A company in Utah has made the state’s first electric semi truck investment in an attempt to “be a part of the solution to the problem.”
Utah Paperbox CEO Steve Keyser says that he ordered the electric semi truck from Volvo more than two years ago for $500,000. Now, the electric rig has finally arrived, making it the first to be put to work in the state of Utah.
“That’s just kind of how we roll,” said Keyser in an interview. “I think in 2009, when we put the solar on our building. We were like the ninth largest producer of solar in Utah.”
“If the air gets worse, I have to deal with it.” Keyser continued to Fox 13. “So I’m trying to be a part of the solution to the problem.”
The company is replacing a 25 year old tractor trailer with their newer, electric semi investment, in hopes of using 800 fewer gallons of diesel a month. Keyser says that he expects the electric semi truck to save them around $2,500 in fuel costs a month, meaning that the company might see a return in more than ten years.
Utah Paperbox plans to use the rig to make deliveries from Salt Lake City, to Provo, to Ogden, and hopefully to Logan without running out of charge.
“It’s one step at a time.” Keyser said. “I mean, there’s, there’s nobody out there that really knows this. I mean, we’re the first people.”
The company already has roof-mounted solar panels, which it plans to use to charge the electric semi truck in as few as three hours.
Under the new B.C. Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, as of June 1, commercial vehicles with dump boxes that can rise above 4.15 meters (13.6 ft.) are required to have in-cab warning devices installed to alert the driver when the dump box is raised.
A vehicle’s height is determined by measuring the distance from the highest point of its dump box when fully raised, to the road surface directly below.
(Photo: iStock)
The new regulation applies to all dump trucks operating in B.C., including those out of province, and drivers operating without equipment with a visual or audio warning device may face a $598 fine.
This comes as one of the efforts to prevent infrastructure crashes that continue striking B.C.
Sukhman was drawn to the world of trucking since he was 14 years old, as his passion was ignited by family ties and his school’s transportation program.
“I knew that I wanted to be in this industry as I had pretty big plans,” he says.
Currently in Grade 12 of Bramalea Secondary School in Brampton, Ont., Sukhman is completing a co-op at a Kenworth dealership as a part of his Specialist High School Major program in transportation. He describes the dealership as his favorite place due to the extensive learning opportunities it presents.
There, he delves into engine work, diagnostics, wiring, and pre-delivery inspections. After graduation, Sukhman hopes to get a full-time job and keep learning until he becomes a senior tech. “Within three or four years [after that], I want to learn everything there is to know about it, and then have enough knowledge to eventually start my own business and open a shop,” he says.
Sukhman is one of many students who have gone through the regional transportation program offered at Bramalea Secondary, which started 12 years ago with truck and coach training and was rebranded several years ago.
Bramalea school’s Truck and Coach program rebranded, providing a broader insight into the transportation sector for students in Grades 9 to 12. (Photo: Krystyna Shchedrina)
It is now dubbed the Regional Transportation and Engineering Technology program and it prepares students in Grades 9 and 10 to complete the Specialist High School Major program in transportation throughout Grades 11 and 12, familiarizing them with the marine, aerospace and land transportation industries.
This technical program accepts about 42 students per year, who are divided into two tech classes of 21 students. To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet certain criteria including academic marks, skills, and pass an interview process that assesses their interest in the field.
But Bramalea’s head of the technology department, Derek Holseth, adds that to encourage more participation from underrepresented groups, the school board has implemented special admission criteria. If applicants self-identify as African, Black, First Nations, Inuit or Métis, and meet criteria for admission, they are automatically granted an offer to the join the program.
Is trucking popular?
However, this is not a journey without bumps on the road.
“One of the hurdles was trying to show parents and students, especially at Grade 9, that this is it’s actually a good industry to be in,” says Eugene Odoardi, one of the transportation teachers. “When you say trucking coach, a lot of parents look at it, [saying], ‘Oh, it’s a dirty industry,’ or, ‘I don’t really want my child getting into this.’ But when you introduce it as a transportation industry, now they are saying, ‘OK, well, there’s a lot of opportunities here.’ And then once they get in, they see that the trucking coach industry really isn’t a dirty industry.”
Bramelea transportation program students with their teachers in the shop. (Photo: Krystyna Shchedrina)
Connor and Nefi, both Grade 12 students who are currently completing their co-op at the Rush Truck Centre in Mississauga, Ont., say trucking was not among their career choices prior to enrolling in the program.
