Brake hoses and tubing will be the focus of Brake Safety Week in 2020, says the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. Every year, the CVSA holds this weeklong brake inspection spree to ensure that truckers in New Jersey and across North America are holding up brake safety regulations. For 2020, the spree will take place in August, which is Brake Safety Awareness Month, from the 23rd to the 29th.
The brake hoses and tubing are integral to the overall mechanical fitness of a truck. Inspectors will be checking to make sure these components are not damaged, leaking, inflexible or improperly attached. Any trucks that violate brake regulations will be placed out-of-service.
Brake violations are not uncommon. A total of 13.5% of trucks that were inspected during the 2019 Brake Safety Week were given OOS orders, and during the 2019 International Roadcheck, another inspection blitz held by the CVSA, 45.1% of the OOS violations were related to brake systems and adjustment.
Every year, the Truckload Carriers Association holds a “Best Fleets to Drive For” contest, where truckers can nominate fleets that are innovative or successful in their practices, especially their safety practices. The contest provides a reminder that fleets differ from one another in how safety-conscious they are and how stringent their training can be. This could indirectly affect truckers’ behavior.
When truck accidents arise because of poorly maintained parts, those who are harmed may feel confident about filing a claim against the trucking company. Of course, it’s not guaranteed that they will negotiate a reasonable settlement covering all their medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering, so victims may do well to retain legal counsel. The lawyer may hire investigators to gather proof against the trucker, including the police report, whatever maintenance reports were filled out, and any in-cab camera footage.
