Brake Violations Top 2025 Roadcheck Results

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has released its 2025 International Roadcheck results, revealing that brake-related issues continue to be the leading cause of vehicle out-of-service (OOS) violations. The 72-hour enforcement event provides an annual snapshot of commercial motor vehicle and driver compliance across North America.

Key Highlights

Brake-related issues accounted for 41.1% of all vehicle out-of-service violations.
Brake systems were the single top vehicle OOS violation, representing 24.4% of the total.
The overall vehicle out-of-service rate was 18.1%, with 10,148 vehicles parked.
A total of 56,178 inspections were conducted in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
The driver OOS rate was 5.9%, with hours-of-service being the top infraction.

Brakes Remain Top Vehicle Violation

Of the 44,435 comprehensive vehicle inspections conducted, 22.6% resulted in a vehicle being placed out of service. Once again, braking systems were the most significant factor.

Inspectors identified 3,304 out-of-service brake system violations, the top single category. Additionally, 2,257 violations were cited for “20% defective brakes.” Combined, these two categories totaled 5,561 brake-related out-of-service violations, which accounted for a staggering 41.1% of all vehicle OOS violations discovered during the campaign.

Top 5 Vehicle OOS Violations – North America

Brake Systems | 3,304 | 24.4%
Tires | 2,899 | 21.4%
20% Defective Brakes | 2,257 | 16.7%
Lights | 1,737 | 12.8%
Cargo Securement | 1,549 | 11.4%

2025 International Roadcheck Overview

Across the three participating nations, enforcement personnel conducted 56,178 inspections. While brake issues were prominent, the majority of vehicles (81.6%) and drivers (94.1%) successfully passed inspection without any out-of-service violations being found. In total, inspectors identified 13,553 vehicle, 3,317 driver, and 177 hazardous materials out-of-service violations.

Driver and Vehicle Focus Areas

Each year, Roadcheck places special emphasis on specific violation categories. For 2025, the vehicle focus was on tires, and the driver focus was on false records of duty status (RODS).

Tire violations were the second-leading vehicle OOS category, accounting for 21.4% of the total. On the driver side, false logs made up 10% of all driver OOS violations, highlighting a serious safety and compliance concern.

Top Driver Out-of-Service Violations

During 54,953 driver-focused inspections, 3,342 drivers (6.1%) were placed out of service. The leading cause was hours-of-service violations, which accounted for 32.4% of all driver OOS violations. Federal hours-of-service rules are a key tool in preventing driver fatigue.

Top 5 Driver OOS Violations – Canada and U.S. Combined

Hours of Service | 1,076 | 32.4%
No Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) | 810 | 24.4%
No Medical Card | 493 | 14.9%
False Logs | 332 | 10.0%
Suspended Driver’s License/CDL | 170 | 5.1%

Additional Inspection Data

Inspectors awarded 16,521 CVSA decals to vehicles that passed a Level I or V inspection with no critical violations. They also recorded 726 seat belt violations and 177 HM/DG out-of-service violations, with improper loading being the most common issue in the latter category.

Inspection Levels and Summary

The Level I Inspection, a 37-step process checking both driver and vehicle, was the most common inspection performed. Since its inception in 1988, International Roadcheck has played a critical role in roadway safety, with over 1.8 million inspections conducted to date. The program continues to underscore the importance of vehicle mechanical fitness, especially regarding braking systems.

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