Have You Checked Your Brakes Today? - Brake Safety Week 2006
That’s the slogan for this year’s CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) Brake Safety Week [PDF File]. From August 27 through September 2, 2006, the CVSA is focusing on brake safety. This is part of the CVSA’s annual Operation Air Brake Campaign.
Anyone who has seen a truck driver flying down the Grapevine, Black Mountain, Snoqualmie, or any other well-known down grade with a trail of smoke behind him and terror in his eyes knows the importance of good brakes. We all know the smell of burning brakes- which can be avoided by planning for the down grade and using engine brakes when your truck brakes are in good condition. But if your tractor or trailer brakes go, nothing is going to stop you except- if you’re lucky- a truck escape ramp. Keeping your brakes adjusted is just plain smart.
The CVSA Brake Safety Week will focus on increasing truckers’ understanding of their brake systems. Of course, this includes increased Level 4 CMV Truck Brake Inspections. But this also includes CVSA-certified truck inspectors and brake experts meeting with truckers and mechanics at truck stops. Keep an eye out for them- even if you already know how to inspect and adjust your brakes, you may learn something you didn’t know before.
The CVSA does not have information on how many inspections they expect to see or how many CVSA-certified truck inspectors will be providing information [PDF File] at truck stops. They send the information on Brake Safety Week to their members and then receive reports from the members after the fact.
29th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Nevada was set up in the pullout just west of exit 4 on I 80. They were pulling in all trucks and passing out brochures on how to adjust your brakes. They had officers out with creepers inspecting brakes.