What is Brake Safety Week? (2022 Update)

DOT Inspection

The CVSA’s Brake Safety Week is part of CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program in partnership with FMCSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.  The goal of Brake Safety Week is to reduce the number of crashes caused or made more severe by faulty brake systems on commercial motor vehicles by conducting roadside inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from our roadways.  In addition to inspections and enforcement, outreach and awareness efforts by law enforcement agencies to educate drivers, motor carriers, mechanics, owner-operators, and others on the importance of proper brake maintenance, operation and performance are integral to the success of this safety initiative.

What are the Dates and Focus of the Brake Safety Week?

The dates for the Brake Safety Week for 2022 are August 21-27.  Inspectors will be paying close attention to brake hoses/tubing.  While checking these brake system components is always part of the North American Standard Inspection Program, CVSA is highlighting brake hoses/tubing as a reminder of their importance to vehicle mechanical fitness and safety.

Vehicles with critical brake violations, or other critical vehicle inspection item violations, will be restricted from traveling until those violations are corrected.  Vehicles without critical vehicle inspection item violations are eligible to receive a CVSA decal indicating the vehicle passed inspection.

Some of the Statistics that Lead to This Year’s Focus Were:

  • During the 2021 Brake Safety Week, vehicle inspectors found critical vehicle inspection items in the brake systems of 4,292 (12 percent) of vehicles inspected and placed those vehicles out-of-service until the conditions could be corrected.
  • Brake violations were also the top vehicle out-of-service violation during the CVSA’s International Roadcheck 72-hour enforcement initiative in June of 2021.
  • According to the FMCSA’s data as of September 28, 2021, out of 2.38 million inspections, there were 1,045,335 brake-related violations in federal fiscal 2021, with a portion of those accounting for seven of the top 20 vehicle violations.

“We all know how important a properly functioning brake system is to vehicle operation,” said CVSA President Chief Jay Thompson with the Arkansas Highway Police. “All components of the brake system must always be in proper operating condition.  Brake systems and their parts and components must be routinely checked and carefully and consistently maintained to ensure the health and safety of the overall vehicle.”

What Were the Results from the 2021 Brake Safety Week?

During the 2021 Brake Safety Week, CVSA certified inspectors conducted 35,764 inspections on commercial motor vehicles during the last week of August.  The majority of vehicles inspected did not have any brake-related out-of-service conditions; however, inspectors found critical vehicle inspection items in the brake systems of 4,292 (12 percent) of the vehicles inspected and placed those vehicles out-of-service until the condition(s) could be corrected.  Inspections were conducted by law enforcement personnel in 57 jurisdictions throughout Canada and the United States.

For the full results from the 2021 Brake Safety Week click on the following link – https://www.cvsa.org/news/2021-brake-safety-week-results/

What are Some Good Tips for Truck Drivers to Prepare for Brake Safety Week?

Do Your Homework:  Your inspection will be a lot easier if you’re educated and have everything ready before you hit the road.  Before Brake Safety Week, educate yourself and your drivers on FMCSA brake regulations, brake maintenance tips, and more.  The CVSA website has checklists and info you can pass on to your drivers – https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/uploads/Brake-Inspection-Check-List.pdf .  Also make sure you have your drivers license, registration, and all paperwork inside your cab and ready to show the inspector.
Know What Inspectors Are Looking for: Inspectors are going to be focused on your trucks’ brake-system components to find out-of-adjustment brakes and brake-system violations.   Inspectors will be looking for:

  • Loose or missing parts
  • Air or hydraulic fluid leaks
  • Worn linings, pads, drums or rotors
  • Other faulty brake-system components
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS) indicator lights

Check Your Truck:  Every time you hit the road, do a pre-trip brake inspection to test for any leaks and examine your truck’s brake shoes.  Walk around your truck and look for loose hoses and leaks and listen for any air leaks.  Check for low air signals, check your air disc brake rotors for cracks, and inspect brake linings for thickness, cracks, and wear.
Make Repairs: If you find any cracks or issues during your pre-trip inspection, be sure to get them fixed.  By checking and fixing your truck before Brake Safety Week, you can prevent any surprises, avoid being placed out-of-service, and get back on the road faster.

More information on Brake Safety Week can be found on the CVSA website – https://www.cvsa.org/news/2022-bsw-dates/

Sources:

CVSA Website – https://www.cvsa.org/

“CVSA Releases 2021 Brake Safety Week Results”, October 20, 2021, CVSA Website.

Share: