Operation Air Brake: OOS brake defects drop

OTTAWA (Sept. 19, 2002) — A brake-inspection blitz that took place Sept. 5 across the United States and Canada produced an increase in the number of participating jurisdictions, an increase in the number of inspections, and a decrease in both the rate and severity of violations, according to organizers of the event.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators reported that 12,875 units were inspected by 46 states and provinces involved in the 12-hour blitz, called Operation Air Brake.

Nearly 16 per cent of units inspected were placed out of service for brake-related defects. The percentage of units placed out of service for brake adjustment violations was 10.8 per cent.

Last year, the out-of-service rate was almost 18 per cent, with 13.3 per cent tagged for brakes out of adjustment.