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Preparing for CVSA Brake Safety Week 2025  

Author Sean Burke

Each year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts Brake Safety Week, a seven-day initiative when law-enforcement personnel conduct inspections of commercial motor vehicles, educate drivers on the importance of brake safety, and provide brake safety data to CVSA. Scheduled for late August, Brake Safety Week 2025 will focus on brake inspection of systems and components, with additional emphasis on drums and rotors.  

CVSA Brake Safety Week will take place Aug. 24-30.  

Drums and rotors impact a vehicle’s brake efficiency, and when broken fragments become dislodged during operation, they can cause damage to other vehicles or result in injuries to motorists. As a result, ensuring these modules are functioning properly is essential for safety and commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related or out-of-service issues will be removed from roadways until the issue is corrected.  

What to Expect 

Carriers may experience unexpected delays due to brake checks and additional disruptions from slowed traffic. Luckily, Echo is prepared. Our team proactively monitors for disruptions and keeps you informed every step of the way. With real-time tracking and industry-leading reporting capabilities, we ensure your freight stays on track even during high-impact events like this. 

Data collected during Brake Safety Week is reported to the public after the event takes place. In 2024, certified inspectors conducted 16,725 inspections in North America, finding that approximately 87% of inspected commercial vehicles did not have out-of-service violations and were deemed safe.  

How to Prepare 

To prepare drivers for Brake Safety Week, CVSA recommends exploring its Brake Inspection Checklist. Important elements to consider include:  

  • Having the right tools to inspect your brakes – Blocks/chocks keep your wheels from rolling, and a brake application device (or another person) lets you test your brakes. 
  • Parking safely and correctly – Park on a level surface, release the parking brake, turn off your engine, and remove the keys from the ignition.  
  • Measuring the pushrod stroke – Understand what size the rod is, listen for air leaks, and confirm the stroke is within the regulatory requirements for the brake chamber. 

What to inspect for:  

  • Chafing or rubbing air lines 
  • Damaged, broken, or missing components 
  • Cracked or contaminated brake pads or linings 
  • Excessive movement on the camshaft 
  • Rust on the drum due to inoperative brake or drum cracks 
  • Holes in the brake chamber 
  • Audible air leaks 

Why It Matters 

The goal of Brake Safety Week is to improve safety and eliminate roadway accidents. providing resources to keep motorists safe allows CVSA to maintain transparency with drivers and carriers in an effort to encourage trust, communication, and proactivity to make sure vehicles comply with safety standards.  

At Echo, we share that commitment. Our dedicated logistics experts are here to support your business, particularly during critical events like Brake Safety Week. 

To find out more about how Echo can help you navigate disruptions, contact an expert today.  

For informational purposes.