This year’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week is slated for the week of Aug. 25-31. The event helps law enforcement in getting commercial trucks off the road that have braking problems.
In addition, there will be a one-day unannounced brake safety initiative which could happen at any time.
According to the CVSA website, “During both the announced and unannounced brake safety enforcement campaigns, commercial motor vehicle inspectors conduct brake system inspections (primarily Level IV inspections) on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify brake-system violations.”
Brake-related safety issues are the leading cause of out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections. Outreach and educational efforts are also part of Safety Week.
Every year the Alliance announces a priority area for inspectors. This year, inspectors will focus on brake linings and pads which was also a focus last year. Brake lining and pad issues will cause vehicle violations that can lower a trucking company’s safety rating.
CVSA provided ten brake lining and pad tips for truckers:
- Inspect visible portions of the brake lining and pads as part of your pre-and post-trip inspections.
- Look for signs of missing lining, such as grooves in the drum from rivet contact.
- Look at the shoe-to-drum clearance and ensure there is adequate lining on the shoe.
- Look for any signs of leaks from the hub or other components that may be contaminating the lining/pad surface.
- Ensure there are no missing lining blocks/pads.
- Check for visible cracks or voids in the lining block.
- Check for any exposed rivets or lining blocks that look loose on the shoe.
- On disc brakes, pay particular attention to the condition of the rotor, such as heavily rusted rotors across the entire friction surface on either side or metal-to-metal contact.
• Make sure all repairs are consistent with the brake manufacturer’s requirements and guidelines.
• Note any issue in your driver vehicle inspection reports and report them to the motor carrier to have the defective linings/pads repaired. Information from the inspections will be sent directly to the CVSA database, specifically information about brake linings and pads.
