An LGV driver checks the load and finds an axle weight may be overloaded. What should they do?
- Redistribute the load or refuse to drive until the weight issue is resolved (Correct answer)
- Drive the short distance to a weigh bridge first
- Only an overloaded total weight is illegal — axle weight does not matter
- Continue if the total vehicle weight is legal
Correct answer: Redistribute the load or refuse to drive until the weight issue is resolved
Individual axle overloading is illegal even if the total vehicle weight is within limits. An overloaded axle can damage the road, cause handling problems, and result in prosecution. The load must be redistributed before driving.
Question 5: What should a driver check regarding the trailer's electrical connections?
- That both the ISO 7638 ABS/EBS connector and the 24N/24S lighting connections are fully engaged (Correct answer)
- Only the lighting plug — ABS connections are depot responsibility
- No electrical check is needed if the trailer has recently been coupled
- Only check if the trailer was unhitched overnight
Correct answer: That both the ISO 7638 ABS/EBS connector and the 24N/24S lighting connections are fully engaged
The driver must ensure all trailer electrical connectors are fully engaged: the ISO 7638 7-pin connector (for ABS/EBS brakes) and the 24N and 24S sockets (for lighting). Disconnected plugs mean no trailer ABS and no lights.
Question 6: What is the correct procedure when a driver discovers a defect during a journey?
- Stop safely as soon as possible, assess whether it is safe to continue, and report it to the operator (Correct answer)
- Continue to the destination and report on return
- Only stop if a warning light activates
- Report it at the next fuel stop
Correct answer: Stop safely as soon as possible, assess whether it is safe to continue, and report it to the operator
If a defect is discovered mid-journey, the driver must stop safely when it is safe to do so, assess the severity of the defect, contact the operator, and decide whether the vehicle can continue safely or needs recovery.
LGV Vehicle Safety Checks 4
What should a driver check about the fuel/AdBlue levels during a walkaround check?