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Source: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announcement
ELYRIA, Ohio – According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), one-fifth of the more than 50,000 commercial vehicle inspections conducted during the 2020 International Roadcheck event resulted in a vehicle being taken out of service because of safety violations. And of all violations found during the inspection event, close to 40 percent were tied to the vehicle’s brake system and/or brake adjustment.
The inspections are part of an initiative by the CVSA to raise awareness of the North American Standard Inspection Program and the essential highway safety rules and regulations in place to keep roadways safe.
As part of its mission to support those same goals, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) wants to make it easier for fleets and owner-operators to prepare for inspections and to accomplish basic maintenance tasks by providing proactive advice on brake systems and wheels in time for this year’s event.
Related post:
CVSA Releases 2020 Brake Safety Week Results
The 2021 International Roadcheck takes place May 4-6, resuming its normal spring scheduling. Last year’s event was postponed to September due to the coronavirus pandemic. During the three-day inspection and enforcement initiative, CVSA-certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will conduct commercial motor vehicle and driver inspections at weigh or inspection stations, examining vehicle mechanical fitness as well as driver operating requirements.
“A review of the findings from the 2020 International Roadcheck event shows that more than 7,200 vehicles and 2,300 drivers were removed from roadways due to a critical finding either related to the safety of the vehicle or of the driver,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director – demos, sales and service training. “And of these infractions, problems related to the brake system or to brake adjustment topped the list of violations considered critical enough to put a vehicle out of service. Those violations accounted for 38 percent of all out-of-service violations found.
“All told, CVSA’s data shows about 21 percent of the vehicles inspected were put out of service, and the brakes or brake adjustment were a common reason why. Keep in mind that brakes are one of the foundations for driver safety and for optimal operation of vehicle on-board technologies. That’s why keeping vehicle brakes in good shape is critical in helping to maintain overall safety on the road, and why CVSA’s Roadcheck – along with a regular schedule of preventive maintenance – is so important.”
Andersky continued, “However, many of the critical issues flagged during these inspections are maintenance-related, and many are issues that could have easily been prevented with regular, thorough maintenance procedures. Inspections may find that brakes need to be adjusted or that tires are improperly inflated, for example. Or they may highlight a driver or technical issue that could have been prevented through training.”
International Roadcheck, which was created in 1988, is the largest targeted commercial motor vehicle program in the world, with more than 1.4 million roadside inspections conducted over the history of the event.
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On average, nearly 15 trucks or buses are inspected every minute of the 72-hour period. Inspectors examine a wide range of vehicle- and driver-related processes and equipment, such as brake systems, steering mechanisms, tires, cargo securement, suspensions, and more to make sure they are compliant with regulations. Inspectors are on the lookout for critical vehicle inspection item violations, as outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. If these violations are found, then the vehicle will be put out of service and cannot be operated until the conditions are corrected.
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