On Thursday, August 28, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) shared the results from its annual hazardous materials and dangerous goods inspection effort. The five-day blitz, conducted from June 9 through June 13, aims to “reduce hazardous materials/dangerous goods incidents and encourage uniformity and consistency in the application of the regulations.”

Inspectors examined 4,629 commercial motor vehicles across the United States and Canada during the event. A total of 1,169 hazardous materials violations were found, with 598 of those resulting in vehicles being placed out of service until the issues were corrected.

CVSA reported that 45 jurisdictions participated in the blitz, including 35 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces. Vehicles with out-of-service violations were immediately removed from operation to prevent further risk.

“The transportation of HM/DG demands rigorous training and heightened compliance requirements,” CVSA said in a statement. “For motor carriers and drivers, safely transporting HM/DG is imperative to the safety of the driver, the public, and the environment.”

The most frequent violations identified in U.S. inspections were non-bulk placarding 104, bulk package marking 99, and bulk placarding 88.

Meanwhile, 831 vehicles, nearly 18 percent of those inspected, received CVSA decals. These decals indicate that no critical vehicle or specific cargo tank violations were found and remain valid for up to three months. Vehicles displaying a decal are typically not subject to re-inspection during that period.

For context, last year’s safety blitz involved 3,929 inspections, with over 85 percent of vehicles found to have no critical violations, showing consistent compliance improvements within the industry.

Source: Landline Media

Image Source: Jared Murray (Unsplash)

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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

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