The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is holding the yearly Brake Safety Week on August 21 – 27, 2022. All truck drivers should be aware of the week-long inspection and plan accordingly. During this time, inspectors will focus on brake safety inspection, enforcement, and education to help drivers keep themselves and others safe on the road.
Preparing for Brake Safety Week
The best way to prepare for brake safety week and ensure you do not receive an out-of-service violation is to establish and enforce a routine inspection. It is important to ensure you are properly trained on this inspection and do pre, mid and post-trip inspections. The CVSA recommends that drivers take these ten steps when preparing for the inspection:
- Inspect brake tubing and doses during pre-and post-trip inspections
- Report any brake issues in the driver vehicle inspection reports
- Check brake hose that rubs or rests on tires, frames, steering, brakes, suspension, or other parts
- Look for kinked or brakes hoses that were not prepared correctly
- Listen for any air leaks. If you find one, repair the leak before leaving.
- Do not allow airlines to touch or hang down from the truck frame or deck.
- If you find any air hoses or tubing rubbing, check for any wear or tear and secure and protect the lines from further wear or tear.
- Check for brake hose and tubing chafing. If you notice chafing or there is a white color visible on the hose – this is an out-of-service violation.
- Make sure all repairs are done to the manufacturer’s requirements and guidelines.
CVSA inspectors are not just looking at breaks during this weeklong inspection. Inspectors will also be watching for the following:
- Speeding
- Failing to follow traffic control devices
- Reporting false logs
- Failing to use a seatbelt
- Operating a CDL-required vehicle without a legal CDL
- Operating a vehicle without a valid yearly inspection
- No, discharged, or unsecured fire extinguisher
While sometimes truck inspections can be disruptive – they are important. It keeps you and other drivers safe on the roadways and ensures you are properly checking and repairing your truck as needed.