56.18. The permissible maximum mass of a road train is called:
UAДозволеною максимальною масою автопоїзда називається:
Question without image
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safe operation of freight vehicles and road trains, as mass directly affects braking distance, handling, stability, and permissible road loads. In the theoretical exam, such wording checks not “practical feelings,” but the precise understanding of terms used in the traffic rules and technical documents.
The question tests the General Provisions section of the Traffic Rules, specifically clause 1.10 with definitions. It is explicitly stated there that the permitted maximum mass of a road train is defined as the sum of the permitted maximum masses of each vehicle that is part of it (tractor, trailer, or semi-trailer). It is important to distinguish: this is not the actual “current” mass, but the limit set by the manufacturer's technical specifications for each component of the road train.
Among the answer options, the correct one is the one that refers to summing the permitted maximum masses of all components of the road train, as this is how the definition is formulated in clause 1.10. Options with a limit of 25 t or 30 t are incorrect: the Traffic Rules of Ukraine do not set such a universal “ceiling” number in the definition itself, and the value depends on the specific vehicles and their technical characteristics. Understanding this definition helps to answer exam questions correctly, as well as to avoid overloading, fines, and increased risk of accidents during actual operation of a road train.
Clause 1.10 (term “Permissible maximum mass”)
Permissible maximum mass — the mass of an equipped vehicle with cargo, driver, and passengers, as specified by the technical characteristics of the vehicle as the maximum allowable.
Permissible maximum mass of a road train — the sum of the permissible maximum allowable mass of each vehicle that is part of the road train.
This exam question checks the knowledge of the definition of the term “permissible maximum mass of a road train,” which is directly provided in clause 1.10 of the Traffic Rules.
That is, the correct answer is “The sum of the permissible maximum allowable mass of each vehicle that is part of the road train,” considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the permissible maximum mass of a road train is calculated as the sum of the permissible maximum masses of all vehicles in its composition.
In the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, paragraph 1.10 explains that the permitted maximum mass is set by the manufacturer as the highest allowable mass of a vehicle in ready-to-run condition together with cargo, driver, and passengers. That is, it is not the actual mass "at the moment," but a limit value that must not be exceeded.
When it comes to a road train, it is important to remember that it consists of several vehicles (for example, a tractor and a trailer or semi-trailer). Each of them has its own permitted maximum mass specified in the technical documents.
That is why a single "random" value is not used for a road train, and only the tractor is not considered. The total permitted maximum mass of a road train is determined as the sum of the permitted maximum masses of all its components. For example, if the permitted maximum mass of the tractor is 18 tons and the trailer is 20 tons, then the permitted maximum mass of the entire road train will be 38 tons.
Therefore, the correct answer is "The sum of the permitted maximum allowable mass of each vehicle that is part of the road train," since according to paragraph 1.10 of the Traffic Rules, the permitted maximum mass of a road train is determined by adding the maximum allowable masses of all vehicles that make up the road train.