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Free Practice Questions for NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test

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Key Facts: NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test Exam

45

Official Test Questions

Transport for NSW

Not published

Pass Mark

Transport for NSW

< 0.02

BAC Limit (HV over 13.9 t GVM)

Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook

AUD $58

Fee Per Attempt

Service NSW

The NSW HVKT is 45 multiple-choice questions and Transport for NSW does not publish the pass mark. You choose the rigid test (LR/MR/HR) or the combination test (HC/MC). Your BAC must be under 0.02 when driving a heavy vehicle over 13.9 tonnes GVM, a public passenger vehicle, or a dangerous load — the general 0.05 limit does NOT apply. Standard Hours fatigue rules cap work at 12 hours in any 24-hour period with at least 7 hours continuous rest. The test costs AUD $58 each attempt, with no published time limit. Our free practice set has 100 questions to maximise your preparation.

Sample NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 114+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the maximum speed limit for a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 4.5 tonnes in NSW?
A.110 km/h
B.90 km/h
C.100 km/h
D.80 km/h
Explanation: In NSW, any vehicle with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes has a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h, regardless of the posted limit for other vehicles. This applies to rigid trucks, buses, and combination vehicles. Special lower limits posted by signs must also be obeyed.
2In NSW, what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rule applies when driving a heavy vehicle with a GVM over 13.9 tonnes?
A.Under 0.05, the same as other full licence holders
B.Under 0.02
C.Under 0.08
D.Exactly 0.00 - any reading is an offence
Explanation: The Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook states your BAC must be under 0.02 when you drive a heavy vehicle with a GVM over 13.9 tonnes, a public passenger vehicle such as a bus or coach, or a vehicle carrying a dangerous load. This is stricter than the 0.05 limit for fully licensed car drivers, but it is not a blanket zero requirement.
3Under Standard Hours fatigue rules, what is the maximum number of hours a heavy vehicle driver may work in any 24-hour period?
A.10 hours
B.14 hours
C.8 hours
D.12 hours
Explanation: Under Standard Hours — the default fatigue management option requiring no special accreditation — a driver must not work more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period. Work includes all time driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle and all other tasks related to the vehicle's operation.
4Under Standard Hours, what is the minimum continuous rest a heavy vehicle driver must take in every 24-hour period?
A.6 hours
B.8 hours
C.5.5 hours
D.7 hours
Explanation: Under Standard Hours, a driver must take at least 7 hours of continuous (unbroken) rest in every 24-hour period. Rest means time completely off work. Splitting rest periods is not permitted to satisfy this minimum under Standard Hours.
5What is the maximum total hours a heavy vehicle driver may work in any 14-day period under Standard Hours?
A.168 hours
B.144 hours
C.120 hours
D.156 hours
Explanation: Standard Hours limits work to no more than 144 hours in any 14-day period. This fortnightly cap complements the daily 12-hour maximum and ensures drivers cannot accumulate fatigue over multiple days by working to the daily maximum every single day.
6Which of the following describes the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) principle under the Heavy Vehicle National Law?
A.Only the driver is legally responsible for breaches of heavy vehicle laws
B.Only the employer bears liability if a driver commits an offence
C.Everyone in the transport supply chain — including schedulers, operators and consignors — can be held liable for breaches
D.Chain of responsibility applies only to load restraint, not fatigue or speed
Explanation: Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) means that every party in the transport supply chain — drivers, operators, schedulers, consignors, consignees, and others — can be held legally liable for breaches related to mass, fatigue, speed, load restraint, and vehicle dimensions. Liability is not confined to the driver alone.
7Which heavy vehicle knowledge test should you take if you are applying for a Heavy Combination (HC) licence in NSW?
A.Heavy vehicle rigid test
B.Heavy vehicle combination test
C.Either test — both cover the same content
D.General driver knowledge test (DKT)
Explanation: There are two versions of the NSW HVKT. The heavy vehicle combination test must be taken by applicants for a Heavy Combination (HC) or Multi Combination (MC) licence. The heavy vehicle rigid test is for LR, MR, and HR licence applicants. You only need to sit the test that corresponds to your target licence class.
8When must a heavy vehicle driver use a National Driver Work Diary under the HVNL?
A.Only when operating under Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)
B.Under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) at all times, and under Standard Hours when working more than 100 km from base
C.Under all three fatigue management options equally
D.Only under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM)
Explanation: Under the HVNL, drivers on Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) must always use a National Driver Work Diary. Drivers on Standard Hours must use a work diary when they work more than 100 km from their base (100+ km work). Standard Hours drivers working only within 100 km of base keep local area records instead. AFM drivers use an NHVR-approved alternative recording system.
9What should a heavy vehicle driver do when they feel too fatigued to continue driving safely?
A.Continue driving at a reduced speed to reach the destination
B.Drink energy drinks or coffee to stay awake
C.Pull over at a safe location immediately and rest
D.Ask a passenger to watch for hazards while they drive slowly
Explanation: If you are too fatigued to drive safely, you must stop immediately at a safe location and rest. The HVNL allows a driver to stop beyond their designated rest area if genuinely too fatigued to drive safely — this is a legal defence in emergencies. The stop and the reason must be recorded in the work diary. Driving while fatigued is a serious criminal offence.
10What is the primary purpose of load restraint rules for heavy vehicles?
A.To maximise the payload that can be carried legally
B.To prevent loads from moving or falling off and causing injuries, deaths or property damage
C.To ensure loads are evenly distributed for fuel efficiency
D.To satisfy customs requirements for interstate transport
Explanation: Load restraint rules exist primarily to prevent loads from shifting, falling, or projecting from the vehicle in a way that could injure or kill other road users, damage property, or create road hazards. Drivers and others in the transport chain have a legal responsibility under the HVNL and Chain of Responsibility to ensure loads are securely fastened.

