A major commercial vehicle brake inspection effort will kick off in just a few days — here’s what truckers need to know.
When Is Brake Safety Week?
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will hold the annual Brake Safety Week enforcement effort August 25 — 31, 2024, throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
What Happens During Brake Safety Week?
During Brake Safety Week, CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct commercial motor vehicle inspection focusing on brake systems and components, with a goal of eliminating crashes caused by braking system malfunctions. Trucks with brake-related out-of-service violations will be ordered off the road until appropriate repairs are completed.
What Will Inspectors Look For During Brake Safety Week?
While inspectors will be on the lookout for any CMV violation, the area of emphasis for Brake Safety Week 2024 will be on brake linings and pads.
To help truckers prepare, the CVSA shared 10 tips from commercial motor vehicle inspectors to help ensure your brake linings and pads are able to pass.
10 Brake Lining and Pad Tips
1. Inspect visible portions of the brake lining and pads as part of your pre- and post- trip inspections.
2. Look for signs of missing lining, such as grooves in the drum from rivet contact.
3. Look at the shoe-to-drum clearance and ensure there is adequate lining on the shoe.
4. Look for any signs of leaks from the hub or other components that may be contaminating the lining/pad surface.
5. Ensure there are no missing lining blocks/pads.
6. Check for visible cracks or voids in the lining block.
7. Check for any exposed rivets or lining blocks that look loose on the shoe.
8. On disc brakes, pay particular attention to the condition of the rotor, such as heavily rusted rotors across the entire friction surface on either side or metal-to-metal contact.
9. Make sure all repairs are consistent with the brake manufacturer’s requirements and guidelines.
10. Note any issues in your driver vehicle inspection reports and report them to the motor carrier to have the defective linings/pads repaired.
During Brake Safety Week 2023, a total of 18,875 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted, and 12.6% of those vehicles were ordered off the road for brake-related out-of-service violations.
You can learn more about CVSA roadside inspections from the flier below.