During an unannounced one-day inspection blitz, nearly 400 commercial motor vehicles were taken off the road due to brake-related violations. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) held its surprise Brake Safety Day on April 22, where certified inspectors across North America focused on brake systems during their routine roadside checks. 

Out of 4,569 vehicles inspected, 91.3% (that’s 4,171 trucks) had no brake-related out-of-service violations — a strong showing for the industry. This year, inspectors paid special attention to drums and rotors. They found violations on 32 vehicles (about 8%), and 14 of those were serious enough to place the vehicle or combination out of service. Additionally, 237 vehicles (almost 60% of the out-of-service group) had 20% or more of their brakes in a defective condition — a key threshold for being taken off the road. 

This surprise event is a lead-up to CVSA’s annual Brake Safety Week, scheduled for August 24–30, which will feature a full week of inspections aimed at keeping unsafe vehicles off the road and raising awareness about the importance of brake maintenance.