About the NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test Exam

The Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test (HVKT) is a computer-based written theory test that all applicants must pass before they can apply for a heavy vehicle licence in New South Wales. The test contains 45 multiple-choice questions drawn from the Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook, the Road User Handbook, and the National Load Restraint Guide. There are two versions: one for Light Rigid (LR), Medium Rigid (MR) and Heavy Rigid (HR) licences, and one for Heavy Combination (HC) and Multi Combination (MC) licences. Topics include road rules, heavy-vehicle mass and dimension limits, load restraint, fatigue management, the National Driver Work Diary, and the under-0.02 blood-alcohol rule for heavy vehicles over 13.9 tonnes GVM or GCM, public passenger vehicles, and dangerous loads.

Exam sponsor: Transport for NSW (administered via Service NSW). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

45 questions

Time Limit

No published time limit

Passing Score

Not published by Transport for NSW

Exam / Certification Fees

AUD $58 per attempt

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Not published

General Knowledge

Licence classes, dimensions, mass limits, work diary, fatigue hours, coupling, and air brakes

Not published

Road Safety

Alcohol and drugs, pedestrians, traffic lights and lanes, intersections, fatigue, load restraint, negligent driving, speed, seat belts

Not published

Traffic Signs

Regulatory, warning, and heavy-vehicle-specific signs

Preparing for the NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Not published by Transport for NSW
  • Exam length: 45 questions
  • Time limit: No published time limit
  • Exam / certification fees: AUD $58 per attempt Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 114 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test: Suggested Study Strategy

1Read the Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook, the Road User Handbook, and the National Load Restraint Guide — the official test questions come only from these three sources
2Memorise the key numbers: 45 questions, AUD $58 fee, under-0.02 BAC for vehicles over 13.9 t GVM, 100 km/h maximum speed, 12-hour maximum work shift, 7-hour minimum rest
3Focus extra time on fatigue management — Standard Hours work and rest limits are frequently tested, and many candidates overlook the 144-hour / 14-day cap
4Practise coupling and load restraint scenarios for the combination test; understand chain of responsibility so you know who is legally responsible for each transport function
5Take timed practice sets until you score 95% or higher consistently — Transport for NSW does not publish the pass mark, so aim for mastery rather than a margin on the real 45-question test

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test?

The NSW HVKT has 45 multiple-choice questions. Transport for NSW does not publish the pass mark; figures such as 41/45 circulate on third-party sites but are not official. Questions cover the Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook, the Road User Handbook, and the National Load Restraint Guide. Our free practice set on this page has 100 questions to give you extra preparation.

What is the pass mark for the NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test?

Transport for NSW does not publish a pass mark for the NSW HVKT; the widely repeated 41-out-of-45 figure is a third-party claim, not official. This is a mandatory theory test you must pass before you can book a Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA) or heavy vehicle driving test.

How much does the NSW Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test cost?

The test fee is AUD $58 per attempt. If you fail, you must pay the $58 fee again for each subsequent attempt. There is no limit on the number of times you can sit the test. Fees are paid at Service NSW when you book.

What is the blood alcohol limit for heavy vehicle drivers in NSW?

In NSW, your BAC must be under 0.02 when driving a heavy vehicle with a GVM over 13.9 tonnes, a public passenger vehicle, or a vehicle carrying a dangerous load. This is stricter than the general 0.05 limit for fully licensed car drivers. The under-0.02 rule applies when the vehicle or combination exceeds 13.9 tonnes GVM/GCM, is a public passenger vehicle, or carries a dangerous load.

What are the Standard Hours fatigue rules for NSW heavy vehicle drivers?

Under Standard Hours, a heavy vehicle driver must not work more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period or more than 144 hours in any 14-day period. Drivers must also take at least 7 hours of continuous rest in every 24-hour period. Drivers on Standard Hours or Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) must keep a National Driver Work Diary.

Which test do I take — rigid or combination?

There are two versions of the HVKT. Take the heavy vehicle rigid test if you are applying for a Light Rigid (LR), Medium Rigid (MR) or Heavy Rigid (HR) licence. Take the heavy vehicle combination test if you are applying for a Heavy Combination (HC) or Multi Combination (MC) licence. You only need to take the test for the licence class you want.

What is the maximum speed limit for heavy vehicles in NSW?

In NSW, the maximum speed limit for any vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 4.5 tonnes is 100 km/h. This applies even on roads where cars are permitted to travel faster. Special lower speed-limit signs may also be posted for specific road conditions such as sharp bends or steep descents, and these must be obeyed.