Trucking Laws · Nationwide · November 14, 2026

Brake Safety Week: Inspectors Placed 2,369 Commercial Vehicles Out of Service After 15,528 Brake Inspections

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Inspectors placed 2,369 commercial vehicles out of service for brake problems during this year's Brake Safety Week, after checking 15,528 vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico, results that matter to truckers who roll every day.

The numbers

The campaign ran Aug. 23 through Aug. 29. The results were just released, Land Line reports, citing the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which organizes the week.

About 85% of the vehicles got through without a brake out-of-service order. The other 15.3% were put out of service for brake violations. That is not a warning. The truck is off the road until the problem is fixed.

Nearly half of those parked trucks, 1,176 vehicles, were placed out of service for hitting the 20% rule. That means at least one out of every five of the service brakes had a problem bad enough to take the truck out of service.

What inspectors found

Inspectors found 600 violations for brake hoses and tubes, and 145 for air loss. This year's focus, rotors and drums, turned up 141 violations by itself. Land Line, citing CVSA, says those rotor and drum findings resulted in 64 vehicles being placed out of service. For trucks with air disc brakes, a rusted rotor was the most common violation (45), followed by broken rotors (32) and metal-to-metal wear (20). Some vehicles had more than one brake violation.

CVSA also counted 92 violations for steering axle linings, 119 for other steering axle conditions, and 759 other brake violations, which can include tractor protection systems, air tanks, parking or emergency brakes, and low-air warning devices.

The United States accounted for about 91% of the vehicles inspected (14,165) and about 90% of the vehicles placed out of service, CVSA said.

Why it matters to truckers

An out-of-service brake order means the load sits until a shop can fix the problem. CVSA says brake safety is a year-round job, not just a one-week blitz. Next year's Brake Safety Week is scheduled for April 18 to 24, 2027, on the CVSA 2027 inspection calendar.

Quick facts

• Inspections: 15,528 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Aug. 23 through Aug. 29.
• Out of service for brakes: 2,369 vehicles, or 15.3%.
• Parked under the 20% defective-brake rule: 1,176.
• Hose and tube violations: 600. Air-loss violations: 145. Rotor and drum violations: 141.
• Next Brake Safety Week: April 18 to 24, 2027.

FAQ

What is the 20% rule?

If 20% or more of a vehicle's service brakes, or the brakes on a combination, have an out-of-service condition, inspectors can park the truck under the North American out-of-service criteria. That accounted for 1,176 of the parked vehicles this year.

Does a clean inspection during the blitz week mean the brakes are good for the year?

No. CVSA says brake safety is a year-round responsibility and encourages regular inspections and prompt repairs.

A question for readers

Truckers, how often do you crawl under and check the brakes yourself, instead of waiting for an inspector to find the problem?

Save this story for later

Save this to Pinterest