Checked 6 November 2026. The Z program steps, renewal rules and what to bring are from ontario.ca, read 6 November 2026 (the truck licence page was last updated 21 September 2026). Fees are from DriveTest’s fee list (effective 12 July 2019), read the same day. The pass values are from the Official Air Brake Handbook on ontario.ca, read 5 November 2026. Re-check ontario.ca and DriveTest before you book.
The Ontario air brake test is how you get the Z endorsement on your licence. Ontario says you need Z to drive a vehicle with an air brake or an air-over-hydraulic brake system. You get it in one of two ways: you take an air brake course, or you take the tests at a DriveTest centre. The tests are a knowledge (written) test and a practical test on a vehicle.
This guide covers Ontario only: the two routes, the written and practical tests, what they cost at DriveTest, the pass values in Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook, how to read the handbook chapter by chapter, and how renewal works since 1 September 2023. For other provinces, see our air brake endorsement guide for every province and our Alberta air brake (Q) test guide.
ProSyllabus is an independent study site. It is not part of the Government of Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), DriveTest or any air brake course provider, and nothing here is the official test. The rules on this page are quoted or summarised from the official Ontario pages and the Official Air Brake Handbook listed at the end.
ontario.ca Get a truck driver’s licence and DriveTest fee list, read 6 Nov 2026.
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
What the Z endorsement is and who needs it
Ontario’s truck licence page says: “If you want to drive a vehicle with an air brake or an air-over-hydraulic brake system, you need a Z endorsement on your driver’s licence in Ontario.” The endorsement is added to your licence class: Ontario calls a full Class A licence with it a Class AZ licence.
- Class A trucks: Ontario says the full Class A truck licence is the only licence that covers full air brake systems on both tractors and trailers. With the Z endorsement it is a full Class AZ licence.
- Class A road test: for the AZ road test, the vehicle must have a full air brake system on both the truck or tractor and the trailer. New Class A applicants must also finish mandatory entry-level training before the Class A road test.
- Buses and other classes: the same Z endorsement is used for buses and for Class B, C, D, E, F and G licences when the vehicle has air brakes.
ontario.ca Get a truck driver’s licence and Get a bus driver’s licence, read 6 Nov 2026.
Two ways to get the Z endorsement
| Route | What Ontario says | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Air brake course | Take a course from a vehicle fleet owner, a community college or a safety organization. You get a referral envelope. Take the envelope to a DriveTest centre within 6 months to get your endorsement. | Ontario says that if you have a Class A (Z) licence that you want to upgrade, you can take the course through any of the three. If you have a B, C, D, E, F or G licence, you need to take it with a vehicle fleet owner. |
| 2. Tests at DriveTest | Take the air brake knowledge test at a DriveTest centre. After it, book the practical test. | Ontario’s page lists no course for this route. |
Ontario’s page does not say which tests the course referral replaces, or what the course costs. Ask the course provider before you pay. Whichever route you take, the Official Air Brake Handbook is the book to learn from: Ontario says it prepares you for the knowledge test, and chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12 cover the practical inspection (chapter 8 covers the law).
The air brake knowledge (written) test
You take the knowledge test at a DriveTest centre. The fee is on DriveTest’s list (below). Ontario’s pages and the handbook do not publish the number of questions, the pass mark or a time limit for the Z knowledge test. Be careful with any site that states them as official.
What Ontario does say is what to study: the handbook “contains the information you need to prepare for the air brake endorsement examination.” So learn the handbook chapters, and above all the values in chapters 10 and 11 (the chart below). Practise both recalling a value and applying it to a gauge reading.
The air brake practical test
After the knowledge test, you book a practical test with DriveTest. To book, you need your Ontario driver’s licence number, a first, second and third choice of location, and a preferred date and time. Cancel at least 48 hours before the appointment, or you pay a cancellation fee.
| Version | Who takes it |
|---|---|
| Version 1 | Drivers of a commercial vehicle with a tractor-trailer air brake system |
| Version 2 | Drivers of a vehicle without a tractor-trailer air brake system |
What to bring to the practical test
- Wheel chocks or blocks
- A stopwatch or a watch with a second hand (you time the air pressure build-up)
- Knowledge of the size and type of every brake chamber on your test vehicle
- A way to hold the brake pedal in the applied position
- A way to mark the pushrod, and a device to measure pushrod stroke (neither applies to motor coaches)
- Protective eyewear (not for motor coaches); the handbook’s list also adds protective headgear, again not for motor coaches
- A chart of brake adjustment limits (optional)
ontario.ca Get a truck driver’s licence (6 Nov 2026); Official Air Brake Handbook, chapter 12.
