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C1 / 6· ~8 min

Goods transport rules

Prefer to practise the DGT theory test in English? Our English hub covers every topic and permit in one place.

Step 1. The big picture

A rigid lorry travels in the right-hand lane of a road with two crates secured by straps on its flatbed.
Properly positioned and secured cargo

In one sentence…

A C licence - Truck driver must master the goods-transport framework: authorised category, visibility, the vehicle's masses and dimensions, stowage, route and the prudence obligations of driving a heavy vehicle. This topic brings together licence, load, signs and daily responsibility.

What you'll cover

  1. 1.Category and authorisation
  2. 2.Goods-specific exam
  3. 3.Masses, dimensions and route
  4. 4.Stowage and distribution
  5. 5.Driving and manoeuvres
  6. 6.Professional responsibility

Step 2. The syllabus

2.1Category and authorisation

The C licence - Truck authorises goods vehicles over 3,500 kg. You must distinguish this class, its minimum age of 21 and the conditions currently in force before driving.

  • The DGT requires the common and goods-specific tests unless a common theory exemption applies, so it's not enough to study only the general rules for passenger cars.
  • When a question compares licences, pay attention to the authorised category, the type of vehicle and whether a trailer or a combination not included appears.
  • A heavy vehicle requires more distance, anticipation and awareness of its surroundings; the rule reflects the potential risk of its mass and dimensions.

2.2Goods-specific exam

In the C-specific test you have 20 questions, a maximum of 2 errors and 20 minutes; answer quickly, but always from the rule and the case described.

  • The specific content focuses on goods vehicles, load, driving times, the tachograph, responsibility and reading restrictions for heavy vehicles.
  • Don't treat the test as an extended B licence; the key usually lies in mass, dimensions, stowage, blind spots or professional documentation.
  • The margin for error is limited, so turn each rule into a practical decision: can I drive, must I stop, or must I adapt the manoeuvre.

2.3Masses, dimensions and route

Signs restricting mass, height, width, length or heavy goods vehicles determine the route even if the map seems favourable.

  • It's not enough for the vehicle to be allowed by category; you must also check whether the section allows its dimensions, load and specific conditions.
  • If a sign or specific limit has changed through a later reform, the official rule in force listed in the topic's references must prevail.
  • In the exam, when tunnels, bridges, narrow streets or service accesses appear, think about restrictions before comfort of the route.

2.4Stowage and distribution

The load must be placed and secured so it doesn't fall, drag, shift or compromise the vehicle's stability, visibility or the effectiveness of its devices.

  • It's not enough not to exceed a theoretical maximum mass: weight distribution across axles and correct securing matter for both safety and legality.
  • Faulty stowage multiplies braking distance and can cause a rollover, jack-knifing or loss of control on bends, gradients and swerves.
  • Relate goods regulations to safe loading: the correct answer usually requires preventing movement before the danger appears on the road.

2.5Driving and manoeuvres

You must adapt speed and distance to the mass, the braking time and the blind spot; the correct manoeuvre begins much earlier than in a passenger car.

  • In town, roundabouts, tight turns and service accesses require opening up your line with constant awareness of pedestrians, cyclists and lateral obstacles.
  • On the open road, a small lapse in observation can turn into an impossible manoeuvre because of length, inertia and the need for space to return.
  • The exam exploits late decisions: if you're already on top of the obstacle, the correct answer was probably to anticipate, slow down and observe earlier.

2.6Professional responsibility

The goods driver is responsible for driving with the appropriate authorisation, a vehicle in proper condition, a safe load and respect for applicable signalling.

  • If driving times, rest or the tachograph are involved, remember they're rules of road and labour safety, not simple administrative checks.
  • The prudence required of a heavy vehicle demands more distance, more observation and less improvised decisions, because the potential risk to other users increases.
  • Practise crossing topics: licence, signs, mechanics and load appear together, because in real driving they don't come as separate blocks.

Step 3. Key points

If you only have a minute before the exam, revise this.

  1. 1.Identify exactly what C authorises.
  2. 2.Distinguish the authorised vehicle, trailer and combination not included.
  3. 3.Check restrictions on mass, height, width and length.
  4. 4.Apply stowage, load distribution and correct securing.
  5. 5.Increase distance, observation and manoeuvring margin.
  6. 6.Relate driving times, tachograph and professional responsibility.
  7. 7.Read every heavy-vehicle sign before choosing a route.
  8. 8.Answer the test as a goods driver, not as a passenger-car driver.

Step 4. Exam traps

Mistakes the DGT uses again and again on this topic.

  • Answering as if stability depended only on total weight and not on how it's distributed.
  • Forgetting blind spots and turning radius in an urban environment.
  • Confusing the licence's authorisation with permission to use any route.
  • Ignoring mass or dimension signs because the sat-nav suggests the route.
  • Treating driving times and the tachograph as unrelated to road safety.
  • Answering with general rules when the question involves a goods vehicle.

Step 5. Quick check

Four real exam questions on what you have just read.

Question 1/4

Which behaviour increases crash risk when driving a lorry, even without exceeding the permitted maximum speed?

Practise more goods transport rules questions

Step 6. Frequently asked questions about goods transport rules

Which behaviour increases crash risk when driving a lorry, even without exceeding the permitted maximum speed?
Driving at a speed inappropriate for the conditions. Driving at a speed unsuited to the road, traffic, visibility, grip or vehicle. Staying below the maximum limit does not guarantee an appropriate speed. A low speed may be necessary for the conditions; it is not dangerous merely because it is low. This question does not establish a statistical ranking of crash causes.See full question
The truck you are driving is 2 metres wide. What lights must it carry due to its width?
It must carry position lights; outline marker lights are optional for its width. For a lorry 2 metres wide, outline marker lights are optional: they are permitted for widths between 1.80 and 2.10 metres and compulsory when the width exceeds 2.10 metres. The lorry must carry its position lights and other compulsory lighting; outline marker lights do not replace them.See full question
The C1 licence authorizes automobiles whose MAM:
Exceeds 3,500 kg and does not exceed 7,500 kg. C1 applies to vehicles other than D1 or D with a maximum authorized mass over 3,500 kg and not over 7,500 kg.See full question
If you have consumed a large amount of alcohol and wish to drive, what should you do?
Do not drive. When a driver has consumed a large amount of alcohol before getting behind the wheel, they must refrain from driving. They must wait the necessary time to recover their driving abilities, and even if they drink coffee or other stimulating beverages, it will not be possible to recover the ability to drive before the time stipulated for each case.See full question
A cage vehicle is one that is intended for the transport of...
Animals. A cage vehicle is a type of lorry specially adapted for the transport of live animals.See full question
See all goods transport rules questions

Official sources

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