The Louisiana State Police (LSP) have posted an educational video aiming to provide truck drivers with a clearer understanding of the aspects inspectors will focus on in the upcoming Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week.

From August 20 to 26, the CVSA Brake Safety Week will be active across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This year, the primary focus of Brake Safety Week 2023 is on identifying violations related to brake lining and brake pads.

In the accompanying video, an LSP trooper goes underneath a truck to visually demonstrate the specific elements he examines during an inspection.

https://www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice/videos/698017455472159/?ref=embed_video

During Brake Safety Week, CVSA inspectors will conduct Level I or Level V inspections to assess the following aspects:

  • Check for missing, non-functioning, loose or cracked parts.
  • Check for contaminated, worn, cracked and missing linings or pads.
  • Check for S-cam flipover.
  • Listen for audible air leaks around brake components and lines.
  • Check that slack adjusters are the same length (from center of S-cam to center of clevis pin) and the air chambers on each axle are the same size.
  • Ensure the brake system maintains air pressure between 90-100 psi (620-690 kPa) and measure pushrod travel.
  • Inspect for non-manufactured holes (e.g., rust holes, holes created by rubbing or friction, etc.) and broken springs in the spring brake housing section of the parking brake.
  • Inspect required brake system warning devices, such as anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction lamp(s) and low air-pressure warning devices.
  • Inspect the tractor protection system, including the bleedback system on the trailer.
  • Ensure the breakaway system is operable on the trailer.

In the context of Brake Safety Week 2022, a total of 38,117 commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspections were carried out across North America. Among the vehicles that underwent inspection, approximately 13.3% were taken out of service due to violations related to critical brake-related inspection items.