)
During the recent Brake Safety Week enforcement blitz, 18,031 commercial motor vehicles were inspected nationwide. Of them, 2,240, or 12.4%, had problems severe enough to require their removal from service.
From August 20 to 26, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance organized an inspection campaign that resulted in 18,875 CMVs being inspected throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Of that total, 295 (12.4%) had violations related to the steering axle brake, 1,127 (47.5%) had violations related to stand-alone brakes, and 1,394 (58.7%) failed the 20% defective brakes criterion, which states that a vehicle is considered out of service if the percentage of defective brakes is equal to or higher than 20% of the vehicle's service brakes.
1327 commercial motor vehicles were examined in Canada. Ten percent (134) incurred out-of-service violations related to the brakes. There were lining/pad violations in 26 power units and 25 towing units. In Mexico, nine commercial motor vehicles were examined. One (11%) had brake-related infractions and was taken out of service. One power unit has breaches of the lining and pad.
Of the 34,402 cars inspected the previous year, 4,664 (13.6%) were taken out of operation. The CVSA has modified its data collection methods since last year, which explains the variation in the numbers.
This year's Brake Safety Week focused on lining and pad violations. Throughout the week, inspectors examined the brake lining and pads for cracks, voids, and contaminants, much as they usually do when reviewing the vehicle components of commercial motor vehicles. Additionally, they searched for worn-out or loose brake lining or pads. There were 261 towing (trailer) and 379 motorized (tractor) units with lining/pad violations overall.
The CVSA chose to highlight lining and pad violations for this year's Brake Safety Week, even though they don't always result in a motor carrier's safety rating being lowered. Lining and pad violations can become out-of-service violations if they are on the steering axle or if they are combined with other braking faults to meet the 20% brake requirement. If ignored, these violations can result in more severe issues.
Part of the CVSA's Operation Airbrake Program, which aims to enhance brake safety for commercial motor vehicles across North America, is Brake Safety Week. Roadside checks, as well as workshops and seminars for mechanics, owner-operators, and other stakeholders, are intended to lower the number of accidents that result from malfunctioning braking systems and raise awareness of the significance of good brake care.
