Mark your calendars because the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced its annual Brake Safety Week is approaching. This enforcement and education initiative is a critical time for fleets, as brake-related violations consistently rank as the top reason for placing vehicles out-of-service (OOS) during roadside inspections. Last year, brake system issues accounted for a significant percentage of all OOS violations, highlighting a persistent area of concern for the industry.

Therefore, using the time before the inspection blitz to double-down on your brake maintenance and inspection protocols is an essential business practice. A proactive approach can prevent costly downtime, fines, and negative impacts on your safety rating.

Proactive Steps to Pass Inspection

Inspectors during the event will pay special attention to the condition of brake lines, hoses, slack adjusters, and other key components of the braking system. In addition to your regular preventive maintenance schedule, you should encourage drivers to perform thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections. Specifically, they need to check for any audible air leaks, ensure slack adjusters are within the proper stroke measurement, and look for any visible damage to hoses and tubing.

To ensure your team is ready, see the official announcement from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance here.

Investing a little extra time in training and inspections now can save you significant headaches later. It ensures your vehicles remain on the road, operating safely and efficiently, and reinforces your fleet’s commitment to vehicle safety standards.

Also Read: Brake Violations Show Disturbing Trend for Smaller Fleets and A New Manager’s Guide to DOT Roadside Inspections