North American inspectors conducted 15,175 commercial motor vehicle inspections during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Brake Safety Week, which ran from August 24–30, 2025. Of the total inspected vehicles, 15.1 percent (2,296) were placed out of service for brake-related violations and removed from roadways. Sky Transport Solutions helps carriers understand these results and maintain brake safety compliance to avoid costly out-of-service violations.
Top 3 Brake Safety Violations
Most out-of-service (OOS) violations were issued for stand-alone brake violations. The top three violations during Brake Safety Week 2025 were:
Most Common Brake Violations
- Failing the 20 percent defective brakes criterion - Defective brakes equal more than 20 percent of service brakes (1,199 violations)
- "Other" OOS brake violations (375 violations)
- Brake hoses/tubes (306 violations)
A vehicle placed OOS is restricted from travel until all the OOS violations are corrected. Sky Transport Solutions emphasizes the importance of regular brake maintenance to prevent these costly violations.
Drum and Rotor Violations Focus
In addition to OOS violations, inspectors also focused on drum and rotor violations during this year's Brake Safety Week. Inspectors checked for violations across:
- Air disk brakes (72 violations)
- S-cam brakes (32 violations)
- Hydraulics (9 violations)
Within each category, inspectors looked for broken rotors, rusted rotors, metal-to-metal issues, and broken drums. Inspectors found 113 drum and rotor violations, 39 of which placed vehicles out of service.
Inspection Results by Country
Of the 15,175 commercial motor vehicle inspections held across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico:
United States
13,700 inspections with 2,035 brake-related OOS violations (14.9 percent OOS rate)
Canada
1,459 inspections with 260 brake-related OOS violations (17.8 percent OOS rate)
Mexico
16 inspections with 1 brake-related OOS violation (6.3 percent OOS rate)
Key Takeaway from Sky Transport Solutions
With 15.1 percent of inspected vehicles placed out of service for brake violations, proper brake maintenance is critical for avoiding costly delays and compliance issues. Sky Transport Solutions recommends that carriers implement regular brake inspections and maintenance programs to ensure their vehicles meet safety standards and avoid out-of-service violations during enforcement events.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Brake Safety Week
Next year's Brake Safety Week will take place from August 23–29, 2026. Sky Transport Solutions encourages carriers to prepare now by implementing comprehensive brake maintenance programs and ensuring all vehicles meet safety standards well in advance of next year's enforcement period.
How Sky Transport Solutions Can Help
At Sky Transport Solutions, we understand that brake safety is fundamental to fleet operations and regulatory compliance. Our team can help trucking companies:
- Develop comprehensive brake maintenance programs
- Understand brake inspection requirements and standards
- Prepare for CVSA enforcement events like Brake Safety Week
- Address common brake violations before they result in out-of-service orders
- Maintain compliance with brake safety regulations
- Document brake maintenance and inspection records
Don't wait until the next Brake Safety Week to address brake safety issues. Contact Sky Transport Solutions today to ensure your fleet maintains proper brake safety standards and avoids costly out-of-service violations.
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