Are You Ready for Brake Week?

Written by KWNE | August 15, 2022

Brake Safety Week

(Starting August 21, 2022)

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts Brake Safety Week annually, emphasizing the importance of brake safety for commercial trucks. During this period, inspectors conduct their usual Level I and V Inspections and then report the brake-related data to CVSA. According to last year’s three-day International Road check data, brake systems and brake adjustment violations accounted for 38.9% of all vehicle out-of-service violations.

“Poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of large trucks and motor coaches, which poses a serious risk to driver and public safety,” said CVSA President Capt. John Broers with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. “In those split-second emergency situations, the proper functionality of the brake systems on large commercial motor vehicles is crucial.”

You can keep your vehicles from an out-of-service violation with regular maintenance of your brake systems and pre-trip checks to spot issues and make repairs before they become problematic. During a pre-trip brake inspection:

Test for any leaks and examine your truck’s brake shoes
Walk around your truck and look for loose hoses and leaks and listen for any air leaks
Check for low-air signals
Check your air disc brake rotors for cracks
Inspect brake linings for thickness, cracks, and wear
Make sure your brakes are adjusted properly, the slack adjuster shouldn’t go out 90 degrees or more when brakes are applied

If you find any cracks or issues in your brake system, be sure to get them fixed. Kenworth Northeast has full-service shops across NY and MA that can do a complete brake service on your trucks. If you’ve got your own fleet mechanic, give us a call for parts.

Drive safe everyone!

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