Brake Violations Sideline Nearly 400 Trucks

An unannounced brake safety event saw inspectors remove nearly 400 commercial motor vehicles from North American roads in a single day due to critical brake-related violations. The enforcement blitz, conducted on April 22 by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), involved 45 jurisdictions across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., highlighting a continued focus on vehicle safety.

Key Highlights

Inspectors conducted 4,569 commercial motor vehicle inspections during the one-day event.
398 vehicles (8.7%) were placed out of service for brake-related violations.
The vast majority of trucks, 91.3%, had no brake-related out-of-service violations.
A special focus was placed on brake drums and rotors, which accounted for 32 violations.
The upcoming Brake Safety Week is scheduled for August 24-30 as part of the broader Operation Airbrake program.

Widespread Inspection Focuses on Brake Systems

The CVSA’s Brake Safety Day is a key initiative for regulatory compliance and safety, where certified inspectors focus on vehicle brake systems and components. During the April 22 event, inspectors across three nations performed 4,569 inspections. While over 91% of vehicles passed without issue, 398 trucks were immediately placed out of service for critical brake violations, preventing them from continuing travel until repairs were made.

Spotlight on Drum and Rotor Violations

This year’s event emphasized the condition of brake drums and rotors. Inspectors identified 32 violations related to drums or rotors, with 14 of those being severe enough to take the vehicle out of service. According to the CVSA, issues with these components can significantly reduce braking efficiency and negatively impact a motor carrier’s safety rating. Furthermore, the danger extends to other motorists, as broken pieces of drums or rotors can become projectiles on the roadway, potentially causing damage, injury, or fatalities.

Common Out-of-Service Violations

Analysis of the data reveals the most frequent reasons for a vehicle being ordered out of service.

20% Defective Brakes: The most common issue was the “20% defective brakes” criterion, which accounted for 237 cases (59.5%). This rule applies when 20% or more of a vehicle’s brakes are found to have an out-of-service condition.
Brake Hoses/Tubing: Issues with brake hoses and tubing were the next most common violation, leading to 77 out-of-service orders.
Other Violations: Inspectors also identified 48 steering axle violations and 38 vehicles that failed an air loss rate test. An additional 112 violations included issues like worn brake lines, inoperative low-air warning devices, and fluid leaks.

In the U.S., nine jurisdictions also utilized performance-based brake testers (PBBTs), which assess a vehicle’s actual braking performance. Of the 100 tests conducted, 8% of vehicles failed to meet the required 43.5% minimum braking efficiency and were subsequently placed out of service.

North American Partnership for Safety

This initiative is part of Operation Airbrake, a CVSA program dedicated to improving brake safety across North America. The data from the one-day blitz showed a 12.8% out-of-service rate in Canada and a 7.9% rate in the U.S. Following this event, the CVSA will hold its seven-day Brake Safety Week from August 24-30 to continue its focus on this critical safety area.