The annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) brake safety week will be held 25 to 31 August 2024. However, fleet managers and drivers should start preparing now.
Brake pads and linings will be the focus for inspectors during this year’s Brake Safety Week.
“Brake Safety Week is a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and driver inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative, a brake-safety awareness and outreach opportunity, and a brake-related inspection and violation data-collection project.”— CVSA.org.
Some weigh stations will use the performance-based brake tester (PBBT), a machine that tests the braking system's performance. However, it hasn’t been confirmed that the Truckee Weigh Station on I-80 on the Donner Pass will use the PBBT, yet.
The 2023 CVSA brake safety week conducted in the US, Mexico, and Canada checked 18,875 CMVs and put 2,375 out-of-service due to brake-related issues.
Last year, during the annual brake safety week, inspectors put 12.6% of CMVs inspected out-of-service for faulty brakes. An out-of-service (OOS) order-identified fault must be corrected before moving the CMV.
What Motor Carriers & Drivers Can Do to Prepare
Educational initiatives led by inspectors, motor carriers, and industry stakeholders are pivotal components of Brake Safety Week's efficacy.
In tandem with informational campaigns led by law enforcement agencies, transportation safety organizations, and dedicated officers, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is committed to equipping drivers, motor carriers, owner-operators, and mechanics for the upcoming Brake Safety Week.
Offering valuable resources to support these efforts, CVSA provides access to the inspector's inspection protocol, a comprehensive checklist outlining essential tools for inspecting S-cam brakes, guidelines on what to inspect and how to measure pushrod stroke, and insights into the vehicle components under scrutiny.
Additionally, a downloadable flyer featuring ten tips on brake lining and pad maintenance is available to enhance industry knowledge and compliance.
Beyond its educational emphasis, CVSA Brake Safety Week is a critical reminder to drivers and motor carriers regarding the importance of proactive vehicle maintenance programs. Nothing is more crucial to CMV maintenance than the driver’s daily vehicle inspection.
This campaign also allows law enforcement to underscore the significance of brake safety in ensuring road safety and regulatory compliance.
CVSA Brake Safety Week Data Collection
During the CVSA Brake Safety Week, inspectors will gather information on brake inspections and any violations detected.
That data will be transmitted to the CVSA for further review. Alongside the general inspection and violation reports, CVSA will specifically collate data on brake linings and pads, the primary emphasis for this year's Operation Safe Driver Week.
The jurisdictions participating in the PBBT program will also provide specific data related to PBBT. CVSA plans to meticulously accumulate and evaluate all the data submissions before releasing the findings to the public later in the year.
Why the CVSA Conducts Brake Safety Week
Brake violations comprise the largest portion of out-of-service (OOS) orders for CMV violations during roadside inspections, with six out of the top 20 violations being brake-related.
The CVSA's 2023 data shows brake-system violations as the top OOS violations, accounting for 25.2% of all violations.
Brake Safety Week aims to enhance CMV brake safety in North America by conducting inspections and educating drivers on proper brake maintenance and operation to prevent roadway crashes.
What to Do About OOS Orders & other CMV Violations & Traffic Tickets
Carriers and commercial drivers must dispute every moving violation in traffic court with the assistance of a CA traffic attorney. For carriers, moving violations mean Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) severity points, which could be multiplied by three when a similar conviction by one of their drivers in the past six months occurs, and two points within one year.
These points are maintained on the carrier's DataQs and Safety Measurement System (SMS) record for two years, affecting their SMS percentile. A percentile of 75 or above will lead to additional DOT FMCSA interventions, like more roadside inspections for the vehicles using the DOT number and possible internal inspections at fleet HQs.
The SMS percentile also affects the carrier’s fleet insurance premium.
For drivers, each moving violation is assessed CSA severity points, which will stay on their Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP) record for three years and affect their ability to get hired by a high-paying carrier and negotiate pay and benefits.
NOTE: DO NOT move a CMV after an inspector has ordered it OOS. This is a disqualifying offense:
“First violation – a driver who is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order is disqualified for a period of not less than 90 days and not more than one year.”— Teamster.org.
Contact Bigger & Harman to Resolve CMV Traffic Tickets in Truckee Traffic Court
When you have a citation from a roadside inspection or traffic ticket you need resolved in Truckee Courthouse, call Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300. Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
Use our contact form to send a picture of your ticket/violation or email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
Download our e-book, Protecting Your Commercial Driver License.
References:
The Truckinginfo.com article, What Will CVSA's Brake Safety Week Focus on for 2024?
The Teamster.org article, Out-of-Service Criteria.
The DMV Portal CA Commercial Driver Handbook.