The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has announced that the Annual Brake Safety Week will run Sept. 7-13.

During Brake Safety Week, commercial vehicle inspectors will conduct Level IV brake system inspections on trucks and buses throughout North America. Some Level I inspections will also be conducted.

Brake Safety week is an annual safety enforcement and outreach campaign aimed at identifying out-of-adjustment brakes and brake system violations. The inspections are done by local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“The ultimate goal of Brake Safety Week is to reduce the number of highway crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial vehicles,” said CVSA Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler.

Brake inspections during Brake Safety Week include inspection of brake-system components to identify loose or missing parts, air or hydraulic fluid leaks, worn linings, pads, drums or rotors and other faulty brake system components.

If an inspector finds defective or out of adjustment brakes, the vehicle will be placed out of service.

CMV inspectors will also be checking:

• Driver’s License

• Registration

• Low Air Warning Device

• Pushrod Travel

• Brake Linings/Drums

• Air Loss Rate (if leak is detected)

• Tractor Protection System

Last year more than 20,000 vehicles were inspected and this year the number of inspections is expected to reach 30,000. Brake Safety Week was started in 1998 and more than 3.4 million vehicles have been inspected since then.

“Effective brakes are fundamental to preventing crashes,” said FMCSA CSO Jack Van Steenburg. “The inspections under way during CVSA’s Annual Brake Safety Week campaign call needed attention to serious maintenance issues and reinforce good safety practices that save lives.”

To find out more click here.