Analysis of Brake Violations For U.S. Truck Fleets (2023-2024)

The graph titled “Brakes Out of Service 2023-2024” highlights brake violation trends across different truck fleet sizes over a span of 17 months. This data offers insights into brake-related compliance issues within fleets of various sizes, classified into three categories: small fleets (1-10 trucks), medium fleets (11-100 trucks), and large fleets (100+ trucks).

Overview of Violation Trends

The orange line represents small fleets with 1 to 10 trucks. This category has consistently shown the highest rate of brake violations. Starting with around 350 violations in January 2023, there was a peak in violations around March and May, where the numbers approached 500. Although the rate decreased slightly after that peak, it continued to hover around the 400 mark for the majority of the period, ending with a noticeable increase to just over 500 in May 2024. This pattern suggests that smaller fleets may struggle more with maintaining brake compliance, possibly due to resource limitations or lack of dedicated maintenance departments.

Medium fleets, represented by the green line, show a more stable pattern, with violations ranging between 80 and 200 throughout the observed period. While there is some fluctuation, the overall trend appears relatively flat compared to smaller fleets. The steadiness might indicate that medium-sized companies have better access to resources and structured maintenance routines but may still face challenges in consistently meeting brake service standards.

Large fleets, those with over 100 trucks (represented by the blue line), display the lowest rate of brake violations. Throughout the period, the line remains consistently below 50 violations per month, showing minimal variation. This stability is likely due to the operational advantages of large fleets, which often have dedicated maintenance teams, structured schedules, and stronger regulatory compliance frameworks. Their ability to keep brake violations to a minimum could reflect these organizational strengths.

Implications for Fleet Maintenance and Safety

The data emphasizes a significant difference in brake compliance between small and large fleets. Smaller fleets appear to struggle more, which could be due to various factors, such as financial constraints, limited access to maintenance facilities, or lower prioritization of preventive maintenance. This trend is concerning, as brake failures can lead to severe accidents and legal liabilities. The fact that smaller fleets consistently exhibit higher violations may suggest a need for additional support, training, or even regulatory incentives to encourage better compliance practices among these operators.

In contrast, the low violation rates among large fleets reinforce the importance of comprehensive maintenance programs and the benefits they bring in terms of safety and regulatory compliance. This analysis suggests that encouraging smaller fleets to adopt similar practices could improve overall road safety and reduce brake-related violations in the U.S.