Brake Safety week, held September 7-13 this year, is an annual outreach and enforcement campaign designed to improve commercial brake safety throughout North America. During the week-long brake safety campaign, CMV inspectors primarily conduct level IV Inspections on trucks and buses to identify out-of-adjustment brakes and brake-system violations.
Brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage (49.6% in 2013) of all Out Of Service violations cited during roadside inspections. The inspections conducted during Brake Safety Week include inspections for missing or loose parts, air or hydraulic fluid leaks, worn linings, pads, drums or rotors, and other faulty brake-system components. Antilock braking systems (ABS) malfunction indicator lamps are also checked.
Nationwide Statistics
- In 2013, more than 20,000 vehicles were inspected.
- In 2014, more than 30,000 vehicles were projected to be inspected.
- More than 3.4 million brakes have been inspected since the program’s inception in 1998.
How Did P&S Transportation Perform This Year?
In a flatbed fleet of approximately 1,000 flatbed drivers during Brake Safety Week, we were extremely pleased that only four drivers received brake violations. They were as follows:
- Failing to secure brake hose/tubing against chafing
- Brakes (general)
- Clamp/Roto-Chamber type brakes(s) out of adjustment
- ABS – malfunctioning circuit/signal
- Automatic Brake adjuster CMV manufacture defect
- ABS – malfunctioning lamps on a towed CMV
Checking your brakes should be part of your routine walk-around inspections. Please offer your thoughts below on how to prevent brake violations.