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Transporting Cargo

Cargo must always be safely loaded and secured. Responsibility lies with both the driver and the shipper.

Basic cargo securing duties

• Stability: Load must not impair vehicle controllability
• Weight: Maximum allowed weight and axle load must not be exceeded
• Safety: Load must not endanger other road users
• Driver's view: Load must not obstruct the driver's view
• Lights, reflectors and plates must not be covered (including by netting, chains, tarps)
• No ice or snow: Must not risk falling off while driving
• Road cleanliness: Load must not dirty or damage the road surface

Explanation

Loose materials (sand, gravel, soil)

• Must be covered or secured to prevent falling or blowing off
• Vehicle must be cleaned before entering public road from construction site
• If fault discovered while driving: fix immediately, or drive slowly to nearest safe place

Maximum allowed overhangs

Marking overhanging loads

• By day: red flag at least 300×300 mm
• At night / poor visibility:
• Front: white light + white reflector (not triangular)
• Rear: red light + red reflector (not triangular)

Manoeuvring with long loads

• Turning right (must swing left first due to length): give right indicator only
• Turning left: position as far left as vehicle size allows
• Very long loads: trained helper required when reversing or making complex manoeuvres

Loading/unloading on road

Only when not possible elsewhere. Must be done quickly and safely.

Summary

• Secure all loads; must not cover lights or plates
• Loose materials must be covered; clean vehicle before public roads
• Overhang > 1 m front/rear = must be marked
• At night: white light + reflector front; red light + reflector rear
• Load/unload on road only if no alternative; complete quickly

What the law says

Verbatim text of Act No. 361/2000 Coll., on road traffic, as in force on 1 January 2026. Quoted in Czech — the Czech wording is the binding one.

Check what you remember

Five questions from the official bank. The answer appears only after you choose — try to recall it first, that is what makes learning stick.

1. Question 1 of 5

   When a police officer is directing traffic at a junction, a driver who is required to stop by the police officer's signal must stop the vehicle:

   Before the boundary of the junction.At a place where they will have a good view into the junction.In the junction and at such a distance from the police officer that their safety is not endangered.

2. Question 2 of 5

   In a residential zone:

   Pedestrians may use the road across its entire width.Pedestrians may only use the footway for walking, and where there is no footway, they use the left verge or the left edge of the carriageway.Pedestrians may only use the footway for walking, and where there is no footway, they may use the road across its entire width.

3. Question 3 of 5

   In a pedestrian zone:

   Pedestrians may use the road across its entire width.Pedestrians may only use the footway for walking, and where there is no footway, they use the left verge or the left edge of the carriageway.Pedestrians may only use the footway for walking, and where there is no footway, they may use the road across its entire width.

4. Question 4 of 5

   In a residential zone, a driver may travel at a speed of:

   A maximum of 50 km/h.A maximum of 20 km/h.A maximum of 30 km/h.

5. Question 5 of 5

   Pedestrians in a residential zone:

   Must allow all vehicles to pass.Must allow only vehicles with right of way priority to pass.Do not need to take account of vehicle movement when using the residential zone.