Unannounced CVSA Inspection Puts 12.4% of Inspected Vehicles Out of Service
Inspectors across North America placed 12.4% of inspected vehicles out of service with brake violations in a special unannounced brake check day earlier this year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced on July 26.
As part of its Operation Airbrake program, on May 4, CVSA-certified inspectors in 31 participating U.S. states and Canadian provinces and territories checked brakes on 6,128 commercial motor vehicles. In addition to the brake violations, inspectors placed 13.9% of vehicles out of service for other violations.
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“Our members found that most vehicles were equipped with anti-lock brakes but some exhibited fault codes (lamp stayed on) or non-functioning ABS lamps,” CVSA said in a statement. “Trailers requiring ABS were twice as likely to exhibit ABS violations as straight trucks or tractors requiring ABS.”
CVSA said brake-related violations are typically the largest category of out-of-service items, totaling about 43% of OSS violations during Operation Airbrake’s companion International Roadcheck campaign in 2015.
Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and increase stopping distances of trucks and buses, which poses a serious risk to driver and public safety, the inspector trade group said.
Operation Airbrake is a CVSA program dedicated to improving commercial motor vehicle safety through brake system safety, awareness and compliance throughout North America.
CVSA's next Operation Airbrake event is Brake Safety Week on Sept. 11-17, a weeklong brake safety inspection campaign aimed at improving commercial motor vehicle brake safety through education and enforcement.
