Trucking Troubles on the Rise - Thousands of Trucks Received Violations This Year

During this year’s week-long Brake Safety Week, held September 11 – 17 by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials throughout the United States and Canada conducted roadside inspections to identify out-of-adjustment brakes and brake-system violations on commercial trucks and buses.

Roadside inspections included examining 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.

Officials conducted 18,385 inspections during the week, resulting in brake-related and non-brake-related out-of-service (OOS) violations for over 5,000 vehicles (13.2%). This is slightly higher than the 12.3% of OOS violations in 2015.

Non-brake related violations were found in 14.8% of vehicles, and were also placed out-of-service. Inspectors also checked anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction indicator lamps for compliance with jurisdictional regulations, and 8.8% of ABS-required vehicles were found to have violations.

According to CVSA President Julius Debuschewitz, Brake Safety Week “serves as a reminder to motor carriers and drivers to take proactive steps to ensure their vehicles’ brakes are compliant, functioning properly and road safe.”