Inspectors across 45 jurisdictions in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. recently conducted 4,569 inspections as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) unannounced Brake Safety Day. The results? A total of 398 commercial motor vehicles, or 8.7% of those inspected, were placed out of service due to brake-related violations.
What is Brake Safety Day?
Brake Safety Day is an unannounced event under CVSA’s Operation Airbrake program. During this initiative, certified inspectors carry out routine roadside inspections with a special focus on brake systems and components. This includes identifying violations and collecting brake-related data.
According to CVSA, the inspections were conducted on April 22, and 91.3% of the vehicles inspected (4,171) were free of brake-related out-of-service violations. However, 8.7% (398 vehicles) presented critical brake issues serious enough to require immediate out-of-service orders.
Key Focus Areas and Findings
This year, inspectors emphasized vehicle drums and rotors. Out of all inspected vehicles, 32 (8%) were found with drum/rotor violations, 14 of which resulted in out-of-service orders. CVSA emphasized, “Brake drum and rotor issues may affect a commercial motor vehicle’s brake efficiency and result in violations or out-of-service conditions that may affect a motor carrier’s safety rating. Furthermore, broken pieces of drums or rotors may dislodge and damage other vehicles, causing injuries or fatalities.”
Additional brake-related findings included:
- Defective brakes: 237 vehicles (59.5%) had 20% or more of their brakes in out-of-service condition.
- Brake hose/tubing violations: 77 vehicles were cited for these issues.
- Steering axle violations: 48 vehicles were found with out-of-service steering axle problems.
- Air loss rate test failures: 38 vehicles failed this vital test.
- Other brake-related issues: 112 vehicles faced violations, including worn hoses, inoperative warning devices, hydraulic fluid leaks, and more.
Performance-Based Brake Testing (PBBT)
For added inspection precision, nine U.S. jurisdictions used Performance-Based Brake Testers (PBBTs). A PBBT evaluates a vehicle’s braking performance, and federal regulations mandate a minimum braking efficiency of 43.5%. Out of 100 vehicles tested via PBBT, 8% failed to meet this standard and were placed out of service.
Ongoing Brake Safety Efforts
Brake Safety Day is a part of CVSA’s broader Operation Airbrake program aimed at enhancing commercial vehicle brake safety across North America. The initiative will continue with the upcoming Brake Safety Week, scheduled for August 24–30.
Maintaining commercial vehicle brake systems is not only crucial for regulatory compliance but also essential for ensuring road safety and preventing potentially catastrophic accidents. For commercial drivers and fleet operators, these efforts highlight the importance of regular maintenance and inspections.
Source: The Trucker
