In The News
Brake Safety Week is Coming!
Safety in trucking isn’t just a regulatory box to check, it’s a cornerstone of professional driving. One of the most critical components of vehicle safety is the braking system, and each year the industry is reminded of this through Brake Safety Week, an initiative that’s led by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). For 2025, Brake Safety Week will take place from Sunday, August 24 through Saturday, August 30, with law enforcement across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico conducting inspections and sharing brake-related data to promote awareness and accountability.
As a recruiter who has reviewed countless Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) and Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) reports, it’s clear that brake violations are a huge red flag in a driver’s safety profile. They speak volumes about not just a vehicle’s condition, but also a driver’s maintenance habits and overall commitment to safety. From CDL training onward, the importance of brake maintenance is emphasized, but far too often it becomes a neglected responsibility once drivers hit the road.
2025 Focus: Drums, Rotors, and Brake Pad Condition
This year’s Brake Safety Week will place special emphasis on brake drums, rotors, linings, and pads. All areas that are frequently overlooked and can cause severe safety issues. Inspectors will be watching for:
- Worn, cracked, contaminated, or missing linings and pads
- Broken or missing components
- Audible air leaks
- Slack adjuster mismatches and air chamber inconsistencies
- Brake pressure issues (90–100 psi required)
- ABS warning light functionality
- Trailer brake system integrity, including breakaway systems
- Non-manufactured holes and spring damage in parking brake housings
Vehicles with out-of-service (OOS) brake violations will be removed from the roadway until repairs are made, reinforcing the importance of regular and thorough maintenance.
The Role of Data and Enforcement
As in previous years, inspectors will capture inspection results and report them to the CVSA. Additionally, performance-based brake testers (PBBTs), which measure brake force at individual wheel ends or axles, will be used by participating states and provinces. In 2024, 452 PBBT inspections were conducted across 18 states, resulting in a 5.75% failure rate. These data points provide crucial insights into trends and areas of concern within the industry.
Here’s how the last three years have stacked up in terms of general brake-related OOS violations:
- 2024: 16,725 inspections / 2,149 OOS violations (12.8%)
- 2023: 18,875 inspections / 2,375 OOS violations (12.6%)
- 2022: 38,117 inspections / 5,059 OOS violations (13.3%)
Brake lining and pad violations were also a major focus:
- 2024: 654 violations
- 2023: 682 violations
The Bigger Picture
Brake Safety Week is more than an enforcement effort, it’s an educational opportunity for drivers, owner-operators, carriers, and mechanics to refocus on brake health. Keeping vehicles roadworthy protects not just the driver, but everyone sharing the highway.
As the 2025 campaign approaches, companies and drivers alike should review maintenance records, conduct thorough pre-trip inspections, and take proactive steps to ensure brake systems are functioning properly. Because when it comes to trucking, safety really does stop—literally and figuratively—at the brakes.
