Red Seal Program (with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities)
Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic Interprovincial Exam
The Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic exam is the interprovincial certification exam for the trade Ontario calls Truck and Coach Technician (310T). It has 135 multiple-choice questions drawn from eleven major work activities, from diesel engines and air brakes to trailers, hydraulics and electric vehicles, and the Red Seal pass mark is 70%. You apply for and write it through your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority.
Last checked against Red Seal Program (with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities) on .
Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic (310T) at a glance
- Number of questions
- 135 multiple-choice questions source ↗
- Pass mark
- 70% source ↗
- Maximum time allowed
- 4 hours source ↗
- Question format
- Multiple choice, four options with one correct answer source ↗
- Largest exam areas
- Electrical and electronic systems (22 questions) and engines and supporting systems (21 questions) out of 135 source ↗
- Question types
- Under 10% knowledge and recall, 50–60% procedural and application, 35–45% critical thinking source ↗
- National Occupational Classification
- NOC 72410 source ↗
- Ontario trade name
- Truck and Coach Technician source ↗
- Ontario 310T apprenticeship hours
- 6,720 hours (6,000 on the job and 720 in school, over three levels) source ↗
- Ontario trade status
- Compulsory trade source ↗
What the Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic (310T) covers
| Area | Weight | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| A – Common occupational skills | 8 questions | Safety-related functions (2), using and maintaining tools and equipment (3), routine trade activities (2), and communication and mentoring (1). |
| B – Engines and supporting systems | 21 questions | Base engines (3), lubrication (2), intake (2), exhaust and aftertreatment (3), engine management (4), fuel delivery (3), engine retarders (2) and cooling systems (2). |
| C – Air systems and brake systems | 17 questions | Servicing, diagnosing and repairing air systems (9) and brake systems (8), including air supply, valves, foundation brakes and antilock brakes. |
| D – Electrical and electronic systems | 22 questions | Batteries (3), charging (4), spark ignition (2), starting (4), electrical components and accessories (5), and vehicle management systems and electronic components (4). |
| E – Drive trains | 17 questions | Clutches (2), manual transmissions and transfer cases (3), automatic transmissions (2), automated transmissions (4), driveline systems (2), drive axle assemblies (3) and drive train retarders (1). |
| F – Steering, chassis/frames, suspensions, tires, wheels and hubs | 18 questions | Steering systems (5), chassis and frames (2), suspension (4), hitches and couplers such as fifth wheels (3), and tires, wheels and hubs (4). |
| G – Cabs | 5 questions | Interior cab components (3) and exterior cab components (2). |
| H – Trailers | 8 questions | Trailer components and accessories (5) and trailer heating and refrigeration systems (3). |
| I – Climate control systems | 7 questions | Heating and ventilation systems (3) and air conditioning systems (4). |
| J – Hydraulic systems | 8 questions | Servicing, diagnosing and repairing hydraulic components such as pumps, valves, cylinders, motors and accumulators (8). |
| K – Hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) | 4 questions | Hybrid vehicles (2) and electric vehicles (2), including high-voltage safety. |
How to get certified
- 1
Register as an apprentice with your provincial or territorial authority
Apprenticeship is run by each province and territory (in Ontario, Skilled Trades Ontario, where the trade is Truck and Coach Technician, 310T). Hours, in-school levels and fees differ by jurisdiction. In Ontario the trade is compulsory, so you need a registered training agreement or a certificate to work in it.
- 2
Complete your on-the-job hours and technical training
Log your work-based hours with your employer and complete each level of in-school training. Ontario sets 6,720 hours for 310T: 6,000 on the job and 720 in school across three levels.
- 3
Or apply as a trade qualifier / challenger
Experienced technicians who never registered as apprentices can usually apply to challenge the exam by documenting their trade experience. Each authority sets its own hour thresholds and evidence rules, so check before you apply.
- 4
Get approved and book the exam
Once your authority confirms you are eligible, it tells you how and where to write the interprovincial exam. Use the Red Seal Occupational Standard, the official exam breakdown and the Red Seal self-assessment tool to plan your study.
- 5
Write the exam
Expect 135 multiple-choice questions and up to 4 hours. A formula sheet and a list of acronyms are provided at the sitting. You need 70% to pass. Your province or territory sets the number of attempts and waiting periods, and Red Seal requires an approved course of study before a third or later attempt.
