New information has been released from The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) on this year’s Brake Safety Week inspection. Brake Safety Week will take place August 21 – 27 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
What You Need to Know
According to CVSA, during last year’s International Roadcheck data, the largest percentage of out-of-service vehicle violations were due to brake violations, including brake systems and brake adjustments. These violations accounted for about 38.9% of all vehicle out-of-service violations.
During this year's weeklong inspection, CVSA inspectors will conduct the usual North American Standard Level I and V Inspections to help report brake-related issues to the CVSA.
During this inspection, officers will be looking for the following:
Missing, non-functioning, loose, contaminated or cracked parts of the brake system
Non-manufactured holes such as rust holes and holes created by friction
Broken springs in the spring brake housing
Listen for audible air leaks around brake components and lines
Ensure the main air system maintains air pressure of 90 – 100 psi
Check the S-cam flip-over and measure the pushrod travel
Check slack in the adjusters to ensure they are the same length
Air chambers on each axle are the same size
Inspect brake system warning devices such as the ABS malfunction lamp(s) and low air pressure warning devices
Ensure the breakaway system is operating properly on the trailer
Inspect the tractor protection system, including the bleed-back system on the trailer
How to Prepare for Brake Safety Week
Preparing for brake safety week can help you avoid any violations and downtime. How to prepare for brake safety week is the same thing you would do if your truck were in the shop or during your pre-trip walkarounds. You will look at every angle of your truck to catch any brake-related issues.
Check Daily
Damaged or loose hanging air champers, pushrods, or slack adjusters.
Ensure the axle's slack adjusters are extended to the same angle. If the angles are different, you have an out-of-adjustment brake or a broken spring brake power spring.
Check the tubing and hose condition, positioning, and connections.
Check Weekly
Perform a 90 to 100 psi brake check with the wheels chocked and the parking brake released. During this, listen for any leaks.
Check the air disc brake rotors for any cracks
Inspect the drum brake lining for any wear or cracks
Check Monthly
Check to see if any moisture is in the air system to help prevent contamination that could lead to component deterioration and system leaks.
Brake Safety Week will take place August 21 – 27, 2022. Ensure you are ready by performing pre-trip, mid-trip, and post-trip inspections. If you are staying on top of your inspections, this can help lessen the chance of receiving an out-of-service violation that can result in a deadhead and loss of income.