August is Brake Safety Awareness month, coinciding with Brake Safety Week led by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. Throughout the week, CVSA-certified inspectors run brake inspections on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Here’s a look at this year’s event.
- When: Sunday, August 25th-Saturday, August 31st
- Where: United States, Canada, Mexico
- Checkpoints: Weigh stations, roadsides, and temporary inspection sites
- Inspection targets: Brake system components, out-of-service violations, brake lining/pad violations
Amazon Relay prioritizes safety year-round, and we encourage you to mark your calendars to get your parts in working order. Unbalanced brake systems cause vehicles to become unsteady, whether that’s swaying or causing drivers to lose control altogether. Non-compliance also racks up compliance, safety, and accountability (CSA) points, which may affect a carrier’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety rating and their chance of future hauls.
Here’s what you need to know to pass brake inspection and keep trucks on the road.
What is CVSA’s Brake Safety Week?
During Brake Safety Week, inspectors perform routine tests of CMV brake systems all across North America. These inspections are mostly Level IV, one-off examinations of a specific part for a trend study. In this case, anything that could reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of CMVs. This includes worn brake lines or rotors, broken air drums, air or hydraulic fluid leaks, etc.
Brake Safety Week is always announced ahead of time so carriers can prepare (this year it’s August 25th-31st), while CVSA’s Brake Safety Day is random. Both events are part of CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program, an awareness effort created in partnership with FMCSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
What’s the goal of Operation Airbrake Program?
The Operation Airbrake Program promotes brake system regulation and enforcement to keep roadways safe. All brake chambers affect system function, so just one faulty chamber can affect the chance and severity of a crash.
Out of 18,875 Brake Safety Week inspections in 2023, 12.6% were placed out-of-service (OOS) for brake-related violations.
- 295 (12.4%): steering axle brake violations
- 1,127 (47.5%): stand-alone brake violations
- 1,394 (58.7%): two or more defective brakes
25% of vehicles were also placed OOS during last year’s International Roadcheck due to brake system violations – the highest percentage of all OOS violations. This included anything from slack adjuster length to the inconsistent sizing or stroking of brake chambers. To avoid these incidents, driver awareness and preparedness for brake safety is critical.
What does CVSA look for during a brake inspection?
Inspectors will test truck drivers and their equipment for compliance with the Department of Transportation’s safety standards, capturing data on out-of-service violations. An OOS automatically takes vehicles off the road until the issue is fixed. A few examples of brake-related OOS violations include:
- Improper installation or poor maintenance. Loose, corroded, missing, or malfunctioning brake system components – whether it’s an air tank or tractor protection valve. Inspectors are also looking for holes due to rust or friction, and broken springs in the housing section of the parking brakes.
- Overall brake efficiency. Some inspections will use a performance-based brake tester (PBBT), a machine that calculates a CMV’s force at each wheel. Drivers will brake at a slow speed while an inspector adds up the force at all 10 sets of brakes and brake chambers. The force is divided by the vehicle’s total weight, and OOS violations are handed out when more than two sets of brakes are faulty.
Vehicles that pass inspection may receive a CVSA decal. Vehicles with OOS violations will be taken off roadways pending repair. In that instance, drivers will remain on-duty waiting for repairs, which may also result in a mileage fee, hourly rate, or tow charge. To prevent unnecessary costs and safety risks, CVSA offers a rundown of the inspection procedure, as well as a checklist on how to inspect S-cam brakes.
What’s the brake inspection theme this year?
Brake pads and lining. CVSA-certified inspectors will be checking brake pads for:
- Thickness (minimum 1/4”)
- Cracks
- Oil or grease contamination
- Air brake leaks
Stay safe and avoid business disruptions by making sure your company meets all brake inspection requirements. CVSA provided 10 brake lining and pad tips to assess vehicle condition and pass inspection.
CVSA brake inspection checklist
Brake system wear and tear can be prevented with proper braking techniques, and by maintaining a safe following distance and speed. CVSA also offers resources on conducting brake inspection, maintenance, and operation.
Additionally, we’ve provided a few general Brake Check Week tips below.
- Slack adjusters: Check that they’re greased for timely functionality.
- Air compressor pressure gauge: Make sure a running vehicle reads between its recommended PSI.
- Hoses and tubing: Walk around the vehicle to look for loose parts and listen for air leaks.
- Brake shoes and linings: Examine for thickness, cracks, and wear.
All systems go? Sign up for Relay
To help with vehicle upkeep and part replacement, Amazon Relay carriers can get exclusive discounts year-round. Check out our insurance and equipment requirements to make sure we’re the right fit for your business. Then, you can start your sign-up on desktop or the Relay Mobile App on iOS or Android.
Disclaimer: Amazon does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any Amazon loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for Amazon, sign up and book directly on relay.amazon.com.