- 6
Receive your certificate with the Red Seal endorsement
Passing the interprovincial exam, along with meeting your jurisdiction's other requirements, leads to a certificate of qualification bearing the Red Seal endorsement, which is recognized across participating provinces and territories.
How to study
- Study by the official weightings: electrical and electronic systems (22), engines (21), steering, frames, suspension and wheel ends (18), air and brake systems (17) and drive trains (17) make up 95 of the 135 questions.
- Air systems alone are worth 9 questions. Be able to trace air from the compressor through the dryer, reservoirs, valves and chambers, and explain what happens when any line or valve fails.
- Most questions test procedure and critical thinking rather than recall, so practise diagnostic logic: for each symptom, write out the first test, what good and bad results look like, and why.
- Work the math until it is automatic: Ohm's law and voltage drop, gear and overall drive ratios, brake chamber force and slack adjuster torque, and hydraulic force from pressure and area.
- Do not skip the smaller areas: trailers (8), hydraulics (8), climate control (7), cabs (5) and hybrid and electric vehicles (4) together are worth 32 questions.
- Take timed practice sets: 135 questions in 4 hours is about 1 minute 45 seconds per question, so mark long scenario questions and come back to them.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic exam?
The Red Seal Program lists 135 multiple-choice questions for this trade, across eleven major work activities: 8 common occupational skills, 21 engines, 17 air and brake systems, 22 electrical and electronic, 17 drive trains, 18 steering, frames, suspension and wheel ends, 5 cabs, 8 trailers, 7 climate control, 8 hydraulics and 4 hybrid and electric vehicles.
How many correct answers do I need to pass?
The Red Seal pass mark is 70%. On a 135-question exam, 70% is 94.5 questions, so you need at least 95 correct answers. Your provincial or territorial authority reports your result.
How long do I get to write it?
Red Seal states a maximum of 4 hours for its exams. Ask your apprenticeship authority about accommodations if you need them, because those are arranged locally.
What is the difference between 310T and 310S in Ontario?
They are separate Ontario trades with separate certificates. 310T is Truck and Coach Technician, which Skilled Trades Ontario links to the Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic exam; it covers heavy trucks, buses and trailers, including air brakes. 310S is Automotive Service Technician, which links to a different Red Seal exam focused on cars and light trucks. Holding one does not certify you in the other.
Is the trade called Truck and Transport Mechanic everywhere?
No. Red Seal uses Truck and Transport Mechanic, and several provinces use that title, but Ontario calls it Truck and Coach Technician. Alberta and Nunavut use Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic, and Yukon uses Truck and Transport Technician. The interprovincial exam is the same Red Seal exam.
Are hybrid and electric trucks on the exam?
Yes. The current breakdown includes a major work activity for hybrid and electric vehicles worth 4 questions: 2 on hybrid vehicles and 2 on electric vehicles. Expect high-voltage safety to feature alongside system operation.
Do I get a formula sheet?
Yes. Red Seal states that the math formulas and the list of acronyms are provided during the exam, and its formulas use π = 3.14. You still need to know which formula to choose and how to work it quickly.
Can I rewrite the exam if I fail?
Yes, but the number of attempts and the waiting period between them are set by each province and territory. Red Seal also requires you to complete an approved course of study before your third and every later attempt.
Are these practice questions from the real exam?
No. VoltExam's questions are original items written to practise the topics in the official exam breakdown. They are not official Red Seal questions, and doing well on them does not ensure a pass. Always follow the manufacturer's service information and your jurisdiction's inspection standards for specifications.
Official sources
- Red Seal – Truck and Transport Mechanic trade page ↗
- Red Seal – Truck and Transport Mechanic exam information (breakdown) ↗
- Red Seal – Truck and Transport Mechanic occupational standard ↗
- Red Seal – Overview of the Red Seal Examination ↗
- Skilled Trades Ontario – Truck and Coach Technician ↗
- Skilled Trades Ontario – Truck and Coach Technician (310T) trade report ↗
Sources checked November 3, 2026. VoltExam is independent and not affiliated with Red Seal Program (with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities). Rules change: confirm details with the official source before your exam.