August 24–30, 2025, go ahead and highlight it, circle it, or tattoo it on your clipboard if you must, because Brake Safety Week is back. And this year, the spotlight’s aimed squarely at your brake drums and rotors.
Run by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), Brake Safety Week is a North America-wide enforcement blitz designed to get unsafe vehicles off the road and educate the rest of us on how to avoid ending up there.
Sure, CVSA inspectors will still be performing Level I and V inspections, pulling trucks with brake-related violations out of service on the spot. But 2025 comes with a twist: extra attention is being paid to the condition of your brake drums and rotors.
Why? Because these parts aren’t just heavy metal, they’re make-or-break components for safe braking. If a drum or rotor fails, you’re not just looking at a violation; you're looking at real risk: flying debris, compromised stopping power, and potential accidents that could cost lives.
This isn’t just about DOT rules. It’s about road survival.
Straight from CVSA’s 2025 Brake Safety Week flyer, here’s what inspectors want drivers and fleet managers watching for before the inspection happens on the side of the road:
These aren’t just suggestions. They’re inspection checkboxes that could be the difference between keeping your wheels turning and sitting roadside explaining your CSA score.
Don't wait for an inspector to tell you something's wrong. Here’s how to get ahead:
Create a company-wide message program around brake health and inspections. Consistent safety reminders across every driver terminal, dispatch message, and maintenance form can reinforce habits that save lives and protect your bottom line.
Dash cams and telematics? They’re not Big Brother; they’re Big Helper. Use them to give constructive feedback on hard braking events and mechanical symptoms, turning raw data into real coaching moments for your drivers.
Don’t wait for August. Plan fleet-wide brake system checks in July, especially for high-mileage units or older trailers. Bonus points if you involve your drivers in the inspection walkthroughs; education is retention.
Brake Safety Week shines a light on a critical safety system, but this isn’t just an August problem. Rotors wear out. Drums crack. Pads vanish into metallic dust. These issues don’t care about the calendar, and neither should your maintenance schedule.
Let this week be your annual wake-up call to tighten systems, upgrade inspections, and coach drivers on the "why" behind every check.
Because the goal isn’t just passing inspections, it’s getting everyone home safe.
Brake Safety Week is an annual enforcement initiative by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) where inspectors conduct roadside checks on commercial vehicles across North America, focusing specifically on brake system violations.
Mark your calendars—August 24–30, 2025. That’s your official inspection window (and unofficial panic-prep week if you’ve been slacking on maintenance).
This year, inspectors will give extra attention to brake drums and rotors. Cracks, corrosion, worn-out parts—if it’s unsafe, they’ll catch it.
If your brakes don’t pass muster, your vehicle can be taken out of service on the spot. That means no rolling until repairs are made—and potential fines, delays, and a dent in your CSA score.
Not at all. Whether you run a 100-truck fleet or own a single rig, everyone is fair game during Brake Safety Week.
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