Brake Problems Put 15% of U.S. Trucks Out of Service

Brake problems took more than one in seven U.S. trucks off the road during the 2026 Brake Safety Week. Inspectors stopped nearly 2,400 commercial vehicles for brake violations during the week.

In the U.S., 2,134 vehicles were stopped during the Aug. 23-29 campaign. That was 15.1 percent of the 14,165 vehicles checked. The result was close to the 2025 campaign, when nearly 15 percent of U.S. trucks were stopped for brake violations.

Across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, 1,176 vehicles failed the 20 percent defective-brake standard. That was 49.6 percent of the vehicles stopped for brake violations. A truck or combination is stopped if at least 20 percent of its service brakes are in an out-of-service condition.

Inspectors also looked closely at drums and rotors. They reported 141 drum and rotor violations, which led to 64 vehicles being stopped. Rusted rotors were the most common issue, with 48 violations. Broken drums had 36, broken rotors had 33, and metal-to-metal contact had 24.

Most rotor violations involved air disc brakes. All 36 broken-drum violations involved S-cam brakes. In 12 U.S. jurisdictions, inspectors used performance-based brake testers on 657 vehicles. Twenty-nine failed the required 43.5 percent minimum braking efficiency and were stopped, a 4.4 percent failure rate.

Most of the North American inspections were 37-step Level I checks, making up 91 percent. Those checks cover driver qualifications and vehicle condition, including brake adjustment, linings, pads, air systems, hoses and chambers.

CVSA emphasized that brake safety needs work beyond the annual campaign. Regular checks, preventive maintenance and prompt repairs can help carriers find problems before a roadside stop. The next Brake Safety Week is set for April 18-24, 2027.

Source: Heavy Duty Trucking — https://www.truckinginfo.com/news/brake-problems-sideline-15-of-inspected-trucks