What you do in the practical test
The handbook says chapter 10 “prepares you for the Ministry of Transportation air brake endorsement practical examination,” and chapter 12 gives the checklists. At each step, tell the examiner what you are testing. The checklists have three parts:
| Part | What you check |
|---|---|
| Mechanical inspection | At each wheel: foundation brakes, linings, brake chambers (leaks, cracks, mismatched chamber size or slack adjuster length on a steering axle), drums or rotors. Also air lines, air tank mounting and the compressor belt and mounting. |
| Functional inspection | Low-air warning, pressure build-up time, governor cut-out and cut-in, air-loss rate, tractor protection valve, automatic trailer spring brakes, spring (parking) brakes and air tank drain valves. |
| Brake adjustment | Measure the applied pushrod stroke at each wheel and compare it to the adjustment limit for that chamber size and type. The handbook says every driver must demonstrate a pushrod-stroke measurement method in the practical exam. |
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Ontario pass values to know
These are the values in chapters 10 and 11 of the handbook. Ontario’s numbers are not the same as Alberta’s, so do not mix the two manuals.
Official Air Brake Handbook (ontario.ca), chapters “Inspecting Air Brake Adjustment” and “Inspecting Air Brake System Operation”, read 5 Nov 2026. Bar length shows psi.
| Test | How it is done | Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Low-air warning | Start above 90 psi, ignition on. Press and release the brake pedal to lower the pressure. | The warning comes on at or above 55 psi (380 kPa) on both the primary and secondary gauges. Most come on above 60 psi. |
| Pressure build-up time | Lower the pressure below 80 psi; trailer supply valve closed if a trailer is attached. Run the engine at 600 to 900 rpm. Time the rise from 85 to 100 psi. | 2 minutes or less |
| Governor cut-out and cut-in | Build to maximum pressure (cut-out), then press and release the pedal until the compressor starts again (cut-in). | Within the vehicle manufacturer’s range; cut-out not above 145 psi (1000 kPa) and, per the chapter summary, not below 100 psi (690 kPa); cut-in not below 80 psi (552 kPa). Cut-in is normally 20 to 25 psi (138 to 173 kPa) below cut-out. |
| Air-loss rate | Spring brakes released, normal pressure, engine off. Hold the pedal fully applied and watch the gauges for 1 minute. | Straight truck, tractor or bus: 3 psi (21 kPa) a minute or less. Tractor and trailer: 4 psi (28 kPa). Tractor and two or more trailers: 6 psi (41 kPa). The first drop when you apply the brakes does not count. |
| Tractor protection valve | Trailer supply valve closed (pulled out), trailer service line disconnected, service brakes applied. | No air comes out of the trailer service line |
| Trailer spring brakes | Charge the trailer, then pull out the trailer supply valve. | The trailer spring brakes apply by themselves |
| Spring (parking) brakes | Apply the spring brakes, remove the chocks and gently apply engine power in a low gear. | The vehicle may rock, but it does not move significantly |
| Air tank drain valves | Drain the supply tank first, then the other tanks, and watch what comes out. | Every drain valve works and there is no abnormal discharge. Report any visible oil, a lot of moisture in a tank other than the supply tank, or a sudden increase in moisture or oil |
| Brake adjustment | Tanks at 90 to 100 psi, engine off, spring brakes released, service brakes fully applied. Measure the applied pushrod stroke. | The stroke is within the adjustment limit for that chamber size and type |
Standard and long-stroke chambers have different adjustment limits, which is why you must know your chamber types before the test. Chapter 11 lists three visible signs of a long-stroke chamber: square ports where the air lines attach (standard chambers have round ports), a trapezoidal tag under the clamp bolt that shows the maximum stroke (not the adjustment limit), and markings on the chamber body. The chart below also lists “L” long-stroke chambers, marked by an L stamped in the cover and a stroke tag, so look for all the markings.
