What to Expect During Brake Safety Week

During Brake Safety Week, CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct roadside inspections on commercial motor vehicles, focusing on brake systems and components.

This year, inspectors will pay special attention to brake linings and pads. 

Some jurisdictions may also use performance-based brake testers (PBBTs) to assess braking performance.

Vehicles with critical brake violations will be placed out of service until the issues are corrected. 

2023 CVSA Brake Safety Week Results 

For context, here are the 2023 results: 

• Inspectors conducted 18,875 commercial motor vehicle inspections across North America.
• 12.6% (2,375) of inspected vehicles were placed out of service for brake-related violations.
• The top violations were:
  • Failing the 20% defective brakes criterion: 1,394 vehicles (58.7% of OOS violations)
  • Stand-alone brake violations: 1,127 vehicles (47.5% of OOS violations)
  • Steering axle brake violations: 295 vehicles (12.4% of OOS violations)
• Inspectors found brake lining/pad violations in 261 towed trailer units and 379 power tractor units.
• By country:
  • U.S.: 18,031 inspections with 2,240 brake-related out-of-service orders
  • Canada: 1,372 inspections with 134 brake-related out-of-service orders
  • Mexico: 9 inspections with 1 brake-related out-of-service order

Key Areas of Focus

Inspectors will be looking at various aspects of the brake system, including:

• Brake linings and brake pads condition
• Loose or missing parts
• Air or hydraulic fluid leaks
• Worn linings, pads, drums, or rotors
• Other brake system violations

How Fleets Can Prepare For Brake Safety Week

To ensure you’re ready for Brake Safety Week, consider the following steps:

1. Educate Yourself: Familiarize yourself with FMCSA brake regulations and maintenance best practices. The CVSA website offers checklists and information you can use to prepare.
2. Perform Thorough Pre-Trip Inspections: Pay extra attention to your brake system during your daily pre-trip inspections. Look for visible issues like air leaks, worn brake pads, or damaged components.
3. Schedule a Maintenance Check: If you haven’t had a recent brake inspection, consider scheduling one before Brake Safety Week. This can help identify and address any potential issues before they become violations.
4. Check Your Documentation: Ensure all your paperwork, including your driver’s license, registration, and maintenance records, are up-to-date and readily available in your cab.
5. Know Your Brake System: Understand how your brake system works and be prepared to explain its operation to inspectors if asked.
6. Address Any Known Issues: If you’re aware of any brake-related problems, no matter how minor, get them fixed before the inspection week.
7. Review Brake Adjustment: Ensure your brakes are properly adjusted. Incorrect adjustment is a common cause of violations.
8. Inspect Brake Lines: Check for any signs of wear, damage, or leaks in your brake lines.
9. Test Your Low-Air Warning Device: Ensure this critical safety feature is functioning correctly.
10. Check Pushrod Travel: Excessive pushrod travel can indicate brake system issues. Familiarize yourself with the correct measurements for your vehicle.

Ensuring Safety Through Preventive Maintenance

While CVSA’s Brake Safety Week serves as an important annual checkpoint, brake safety, and overall vehicle maintenance should be a year-round priority.

Preventive maintenance and regular fleet upkeep are not just about passing inspections; they’re about ensuring the safety of drivers, passengers, and the general public on our roads.

Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance is a proactive approach that involves regularly scheduled inspections, servicing, and replacement of parts before they fail. 

This strategy offers several safety benefits:

1. Early Problem Detection: Regular inspections can identify potential issues before they become serious safety hazards. This includes detecting worn brake pads, thinning brake rotors, or air leaks in the brake system.
2. Consistent Performance: Well-maintained brakes perform more reliably, providing drivers with consistent stopping power and control in various driving conditions.
3. Reduced Risk of Catastrophic Failures: By addressing minor issues promptly, preventive maintenance significantly reduces the risk of major brake failures that could lead to accidents.
4. Extended Vehicle Life: Proper maintenance keeps vehicles safer and helps to extend their operational life, ensuring they remain in optimal condition for longer.

Using fleet maintenance software with preventive maintenance schedules and alerts can simplify and digitize the process, ensuring timely service and reducing unexpected breakdowns.

Implementing an Effective Preventive Maintenance Program

To ensure your fleet is always prepared, not just for Brake Safety Week but for everyday operations, consider the following steps:

1. Develop a Comprehensive Maintenance Schedule: Create a detailed schedule that covers all aspects of vehicle maintenance, with special attention to safety-critical systems like brakes.
2. Utilize Fleet Management Software: Implement software that tracks maintenance schedules, alerts you to upcoming service needs, and maintains detailed service records.
3. Train Drivers in Daily Inspections: Educate drivers on how to perform thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections, focusing on brake system components. Mobile Apps like EMDECS Mobile can help simplify this process by digitizing routine inspections.
4. Invest in Quality Parts and Service: Use high-quality replacement parts and ensure maintenance is performed by qualified technicians.
5. Analyze Maintenance Data: Regularly review maintenance records to identify trends or recurring issues that may indicate broader problems.

While events like Brake Safety Week serve as important reminders, the true goal is to foster a continuous commitment to safety through diligent maintenance practices.

The Critical Importance of Brake Safety

With brake failure accounting for 0.44% of all passenger car accidents in the United States, approximately 264,000 collisions occur annually due to brake malfunctions.

Even more alarming, there’s a 1 in 440 chance that any given vehicle accident is caused by faulty brakes. 

For heavy-duty trucks, the risk is significantly higher, with 30% of crashes attributed in part to faulty or deficient brakes. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent real lives impacted by preventable accidents. 

By prioritizing regular brake inspections, adhering to preventive maintenance schedules, and promptly addressing any brake-related issues, drivers can significantly reduce their risk of being part of these statistics.

 Remember, brake safety isn’t just about passing inspections or avoiding fines – it’s about protecting lives on the road. 

Every brake check, every maintenance appointment, and every careful mile driven contribute to safer roads for everyone.