The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced the outcomes of its 2024 Brake Safety Week, revealing that 87% of the inspected commercial motor vehicles were found to be free of out-of-service violations and deemed safe for continued travel.
During the event, which took place from August 25 to 31 across North America, certified inspectors from Canada, Mexico, and the United States examined 16,725 commercial vehicles. The results showed that a significant majority, 87%, were compliant with safety standards and could remain operational on public roads.
However, among the inspected vehicles, “2,149 of those vehicles had brake-related out-of-service violations, which is a 12.8% out-of-service rate,” according to the CVSA’s press release. Vehicles are classified as out of service when they fail to meet the critical inspection items outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC). Such vehicles cannot resume travel until all identified issues are addressed.
Among the 2,149 vehicles with violations, 1,355, or 63.1%, were found to have stand-alone out-of-service brake violations. Meanwhile, 217 vehicles, accounting for 10.1%, had out-of-service violations related to the steering axle brakes. Furthermore, 1,216 vehicles, representing 56.6% of the total, did not meet the 20% defective brakes criteria, indicating that these vehicles had defective brakes comprising 20% or more of their braking system.
This year, Brake Safety Week highlighted lining and pad violations. Inspectors focused on identifying issues such as loose, missing, or worn brake linings/pads, as well as cracks or contamination. A total of 654 lining/pad violations were found across both power (tractor) and towed (trailer) units.
The event saw participation from 61 jurisdictions:
- In Canada, 1,926 inspections resulted in 243 brake-related out-of-service violations, translating to a 12.6% out-of-service rate, with 44 power units and 49 towed units showing lining/pad violations.
- Mexican inspectors conducted 107 inspections, finding six out-of-service violations—a 5.6% rate—with one power unit and five towed units having lining/pad issues.
- In the U.S., 14,692 inspections led to 1,900 out-of-service violations at a rate of 12.9%, with lining/pad violations noted on 310 power units and 172 towed units.
Additionally, 18 states used performance-based brake testers (PBBT) for 452 inspections, with a failure rate of 5.75%.
Brake Safety Week is an integral component of the CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program, which is committed to enhancing brake safety in commercial vehicles throughout North America. The initiative aims to minimize accidents due to malfunctioning brakes by conducting roadside inspections and educating stakeholders on the significance of proper brake maintenance.
The next Brake Safety Week is set for August 24-30, 2025.
Source: The Trucker
