Get Ready for Brake Safety Week 2025
As Brake Safety Week approaches, from August 24 to 30, it’s vital to highlight the importance of safe braking systems on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). This initiative focuses on roadside inspections to identify critical brake violations while educating drivers, mechanics, and owner-operators about the significance of proper brake maintenance. With the safety of our roads at stake, ensuring every vehicle meets safety standards is essential. Join us as we explore the importance of this week and recognize the hard work of truck drivers, especially during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Together, we can promote safer roads and show our gratitude to those who keep our economy moving.
In this issue:
- What is the Proper Method for a Driver to Adjust Brakes with Unit Automatic Slack Adjusters?
- National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 14-20th, 2025.
- Registration is open online for the 2025 Idealease/NPTC Fall Safety Seminar!
Read, share, and/or print this week's Safety Bulletin.
Check out past Idealease Safety Bulletins.
During CVSA Brake Safety Week, from August 24 to 30, certified enforcement personnel will conduct roadside inspections on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to identify and remove those with critical brake violations. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the dangers posed by faulty brake systems.
Properly functioning brakes are essential for CMV safety. Regular inspections and maintenance are necessary to ensure brakes meet manufacturer specifications. Neglecting brake maintenance can significantly reduce braking efficiency and threaten public safety.
Data and research are precise:
- The Large Truck Crash Causation (LTCC) Study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that brake issues were a factor in 32.7% of large trucks that had pre-crash violations.
- Brake-related violations represented the highest proportion of out-of-service vehicle violations, making up 25% of citations issued during last year's Roadcheck America.
- The LTCC Study's relative risk analysis revealed that large trucks involved in accidents where braking capacity was crucial were 50% more likely to have a brake violation compared to those in incidents where braking capacity was not a key factor.
- In brake-critical crashes involving trucks, 45.5% exhibited brake violations, whereas only 29.9% of trucks in similar incidents that did not involve braking issues showed violations.
Brake Safety Week focuses on decreasing crashes linked to poorly maintained braking systems on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) through roadside inspections and the removal of unsafe vehicles from operation.
As part of this initiative, law enforcement will also engage in outreach efforts to inform drivers, mechanics, owner-operators, and others about the critical nature of proper brake maintenance, operation, and performance—all essential to the initiative's success.
During the week, inspectors will mainly perform the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a comprehensive 37-step process that evaluates both driver requirements and vehicle mechanical condition. Brake inspections will look for issues such as loose or missing parts, leaks in air or hydraulic systems, defective rotors, pushrod travel measurements, mismatched air chamber sizes, and the integrity and mounting of air reservoirs. They will also check for worn linings, pads, drums, or rotors, required warning devices, and other brake components. Vehicles found to have defective or improperly adjusted brakes will be taken out of service.
In 12 jurisdictions utilizing performance-based brake testing (PBBT) equipment, the braking efficiency of vehicles will be assessed. PBBT measures efficiency by calculating the total brake force applied across the entire vehicle and dividing it by the vehicle's total weight. The minimum required braking efficiency for trucks is 43.5%, as stipulated by Section 393.52 of the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.
Brake Safety Week is part of the Operation Airbrake Program, which is sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in collaboration with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
What You May Not Know About Brake Systems and Inspections
- Automatic brake adjusters are required.
- How to verify that your ABS is working.
- What is a PBBT inspection?
What is the proper method for a driver to adjust brakes with automatic slack adjusters?
Answer: The correct approach is to make ten firm brake applications each day, as well as right before a roadside inspection.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
September 14–20, 2025
Everyday life as we know it relies heavily on the dedicated work of truck drivers who deliver essential goods and resources. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an opportunity as a nation to acknowledge and thank these professional drivers for their hard work and commitment to one of our economy's most crucial roles. The 3.5 million men and women in this industry not only ensure that goods arrive safely, securely, and on time, but they also play a key role in maintaining highway safety. From citizens distributing lunches to "I ❤️ Trucks" signs along the roads, people have found imaginative ways to show their gratitude. Reflecting on the past few years, it's essential to recognize the vital role truck drivers played during the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering personal protective equipment (PPE), food, and medical supplies when they were needed most. This dedicated week in September serves as a small yet significant occasion to honor their contributions. Start planning now to do something special for your drivers during this week of appreciation.
Registration is now open for the 2025 Idealease/NPTC Fall Safety Seminars!
Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting safety seminars in the spring and fall of 2025. The one-day seminar this year will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important information applicable for both the novice and experienced transportation professionals.
Upcoming Fall Seminars:
- 9/16/2025 - Weirton, WV
- 9/30/2025 - Knoxville, TN
- 10/7/2025 - Orlando, FL
- 10/14/2025 - Atlanta, GA
- 10/16/2025 - Nashville, TN
- 10/21/2025 - Los Angeles, CA
- 10/23/2025 - Linthicum, MD
To register for an upcoming fall seminar in 2025, click on the following link:
Safety Seminar Registration
*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards
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