Brake-related defects produced 39.1% of all vehicle out-of-service violations during this year’s International Roadcheck, with inspectors citing 5,451 brake violations across 54,575 commercial vehicle and driver inspections in North America. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance published the three-day inspection totals this week, showing brake systems as the single most-cited vehicle out-of-service category at 3,379 violations, or 24.3% of the vehicle total. A separate citation for 20% defective brakes — applied when at least one-fifth of a vehicle’s brakes have an out-of-service condition — ranked third at 2,072 violations.
Highlights
- Brake-related violations: 5,451 combined citations for brake systems and 20% defective brakes, 39.1% of all vehicle out-of-service violations.
- Inspection volume: 54,575 inspections over three days, a pace of roughly 13 vehicles per minute across North America.
- Out-of-service outcomes: 10,350 vehicles and 3,184 drivers sidelined; 81% of vehicles and 94.2% of drivers cleared without an out-of-service violation.
- Decals issued: 17,680 CVSA decals affixed to vehicles that passed with zero critical mechanical or out-of-service violations.
Brake Systems Lead the Out-of-Service Table
Three inspection types include a vehicle examination — North American Standard Level I, II and V. Inspectors conducted 44,047 of those and placed 10,350 vehicles or combinations out of service, a 23.5% rate, after recording 13,924 vehicle out-of-service violations. A single vehicle or combination can carry multiple violations.
Brakes occupied two of the top three positions on the North American list, with tires separating them.
| Vehicle Violation | OOS Violations | Vehicle OOS Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Brake Systems | 3,379 | 24.3% |
| Tires | 2,914 | 20.9% |
| 20% Defective Brakes | 2,072 | 14.9% |
| Cargo Securement | 1,724 | 12.4% |
| Lights | 1,659 | 11.9% |
How Did Brake Violations Differ by Country?
Inspectors recorded 11,952 vehicle out-of-service violations in the United States, 1,923 in Canada and 49 in Mexico. Brake systems ranked first in both the U.S. and Canada, and second in Mexico behind lights. Canadian inspectors cited brake systems at the highest rate of the three jurisdictions.
| Country | Brake System OOS Violations | Vehicle OOS Rate |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2,816 | 23.6% |
| Canada | 552 | 28.7% |
| Mexico | 11 | 22.4% |
The 20% defective brakes category also appeared in the top five for all three countries — 1,846 violations in the U.S., 221 in Canada and five in Mexico.
Cargo Securement Focus Finished Fourth
Cargo securement was the named vehicle focus area for the event, and it landed fourth on the North American out-of-service list with 1,724 violations and a 12.4% rate. The category covers freight that is inadequately restrained, immobilized, locked, secured, tied down, packed or monitored. Shifting or falling freight can cause rollovers, jackknifes and highway debris.
Driver Violations Centered on Credentials
Of the 53,271 Level I, II and III inspections that included a driver examination, 3,184 drivers were placed out of service, a 6% rate. Missing medical cards drove the largest share at 1,072 violations, or 27% of all driver out-of-service violations. Hours of service followed at 929 (23.4%), no commercial driver’s license at 620 (15.6%), English proficiency at 361 (9.1%) and false records of duty status at 266 (6.7%).
Electronic logging device tampering was the named driver focus. Inspectors issued 146 out-of-service orders for ELD tampering, falsification or manipulation, a 3.7% rate that placed it seventh among driver out-of-service violations in North America. Inspectors also issued 667 seat belt violations.
Decals, Hazmat and Passenger-Carrying Vehicles
Inspectors affixed 17,680 CVSA decals over the three days — 14,216 in the United States and 3,464 in Canada, covering 11,880 power units, 5,751 trailers and 49 buses. Mexico does not distribute CVSA decals.
Hazardous materials and dangerous goods inspections totaled 2,590, producing 368 vehicle out-of-service violations and 63 driver out-of-service violations. Of the 141 HM/DG-specific out-of-service violations, placarding was the top category at 28.4%, followed by loading at 27% and shipping papers at 17.7%.
Passenger-carrying vehicle inspections numbered 458 and turned up 207 safety violations, of which 28 were vehicle out-of-service violations and eight were driver out-of-service violations. Forty-nine of those vehicles received a CVSA decal.
International Roadcheck has run since 1988, and inspectors have completed more than 1.8 million roadside inspections across the program’s history.
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