NORTH AMERICA — Truck drivers and carriers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico have until August 23 to make sure their brake systems are in top shape before the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance kicks off its annual Brake Safety Week, a seven-day inspection and enforcement campaign running through August 29.
This year’s emphasis is on drums and rotors. Brake drum and rotor defects can reduce braking efficiency and cause broken pieces to fly off the vehicle at highway speed, potentially damaging other vehicles or injuring other drivers. Inspectors will specifically be looking for cracked, broken, or worn drums and rotors during the week.
Trucks with brake-related out-of-service violations — or any other OOS violation — will be pulled off the road until repairs are completed. Last year’s Brake Safety Week produced 15,175 inspections and a 15.1% out-of-service rate, with 2,296 vehicles removed from the road for brake violations.
Eight Tips to Prepare for Brake Safety Week
- Note any issues in your driver vehicle inspection reports and report them to the motor carrier.
- Inspect visible portions of the drum or rotor during pre- and post-trip inspections.
- Look for signs of cracked or broken pieces in the friction surface of the rotor.
- Look for cracks running through to the outer portion of the drum or missing pieces where visible.
- On disc brakes, heavily rusted rotors across the entire friction surface indicate an inoperative brake.
- If the rotor is grooved from metal-to-metal contact, the brake pads are worn and the shoe is contacting the rotor.
- Ensure the rotor is not worn to the point where center vents are exposed.
- Make sure all repairs follow the brake manufacturer’s requirements and guidelines.
CVSA will collect and analyze inspection data submitted during the week and release full results later this year.
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