Do your part to make America’s roadways safer, one brake check at a time.
We all know a child with a need for speed. They want to go fast, floor it every time they’re in a car, “shake and bake.” The gas pedal is the magic wand that makes their dreams come true.
But in the world of trucking, we know that brakes are even more important than the thing that makes the truck go “vroom.” While the gas pedal is a child’s adrenaline, brakes are the safety net that offers them a tomorrow.
Brake Safety Week, Aug. 25-31, is an annual campaign hosted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. It’s a time to reiterate the importance of checking your brakes before hitting the road. Law enforcement will be hyper-focused on the condition of brake linings and pads.
“Brake related violations make up a large percentage of all out-of-service vehicle violations cited during roadside inspections,” said Ian Sanford, director of safety analytics and improvements at U.S. Xpress. “Don’t be part of that statistic.”
Here are some things you can do to ensure your brakes are road-ready before you get behind the wheel.
- Visually check your brakes. Locate your disc or drum brakes and look for signs of wear, loose equipment, or missing hardware. Contact your supervisor if you see anything that needs to be addressed.
- Pay attention to the lights on your dash. If an inspector sees an anti-lock brake system (ABS) indicator light on your dashboard, that’s an immediate citation. Make sure you get that checked out before you hit the road.
- Listen for leaks. Take a lap around your rig and listen for air escaping the truck. That could be an indicator of air or hydraulic leaking from your equipment.
- Always do a pre-trip inspection. This will help identify any component, brakes and beyond, that may need attention prior to leaving your lot.
Let’s all do our part to make America’s roadways safer every day.
Have a safe and successful Brake Safety Week, drivers.
