CVSA to Conduct Brake Safety Week Sept. 16-22
Commercial vehicle inspectors will be out in force beginning Sept. 16 to conduct brake system inspections on large trucks and buses throughout the United States and Canada.
The inspections will be part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s “Brake Safety Week” Sept. 16-22, according to CVSA.
Inspectors will place out of service all CMVs with critical brake violations to call attention to the dangers of faulty brake systems.
During Brake Safety Week, inspectors primarily will conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness.
Brake-related violations made up the largest percentage of out-of-service vehicle violations cited during last year’s International Roadcheck. Of the vehicles placed out of service, brake adjustment and brake system violations combined to represent 41.4%, or 7,743, of all out-of-service vehicle violations.
Inspections conducted will include inspection of brake-system components to identify loose or missing parts; air or hydraulic fluid leaks; defective rotor conditions; measurement of pushrod travel; mismatched air chamber sizes across axles; air reservoir integrity and mounting; worn linings, pads, drums or rotors; required brake-system warning devices; and other brake-system components.
In 12 jurisdictions, inspectors will be using performance-based brake testing equipment that measures vehicle braking efficiency. The brake-testing equipment measures the cumulative brake force for the entire vehicle to determine overall vehicle braking efficiency. The minimum braking efficiency for trucks is 43.5%, as required by U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.