Brake adjustment limits chart
Chapter 12 of the handbook prints this chart for clamp-type brake chambers. If the applied pushrod stroke is more than the limit, the brake is out of adjustment. “L” means a long-stroke design with L stamped in the cover and a stroke tag; “LS” means a long-stroke design with square ports, a tag and cover marking.
| Size | Marking | Outside diameter | Adjustment limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | None | 4-1/2 in (115 mm) | 1-1/4 in (32 mm) |
| 9 | None | 5-1/4 in (133 mm) | 1-3/8 in (35 mm) |
| 12 | None | 5-11/16 in (144 mm) | 1-3/8 in (35 mm) |
| 16 | None | 6-3/8 in (162 mm) | 1-3/4 in (45 mm) |
| 16 L | L stamped in cover, stroke tag | 6-3/8 in (162 mm) | 2 in (51 mm) |
| 20 | None | 6-25/32 in (172 mm) | 1-3/4 in (45 mm) |
| 20 L | L stamped in cover, stroke tag | 6-25/32 in (172 mm) | 2 in (51 mm) |
| 24 | None | 7-7/32 in (183 mm) | 1-3/4 in (45 mm) |
| 24 L | L stamped in cover, stroke tag | 7-7/32 in (183 mm) | 2 in (51 mm) |
| 24 LS | Square ports, tag and cover marking | 7-7/32 in (183 mm) | 2-1/2 in (64 mm) |
| 30 | None | 8-3/32 in (205 mm) | 2 in (51 mm) |
| 30 | DD3 (bus/coach) | 8-1/8 in (206 mm) | 2-1/4 in (57 mm) |
| 30 LS | Square ports, tag and cover marking | 8-3/32 in (205 mm) | 2-1/2 in (64 mm) |
| 36 | None | 9 in (228 mm) | 2-1/4 in (57 mm) |
Two worked air brake questions
These original practice examples apply the handbook’s values to a situation. Try them before you open the answers.
Worked example 1 · Air-loss rate
You are testing a tractor with one trailer. Spring brakes are released, pressure is normal and the engine is off. When you press and hold the brake pedal, the gauges drop 10 psi at once. Over the next minute they drop another 3.5 psi. Using Ontario’s handbook, what is the result?
- (A) It passes, because the first drop does not count and 3.5 psi is within the 4 psi limit
- (B) It fails, because the total drop of 13.5 psi is more than 4 psi
- (C) It fails, because a tractor and trailer may lose only 3 psi a minute
- (D) It cannot be judged until you hold the pedal for 2 minutes
Show the answer
Answer: (A) It passes, because the first drop does not count and 3.5 psi is within the 4 psi limit. The handbook says the pressure drops noticeably when you first apply the brakes, and that this first drop is not counted. What counts is the drop over the next minute. For a tractor and trailer the limit is 4 psi (28 kPa) a minute, so 3.5 psi passes. The 3 psi limit is for a straight truck, tractor or bus alone. Two minutes is Alberta’s procedure, not Ontario’s.
An original ProSyllabus question written from Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook. Not a question from a DriveTest test.
Worked example 2 · Air pressure build-up time
Your truck has no trailer attached and its pressure is down to 70 psi. You run the engine at 750 rpm. The gauges pass 85 psi at 10:00:15 and reach 100 psi at 10:02:30. What is the result of the build-up test?
- (A) It passes, because the pressure rose 30 psi from 70 psi
- (B) It passes, because 750 rpm is inside the 600 to 900 rpm range
- (C) It fails, because it took 2 minutes 15 seconds from 85 to 100 psi
- (D) It passes, because you time the rise from 70 psi, not from 85 psi
Show the answer
Answer: (C) It fails, because it took 2 minutes 15 seconds from 85 to 100 psi. You time only the rise from 85 psi (587 kPa) to 100 psi (690 kPa). Here that is from 10:00:15 to 10:02:30, which is 2 minutes 15 seconds. The limit is 2 minutes, so the system is defective. The engine speed is correct, and starting below 80 psi is what the handbook asks for, but those do not make up for the slow build-up.
An original ProSyllabus question written from Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook. Not a question from a DriveTest test.
The Official Air Brake Handbook, chapter by chapter
Searching for the “air brake test Ontario PDF”? Ontario publishes the handbook as web pages on ontario.ca; we did not find a PDF version there. You can read it online, or buy a printed copy online, at a DriveTest centre (cash only, $23 on DriveTest’s fee list) or in other stores. A French edition is available: Guide officiel de l’utilisation des freins à air publié par le MTO.
| Chapter | What to take from it |
|---|---|
| 1. Vehicle braking systems | How air brakes differ from hydraulic brakes, the main parts, and brake lag |
| 2. Air supply subsystem | Compressor, governor, supply (“wet”) tank, check valves, air dryer, gauges, safety valve and the low-air warning. Learn its pressure values |
| 3. Service brake subsystem | Brake pedal, hoses and tubes, brake chambers |
| 4. Spring (parking and emergency) brakes | How spring brakes apply and release (about 60 psi, 414 kPa, of air compresses or “cages” the spring to release them), manual caging by a technician with a caging bolt to disable a failed chamber, control valves, and the DD3 chamber used on many buses and coaches |
| 5. Trailer brake subsystem | The trailer air line connectors (“gladhands”), the trailer air supply valve, the tractor protection valve, automatic trailer spring brakes |
| 6. Foundation brakes | S-cam, disc and wedge brakes, and how slack adjusters and pushrods work |
| 7. Demands on brakes while driving | Speed and weight, heat, brake fade, adjustment and anti-lock brakes (ABS) |
| 8. Air brake compliance | The Ontario Highway Traffic Act and regulations: the driver, operator and owner must make sure a vehicle that does not comply is not driven on any road or highway; drivers must report air brake defects to the operator; how to inspect safely |
| 9. Inspecting air brake components | Linings, chambers, drums and rotors, hoses, tanks and the compressor (the mechanical part of the practical) |
| 10. Inspecting air brake system operation | The eight system tests with their pass and fail values (the chart above). Ontario says this prepares you for the practical exam |
| 11. Inspecting air brake adjustment | Measuring applied pushrod stroke step by step; standard and long-stroke chambers; who may re-adjust brakes |
| 12. Checklists, charts and circuit diagrams | What to bring to the practical exam, the three inspection checklists and the circuit diagrams |
On adjustment, the handbook says only qualified people may repair or re-adjust brakes. Drivers who hold a valid Ontario air brake adjustment certificate may re-adjust brakes with manual slack adjusters; this certification does not allow them to manually re-adjust automatic slack adjusters. Automatic slack adjusters that need regular re-adjustment are defective and must be repaired by a certified technician.
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Fees at DriveTest
| Service | Fee (CAD, taxes included) |
|---|---|
| Air brake endorsement package (Z): knowledge test and practical test | $66.00 |
| Air brake knowledge test | $16.00 |
| Air brake endorsement practical test | $50.00 |
| Commercial road test (with or without Z endorsement practical test) | $99.00 |
| Official MTO Air Brake Handbook (cash only) | $23.00 |
DriveTest says these fees are set by the Government of Ontario, effective 12 July 2019, and include taxes. Course fees are not on DriveTest’s list; ask the course provider for its price. Remember the 48-hour cancellation rule for the practical test appointment.
Z endorsement renewal
Since 1 September 2023, you no longer take the air brake knowledge test to renew. Instead you complete an online learning module before you go to DriveTest:
- Go to MTO’s Air Brakes Refresher Training (on SkillsPass). Choose the module for Class A or D licence holders, or the one for Class B, C, E, F or G licence holders.
- Have your driver’s licence with you. SkillsPass checks your identity with Veriff: you take a photo of yourself and of your licence. Register with your full name as it appears on your licence.
- When you finish, download or print the Certificate of Completion.
- Bring the certificate (digital or printed) and your licence to a DriveTest centre or your Driver Certification Program organization.
- If you hold a commercial class licence (A, B, C, D, E or F), you also complete the vision test and the commercial class knowledge test in person, at a DriveTest centre or through your Driver Certification Program organization.
- If you cannot do the module online, you can do it in person at a DriveTest centre.
ontario.ca Get a truck driver’s licence and Get a bus driver’s licence; MTO Air Brakes Refresher Training. Read 6 Nov 2026.
How often: Ontario says renewal is usually every 5 years for people under 80. From age 80, you take the online learning module and the practical test every year to renew the endorsement.
How to prepare for the Ontario air brake test
These are our study tips, based on the handbook; they are not MTO rules.
- Read the handbook chapter by chapter. Spend the most time on chapters 2, 9, 10 and 11, and learn the chart above until you can say each value without notes.
- Learn both units. The handbook prints kPa first and psi in brackets, and gauges may use either unit.
- Practise the practical in the checklist order from chapter 12, out loud, on the vehicle you will test in. Know its chamber sizes and types before test day.
- Practise measuring applied pushrod stroke by both of the handbook’s methods (marking the pushrod, or measuring the released and applied positions and subtracting) until it is quick and exact. Motor coach drivers do not bring the marker or measuring device.
- Practise questions that make you apply a value to a gauge reading, not only recall it.
- Book the practical test after the knowledge test, and pack the items on the list the night before.
Try free air brake practice questions
These play in our practice player: press Start, answer them, and the result page explains each answer and names its source. They are our own independent questions, not DriveTest questions.
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Practise for the air brake knowledge test
Our Canada Air Brake Practice Test has 185 original questions, and 137 of them are written from Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook: the air supply, service, spring and trailer brakes, brake adjustment and the system tests in this guide. Every explanation names its source: the Ontario handbook chapter for the Ontario questions, and Alberta’s manual for the rest. It has three timed 30-question tests and eight topic sets.
Be clear on one thing: Ontario does not publish the format of its Z knowledge test, so we do not have an “Ontario format” mock. The three full tests follow Alberta’s published format (30 questions, 25 to pass). The Ontario content is in the questions, not the format.
See the Canada Air Brake Practice Test. Independent practice; not made or endorsed by the Government of Ontario, MTO or DriveTest.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Z endorsement in Ontario?
Two ways. Take an air brake course from a vehicle fleet owner, a community college or a safety organization, then take the referral envelope to a DriveTest centre within 6 months. Or take the air brake knowledge test at a DriveTest centre and then book the practical test. Class B to G licence holders who take a course must take it with a vehicle fleet owner.
How many questions are on the Ontario air brake test?
Ontario does not publish the number of questions, the pass mark or a time limit for the Z knowledge test on its licence pages or in the handbook. It says the Official Air Brake Handbook contains what you need for the exam, so study all 12 chapters.
How much is the air brake test in Ontario?
DriveTest lists the Z endorsement package (knowledge test and practical test) at $66.00, the knowledge test alone at $16.00 and the practical test at $50.00, in Canadian dollars with taxes included. These fees are set by the Government of Ontario and have applied since 12 July 2019. Course fees are separate.
What is on the Ontario air brake practical test?
A mechanical inspection of the brake parts, a functional inspection (low-air warning, build-up time, governor settings, air-loss rate, tractor protection valve, trailer spring brakes, spring brakes and tank drains) and a brake adjustment check by measuring applied pushrod stroke. Version 1 is for tractor-trailer air brake systems and Version 2 for other vehicles.
What do I need to bring to the air brake practical test?
Wheel chocks or blocks, a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand, knowledge of the size and type of all brake chambers, a way to hold the brake pedal applied, a way to mark the pushrod, a pushrod stroke measuring device and protective eyewear. A chart of brake adjustment limits is optional. The handbook also lists protective headgear. The marker, measuring device, eyewear and headgear do not apply to motor coaches.
Is there an air brake test Ontario PDF?
Ontario publishes the Official Air Brake Handbook as web pages on ontario.ca; we did not find a PDF version there. ServiceOntario Publications takes requests for a copy in an alternate format. You can read it online, or buy a printed copy online, at a DriveTest centre (cash only, $23.00 on the fee list) or in other stores. A French edition is available.
How do I renew my Z endorsement?
Since 1 September 2023, complete the online Air Brakes Refresher Training module on MTO’s SkillsPass site, then bring the Certificate of Completion and your licence to a DriveTest centre or your Driver Certification Program organization. Commercial class licence holders also do the vision and commercial class knowledge tests in person, at a DriveTest centre or through their Driver Certification Program organization. The old air brake knowledge test is no longer needed at renewal.
How often does the Z endorsement need renewing?
Ontario says renewal is usually every 5 years for people under 80. From age 80, you take the online learning module and the practical test every year.
What is the air loss rate for the Ontario air brake test?
With the engine off, spring brakes released and the brake pedal fully applied for one minute: 3 psi (21 kPa) for a straight truck, tractor or bus, 4 psi (28 kPa) for a tractor and trailer, and 6 psi (41 kPa) for a tractor and two or more trailers. The first drop when you apply the brakes is not counted.
Do I need a Z endorsement for an AZ licence?
AZ is a Class A licence with the Z endorsement. Ontario says the full Class A truck licence is the only licence that covers full air brake systems on both tractors and trailers, and the Class A road test vehicle must have full air brakes on the truck or tractor and the trailer.
More in this series
Sources
- official — Government of Ontario: Get a truck driver’s licence, section “Air brake (Z) endorsement program” (updated 21 Sep 2026; read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Government of Ontario: The Official Air Brake Handbook (12 chapters, read 5 Nov 2026)
- official — DriveTest: Fees for Drivers’ Licences & Tests (effective 12 Jul 2019, set by the Government of Ontario; read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — MTO Air Brakes Refresher Training (SkillsPass), the online renewal module (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Government of Ontario: Get a bus driver’s licence (air brake renewal for Class B, C, E, F and G holders; read 6 Nov 2026)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
