CVSA Brake Safety Inspections Put Hundreds of Commercial Vehicles Out of Service

CVSA inspectors conducted more than 4,000 commercial vehicle brake inspections during Brake Safety Day, placing hundreds of trucks out of service for violations.

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance says inspectors across North America completed more than 4,000 commercial vehicle inspections during this year’s Brake Safety Day enforcement effort, placing hundreds of trucks out of service for brake-related violations.

The one-day inspection campaign took place on April 14 and involved enforcement agencies throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to CVSA, inspectors completed 4,021 commercial vehicle inspections during the initiative.

Inspection results released this week showed that 574 commercial vehicles were placed out of service due to brake-related violations discovered during roadside inspections.

CVSA said vehicles are removed from operation when inspectors determine the violations are serious enough to make continued travel unsafe.

Most Vehicles Passed Without Brake-Related Out-of-Service Violations

According to the inspection data, 3,447 commercial vehicles completed Brake Safety Day without any brake-related out-of-service violations.

CVSA also reported participation from 47 jurisdictions across North America during this year’s enforcement campaign.

Inspectors placed additional attention on brake drums and rotors this year. The organization said inspectors identified 43 drum and rotor violations, including 21 that resulted in out-of-service orders.

Brake hoses, tubing systems, steering axle components, air loss rate failures, parking brake systems, and low-air warning devices were also among the violations identified during inspections.

Performance Brake Testing Was Used in Multiple States

CVSA said 10 U.S. jurisdictions used performance-based brake testers during 349 inspections conducted throughout the initiative.

The testing equipment measures actual braking performance to determine whether a commercial vehicle meets minimum braking efficiency standards required under federal regulations and CVSA out-of-service criteria.

According to CVSA, 26 vehicles failed to meet the required 43.5% braking efficiency threshold and were placed out of service.

Most inspections completed during Brake Safety Day were North American Standard Level I Inspections, which involve a 37-step inspection process reviewing both driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical condition.

The Level I inspection remains the most commonly performed commercial vehicle inspection throughout North America.

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Last updated: May 21, 2026

Source: The Trucker