The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced the dates for the 2024 Brake Safety Week, which will be held from August 25 to August 31. This year’s inspections will focus on the condition of brake linings and pads.
During this week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors will be conducting their regular checks, reporting any brake-related out-of-service violations to CVSA. They will also collect data on brake lining and pad violations. Vehicles with brake equipment issues can be taken out of service.
To help drivers pass these inspections, CVSA offers the following tips:
- Check visible parts of the brake lining and pads during pre- and post-trip inspections.
- Look for missing lining indicators, like grooves in the drum from rivet contact.
- Ensure proper shoe-to-drum clearance and adequate lining on the shoe.
- Be aware of any leaks from the hub or other components that could contaminate the lining or pad surface.
- Make sure there are no missing lining blocks or pads.
- Inspect for visible cracks or voids in the lining block.
- Check for exposed rivets or loose lining blocks on the shoe.
- On disc brakes, examine the rotor for heavy rust or metal-to-metal contact across the entire friction surface.
- Ensure all repairs follow the brake manufacturer’s requirements and guidelines.
- Note any issues in your driver vehicle inspection reports and report them to the motor carrier for repairs.
Last year, 18,875 commercial vehicles were inspected during Brake Safety Week, with nearly 90% passing without any critical brake-related violations. This annual inspection and enforcement blitz is organized by CVSA, a nonprofit organization comprising local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
According to CVSA, Brake Safety Week is an initiative focusing on commercial motor vehicle and driver inspections, regulatory compliance enforcement, brake-safety awareness, and data collection on brake-related inspections and violations.
In addition to Brake Safety Week, CVSA also organizes Operation Safe Driver Week, aimed at improving driving behaviors of both passenger and commercial vehicle drivers through educational and enforcement strategies. This year’s Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled to take place from July 7 to July 13.
Source: Land Line
