A total of 2,321 trucks and buses were placed out of service during an annual North American brake inspection blitz in September.
That amounts to 12.3 percent of the 18,817 large trucks and buses inspected throughout the U.S. and Canada during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual Brake Safety Week, Sept. 6-12. That compares to 16.2 percent of those inspected during 2014’s event.
Overall results for the U.S. and Canada this combined found :
- 18,817 vehicles were inspected (13,305 inspected in 2014)
- 1,457 or 7.7 percent of vehicles were placed out of service for brake adjustment (10.4 percent in 2014)
- 1,292 or 6.9 percent of vehicles were placed out of service for brake components (9.3 percent in 2014)
- 2,321 or 12.3 percent of vehicles were placed out of service for brakes overall (16.2 percent in 2014)
According to the CVSA, roadside inspections looked at brake-system components to identify loose or missing parts; air or hydraulic fluid leaks; cracked, damaged or worn linings, pads, drums or rotors; and other faulty brake-system components. Inspectors also checked anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction indicator lamps, inspected brake components and measured pushrod stroke, where applicable.
“Brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage of all out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections,” said CVSA President Maj. Jay Thompson with the Arkansas Highway Police. “Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce braking capacity and increase stopping distance of large trucks and buses, which poses serious risks to driver and public safety.”
