You have a limited time to get ready for the annual inspection campaign known as Brake Safety Week, organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). This event will occur from August 20 to 26 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Law enforcement officials will conduct routine inspections of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), and if any vehicles are discovered with brake-related violations that render them unfit for use, they will be taken off the roads until the issues are resolved.

In the upcoming Brake Safety Week of 2023, particular emphasis will be placed on examining violations related to brake linings and brake pads.

“The focus of this year’s Brake Safety Week is on the condition of the brake lining and pad,” said CVSA President Maj. Chris Nordloh with the Texas Department of Public Safety. “Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and could affect a motor carrier’s safety rating.”

Here’s what CVSA inspectors will be checking during Level I or Level V inspections:

  • 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 course of Brake Safety Week 2022, a total of 38,117 inspections were carried out on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) across North America. Out of the vehicles that underwent inspection, approximately 13.3% were removed from service due to serious violations related to critical brake-related inspection items.