One of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) major brake inspection and enforcement initiatives, Brake Safety Day, has concluded. This surprise event took place on April 19 and did not come with any advance notice or warning from the CVSA. The focus areas of the event were brake linings and brake pads.
While this enforcement event may be over, Brake Safety Week 2023 is well on its way. Law enforcement officials will be checking semi-truck and other large vehicle brakes throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from August 20-26.
Wondering how you can prepare for this year's Brake Safety Week? This Foley article offers our top tips: Brake Safety Week is Coming Soon.
Reducing crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) is the overall goal of the CVSA’s brake inspection campaigns. Conducting roadside inspections allows enforcement officials to inform drivers, mechanics, and motor carriers about the significance of inspecting, maintaining, and operating safe brake systems and components.
While CVSA-certified inspectors conducted their typical truck inspections on Brake Safety Day, they also provided data on their specific findings.
They found that 56 total jurisdictions between the U.S. and Canada participated in the event. Within those areas, 6,829 inspections were conducted, and out of those inspections, 773 CMVs received an out-of-service order. This means the brake-related out-of-service rate was 11.3 percent.
Regarding the event’s focus, inspectors found 195 violations relating to brake linings and brake pads.
Performance-based brake testers (PBBTs) were also used in a smaller portion of Brake Safety Day inspections. CVSA member jurisdictions equipped with the testers conducted 92 inspections, which resulted in four CMVs (or 4.35 percent) being placed out of service due to insufficient brake conditions and performance.
You don’t have to face out-of-service orders or devastating accidents as a result of bad brakes. Performing regular brake inspections and maintenance can make a huge difference in the safety of your CMVs and drivers. At the end of the day, you are responsible for the condition of your company’s vehicles.
Brake Safety Week 2023 is nearly two weeks away. Time is running out to inspect and repair your brakes!
And while you’re double-checking your truck brakes to ensure you’re compliant with the CVSA standards, it’s also worth your time to check if you're meeting the latest DOT compliance requirements.
Just like you need to maintain your trucks on a regular basis, you also need to keep tabs on your company's DOT compliance. You may be randomly selected for a DOT audit at any time, so you always need to be prepared!
Foley's DOT compliance experts can help you with any of the following requirements:
With Foley, you can get all the DOT compliance services you need on a single software platform. See how easy it is to stay compliant by requesting a free demo or contacting one of our compliance specialists today!