Which action provides the best protection when parking on a slope or uneven surface?

• A. Engage the parking brake and place wheel chocks if provided.
• B. Only turn off the engine and leave it in gear.
• C. Leave it in gear without brakes.
• D. Rely on slope angle to hold the machine.

Answer: (A)

When parking on a slope or uneven surface, the priority is to prevent any movement by creating a reliable hold. Engaging the parking brake locks the wheels, and placing wheel chocks against the downhill tires adds a solid physical barrier to prevent rolling if the brake slips or is released. This combination provides redundancy and is the most effective protection on challenging ground.

Turning off the engine and leaving it in gear doesn’t guarantee the machine will stay put because brakes can fail or lose grip, and being in gear without engaged brakes offers little resistance to movement. Relying on the slope angle to hold the machine is unsafe since a slope can change or worsen, and the equipment isn’t designed to be held by gravity alone.