08/19/2026
CVSA Brake Safety Week: August 23–29, 2026
Across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, enforcement officers will be carrying out targeted commercial vehicle inspections. Let's clear up common misconceptions before the week begins:
MYTH #1: "If my air pressure gauge holds steady, my brakes will pass."
REALITY: False. Air pressure only tells part of the story. For 2026, inspectors are specifically targeting friction surfaces - drums and rotors. Deep heat cracks, severe grooves, or contaminated linings will result in an OOS violation regardless of air pressure stability.
MYTH #2: "A small air leak isn't enough to get me pulled off the road."
REALITY: Under the 20% Rule, if 20% or more of your vehicle’s service brakes have OOS conditions (including audible air leaks or defective chamber seals), the vehicle is immediately placed out of service.
MYTH #3: "Automatic Slack Adjusters (ASAs) never need to be checked."
REALITY: ASAs can fail or hide underlying mechanical issues. Inspectors measure stroke length on every inspection—never manually adjust an ASA without investigating why it slipped out of adjustment.
Essential Inspection Target List
🚛 Drums & Rotors: Surface condition, cracking, deep scoring, grease contamination
🚛 Linings & Pads: Wear thickness, cracks, missing rivets/bonds
🚛 Systems: Air/hydraulic hose condition, chamber seals, leaks
🚛 Hardware: Slack adjusters, clevis pins, return springs
Knowledge avoids downtime. Share this guide with your maintenance and driving teams today.
