Every Rigid and Artic truck on the road must be equipped with essential safety gear to ensure compliance with regulations and enhance road safety. This includes:
Safe Equipment on Rigid and Artic Trucks — What to Check
Knowing your equipment is safe isn’t just an exam requirement — it’s what keeps you, your load and everyone around the vehicle out of trouble. This photo guide walks through the safety-critical equipment on both rigid trucks and articulated combinations, showing what good condition actually looks like.
For rigids, the focus is on lights, tyres, mirrors, brakes and body condition. Artics add a second layer: the fifth wheel and kingpin, air and electrical lines between unit and trailer, landing legs and trailer brake connections. A missed coupling check on an artic is one of the most serious — and most preventable — failures in professional driving.
Use the photos as a reference during your own practice, run them alongside our walk-around check guide and bring your questions to your next truck lesson — our instructors will happily go over any component on a real vehicle.
Fire Extinguisher
Required for handling small fires in case of emergencies.
Warning Triangle
Must be placed on the road in case of a breakdown to alert other drivers.
First aid kit
Essential for treating minor injuries on the road.
High-Visibility Vest
Ensures the driver is visible in case of breakdowns or roadside stops
Wheel Chocks
Prevents the truck from rolling when parked on inclines.
Road cones
Having extra cones can be beneficial, especially for larger vehicles like artic trucks, where visibility is crucial for other road users.