Permis PrêtMention F (air brakes): exams and guide content
Mention F allows you to drive a vehicle fitted with air brakes. Here is what the SAAQ says.
Short answer: Mention F has its own knowledge test (75% pass mark) and both practical exams are taken on an air-brake vehicle. The number of questions on the F test is not published.
The mention F exams
According to the brochure, the mention F knowledge test can be taken at the same appointment as the class knowledge test; otherwise an extra fee applies (amount not published in the brochure). The pass mark is 75% for each exam. The safety walk-around and the driving exam are taken on an air-brake vehicle (brochure, pp. 5, 16 and 20; guide, p. 27).
What the guide teaches (chapter 5, pp. 222 to 232)
- Every braking installation has a service brake, a parking brake and an emergency brake (p. 222).
- The system has a supply circuit and two independent circuits, primary (P or 1) and secondary (S or 2): if one fails, the other keeps working (p. 223).
- Heavy vehicles have at least three air tanks: a supply tank and two service tanks. Tanks must be drained daily, even with an air dryer (p. 226).
- The compressor generally starts below 724 kPa (105 psi) and stops at 862 kPa (125 psi) (p. 227).
- Parking-brake control: yellow, diamond-shaped; trailer air-supply control: red, octagon-shaped (p. 225).
- The semi-trailer hand brake control must never be used as a parking brake or as a service brake on the road (p. 224).
- Gladhand lines: red and blue; couplings of the same colour are connected together (p. 231).
To confirm
For exam details and fees, see the SAAQ pages: the exact content of the questions is not published.
To remember for the test
- Mention F: separate knowledge test (75%) and practical exams on an air-brake vehicle.
- Two independent circuits, primary and secondary; at least three tanks; daily draining.
- Parking brake: yellow diamond; trailer air supply: red octagon.
Original heavy-vehicle questions with an explanation and a source: 10 free.
Practise for free
Official sources
- SAAQ, guide “Conduire un véhicule lourd” (French)
- SAAQ, brochure “Bientôt conducteur d’un véhicule lourd” (2021, French)
- SAAQ, class 1 combination of road vehicles (official page, French)
General information, current as of 2026-11-01. When in doubt, the official text prevails. Rules and fees can change: check saaq.gouv.qc.ca.