The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2023 Brake Inspections Day for trucks and busses put 773, vehicles out of service for improperly maintained equipment – 11.3% of the total inspected and an improvement from the 14.1% put out of service last year and 12.6% in 2021.
The CVSA brake day event involves unannounced roadside inspections conducted by state and provincial law enforcement personnel in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This year, CVSA focused on capturing data on brake lining/pad violations. Brake lining/pad conditions can result in violations and affect a motor carrier’s safety rating, CVSA stressed.
Of the 6,829 commercial motor vehicles inspected, 108 power unit and 87 towed unit lining/pad violations were identified, resulting in a total of 195 combined lining/pad violations.
CVSA said it places such strong emphasis on braking systems because they are the top vehicle-related out-of-service violation and endanger safety,
“The goal of this program is to reduce the number of highway crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial motor vehicles by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation,” CVSA said.
The alliance also holds an annual Brake Safety Week each year, also involving roadside inspections of commercial vehicles, with this year’s event scheduled for Aug. 20-26.
Both events are part of Operation Airbrake, a partnership with the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, and Mexico Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation.