The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week will proceed as scheduled Aug. 23-29. Enforcement officials will inspect commercial motor vehicles throughout the week for critical brake violations.
Any brake-related or other critical out-of-service inspection item violations will restrict those vehicles from traveling until corrected. Vehicles that pass eligible inspections may receive a passed-inspection CVSA decal.
Brake Safety Week is part of law enforcement’s effort to reduce brake-related crashes by conducting roadside inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from roadways.
“Despite the pandemic, commercial motor vehicle safety inspectors continue to prioritize vehicle and driver safety by conducting inspections every day,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “Safety is always our top priority and it’s our mission to ensure the vehicles on our roadways have met all safety standards and regulations. This is especially important as we rally behind truck drivers as they transport essential goods during this public health crisis. We need to do everything we can to ensure that the vehicles truck drivers are driving are as safe as possible.”
In addition to CVSA’s Brake Safety Week, August is also Brake Safety Awareness Month. Along with inspections and enforcement, law enforcement agencies also engage in outreach and awareness efforts to educate drivers, motor carriers, mechanics, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake maintenance, operation and performance.
“Brakes are one of the most important systems in a vehicle,” added Sgt. Samis. “Failure of any component of a brake system could be catastrophic. Routine brake system inspections and component replacement are vital to the safety of commercial motor vehicles.”
Brake Safety Week is part of CVSA’s Operation Airbrake program, in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
Be Prepared for Brake Safety Week
Vehicle operators can prepare for the inspection by using performance-based brake testing, and ensuring vehicles are properly and regularly maintained.
Medallion Transport will continue to publish ways for its entire fleet to prepare for the inspection and continue to ensure vehicles are the safest possible for the roadways.
Brake Safety Week is sponsored by the CVSA in partnership with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Safety Tips
- Inspector’s will follow a seven-point plan through an inspection including: driver’s license, registration, low air warning device, pushrod travel, brake linings/drums, leaks and air loss rate and tractor protection system
- Specifically in regards to the brake system, inspectors are going to focus on eight specific features
- Checking the air brake mechanical components
- Checking the steering axle air brake mechanical components
- Checking the brake adjustment
- Building the air system’s pressure to 90-100 psi
- Checking the antilock braking system (ABS) if applicable
- Testing the air loss rate, if necessary
- Testing the low air pressure warning device
- Checking the tractor protection system
- Check for leaks and cracks, including air chambers, drum brakes and other linings that may have been oil-saturated
Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics
Medallion’s Safety Team is ready to assist with driver education and training to ensure the company’s fleet is safe on the road and compliant with the latest laws. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 704-235-0460, ext 2004 or send us an email to safety@medalliontrans.com.