It’s time to brake for brakes.
Beginning Sunday, Sept. 6 and continuing through Sept. 12, law enforcement agencies throughout the country will conduct brake system inspections on commercial vehicles. These inspections are part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week, being held in conjunction with the Operation Airbrake program, sponsored by CVSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
We’re all about safety here at Paramount Freight Systems, a leading truckload carrier with expertise in providing long haul, expedited, dedicated and regional service. That’s why we think a focus on brake safety is important to our industry. We want the Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers that we partner with to always put safety first.
During these required stops, you can expect an inspection of the following:
- Brake system components so that any loose or missing parts can be identified
- Drums and rotors
- Worn linings
- Brake pads
- Air or hydraulic fluid leaks
But wait, there’s more. Inspectors will also be checking the Antilock braking system malfunction indicator lamp and may even measure the pushrod stroke where applicable.
Here’s the unfortunate news for truck drivers. Trucks with defective or out-of-adjustment brakes will result in the vehicle being placed out of service. And really, no drivers want to be placed out of service. A halt in service typically means a halt in pay.
During the 2014 Brake Safety Week, participating agencies inspected 13,305 vehicles and placed 2,162 commercial vehicles out of service for brake violations. The out of service rate for brake violations was 16.2 percent, followed by 10.4 percent for brake adjustment and 9.3 percent for brake components. Since the inception of this program in 1998, more than 3.4 million brakes have been inspected.
We encourage our Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers to stay on top of vehicle maintenance. Here at PFS, we even offer discounts on parts and tires. Are you an Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers looking to be home every night? Paramount Freight Systems is looking for dedicated Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers to join our team. We have line haul lanes and regional routes available in 48 states. Contact us today to own your own route to success.
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Brake Safety Week begins Sunday. Here's what you can expect: http://t.co/Ze7CRxLU3T #truckdrivers #safety
— Paramount Freight (@DrivePFS) September 4, 2015
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Categorized in: Safety, Truck Drivers, Uncategorized