Hundreds of Trucks and Buses Sidelined for Brake Issues | Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick, LLC

A close-up view of a vehicle's side mirror showing the front grille of a large truck with the text 'Objects in mirror are closer than they appear' visible on the mirror.

A wave of safety inspections suggests that more than 1 in 10 trucks have unsafe brakes.

The numbers stress the importance of regular brake maintenance and enforcement to help ensure safer roads for all users and reduce the risk of severe and fatal truck accidents.

The findings are the results of Operation Airbrake, an annual effort to identify and mitigate potential truck accident brake hazards.

Specifically, the data indicates that of the nearly 5,000 vehicles inspected, 448 commercial motor vehicles were sidelined for brake-related violations—an 11.6 percent vehicle out-of-service rate.

1 in 10 trucks may have faulty or misaligned brakes

Truck accidents are common in Montgomery County. Our Rockville truck accident lawyers know that serious injuries and deaths due to semi-truck wrecks happen on I-270, MD 200, and Frederick Rd, among many other trucking routes and major roadways.

Although it is unclear exactly how many of these accidents involve misaligned or faulty brakes, a national study found brake problems are cited in about 30 percent of fatal truck accidents.

Federal truck brake regulations

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is an organization that improves commercial vehicle safety. Operation Airbrake, a CVSA program, specifically targets enhancing the safety of commercial vehicle braking systems.

The initiative involves roadside inspections and educational efforts to ensure brakes are properly maintained and functioning, aiming to decrease brake-related accidents.

Inadequately installed or maintained brake systems pose significant safety risks by diminishing braking efficiency and increasing stopping distances for trucks and buses.

Since 1998, its program, Operation Airbrake, has focused on reducing accidents caused by brake-related issues through education and inspections for federal safety violations. Federal laws regarding commercial motor vehicle brakes do the following:

Require brakes on all wheels.
Set requirements for truck braking systems, including brakes for travel, parking, automatic/antilock, emergency, and breakaway systems.
Determine operative and brake performance standards.
Establish requirements for brake parts, including front brake line protection, actuators, slack, adjusters, linings/pads, drums/rotors, control valves, tubing, hose, and assemblies.
Mandate reservoirs, warning signals, air pressure, and vacuum gauges.
Set brake inspection procedures and acceptable standards.

Many commercial truck accidents can be traced back to the fault of the truck driver or the trucking company.

Truck brake inspections by the numbers

This year's Operation Airbrake Inspection Day took place at the end of April. Out-of-adjustment brakes and brake-system violations accounted for half of all commercial motor vehicle out-of-service citations.

Here are some key findings and takeaways from the event, according to data provided by CVSA:

Total inspections conducted. 4,898 commercial motor vehicle inspections were performed during an unannounced one-day brake safety event.
Pass rate. Over 88 percent of inspected vehicles passed without any brake-related violations.
Vehicles with critical violations. 570 vehicles (11.6 percent) had critical brake-related inspection item vehicle violations and were restricted from further travel until the violations were addressed.
Top brake safety violation. 330 commercial motor vehicles had 20% or more of their service brakes in an out-of-service condition, accounting for 57.9 percent of all brake-related out-of-service violations.
Other brake violations. 256 vehicles (44.9 percent of those inspected) had other brake-related violations, including worn brake lines/hoses, broken brake drums, inoperative tractor protection systems, low-air warning device issues, air leaks, and hydraulic fluid leaks.
Steering-related brake violations. 73 commercial motor vehicles had steering-related brake violations, making up 12.8 percent of all brake-related out-of-service violations.
Brake lining/pad violations. A total of 108 power units and 66 towed units were identified with lining/pad violations. Specifically, 114 violations were found on power units and 71 on towed units.
Performance-based-brake-tester inspections. Of the 88 inspections conducted, four (4.5 percent) failed to meet the 43.5 percent minimum braking efficiency required and were placed out of service.

Truckers must inspect their vehicles before and after every trip to ensure cargo is properly secured and all major components, from tires to brakes to hold-down devices, are in working order. If a driver fails to complete these inspections, their negligence could lead to a truck accident. Replacing worn tires, brakes, and other safety components is hugely important to a truck's safe travel on the road.

Get serious representation after your accident

If you've been injured in a truck accident involving negligence, time is of the essence. Large commercial trucks demand a high level of driving skill, and when trucking companies fail to ensure their drivers are qualified and their vehicles are safe, the consequences can be devastating.

At the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick, LLC, our legal team has experience handling such complex cases with precision and a deep understanding of the stakes involved. For instance, in one case, we obtained $95,000 for a client who was hit from behind and injured by a tractor-trailer in Allegany County, Maryland.

Our team is ready to offer you a free case evaluation and provide the support you need to take effective legal action. We prioritize getting you the compensation you deserve to help get your life back on track. Don’t delay. Contact us today, and let’s start working toward your recovery.