“I grew up liking cars and was used to working on things. I was always like, ‘Oh cars, I gotta work on cars.’ But I didn’t even think of the fact that these trucks need to be worked on, too,” recalls Connor. “In the program, you hear a lot about it. But outside of the program, no one really talks about it that often.”
Nefi had a similar experience. He got into the program because he is a hands-on person who always loved taking stuff apart and putting it back together, but he was always intrigued by the auto industry.
“But as soon as I learned more about the truck and coach industry, I kind of went off,” he says.
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
While the regional program exposes students equally to different aspects of transportation, including marine, land, and aero transport, about half of the students graduate with more interest in trucking, and the rest pursue careers in the automotive and aerospace industries, says Elizabeth Helme, Bramalea’s co-op teacher.
Students also have a chance to apply to take part in an accelerated OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) that is run in collaboration with schools like Centennial College.
“[Students] will get their 310-T Level 1 [apprenticeship] by the time they’re 17,” says Helme. Usually, this program takes eight weeks, but it is spread out for students over several months, running from January to June.
She explains that on Fridays, Centennial instructors come to the school to teach the theoretical components. And then on Monday, students take a bus out to the Scarborough campus to apply theory to practice. And from Tuesday to Thursday, they continue their apprenticeship at their current job placements.
Thriving on partnerships
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the program, which relies heavily on community support, had strong industry partnerships, said Holseth and Helme. According to them, nearly 80% of all the equipment in the shop is donated by industry players like Penske, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Thermo King, and others.
Meanwhile, local shops and fleets like Bison, Midland, and smaller local companies, helped by accepting co-op students. Some, says Helme, ended up hiring the students after graduation. For example, she recently got in touch with a former student who has been at Bison for nearly four years.
Odoardi recalls that prior to the pandemic, Cummins also partnered with the school. Two licensed certified technicians would come to the shop weekly to work with students.
“Unfortunately, that kind of fell apart during Covid,” he says. “Making those connections again is taking a little more time now.”
But cultivating relationships can be done in several ways, says Holseth. One key aspect is securing co-op placements for students. Building awareness about career opportunities is a crucial part of the program, too. Students start at around 12 years old and grow up in the program, graduating at 17 or 18 years of age.
Students working on a truck in the shop. (Photo: Krystyna Shchedrina)
“Part of that growing up is learning about career opportunities, like where do they excel and where are they going to benefit society,” he said, further noting that supporting the community fund with donations can facilitate student advancement into trades through scholarships for apprenticeship achievement or entry into trade industries.
“These funds help students to take the next step,” Holseth said, adding it assists with purchasing tools, educational expenses, transportation, and other necessary costs as students transition into the trade.
Donations needed
Partnerships also involve inviting guest speakers and providing students with up-to-date training. This may not always involve acquiring new equipment directly; sometimes it’s about demonstrations or field trips to facilities.
(Photo: Krystyna Shchedrina)
Community partners might support the program by donating training modules and equipment.
Transportation teachers, Odoardi and Tony Martini, are currently seeking donations of small and medium-duty engines and essential components to enhance their high school training programs.
Both teachers say four-cylinder diesel engines suitable for the young learners, as well as engines from medium-duty trucks, like Hino or Isuzu, are on their wish list.
Martini adds that components such as starters, alternators, wheel-ends, and air brake system parts, which undergo frequent use and need regular replacement to keep up with rigorous educational use, are also essential for the curriculum.
Staying current
As technology and tools evolve as well, the call for updated equipment becomes ever more significant, as employers look for skilled talent familiar with the latest equipment.
For example, Connor said that one thing that surprised him at the co-op placement was the extent of computer usage to run reports on trucks, check for diagnostic codes and identify potential issues.
“We use a computer on every truck at least once,” he said. “I figured it would be hands-on heavy work, but not so much anymore, just because of where the industry is now.”
Such ‘health checks’ are something students, too, get into in Grade 12, explains Odoardi, adding that while they try updating the computer they have as much as possible, there is not much left to do when the hardware gets old. For example, its last scanning tool was bought seven years ago.
“Everything starts at safety, and it ends and safety. The everything in between is really the bonus.”
Tony Martini
But being tech-savvy is not the only thing that matters. For some time now, the industry has been putting more emphasis on the safety aspect of the job. And Helme says many employers that provide co-ops for Bramalea students are impressed with the training they receive.
A great emphasis is placed on safety during the training. (Photo: Krystyna Shchedrina)
“Any module or any activity they do in the shop or in the classroom, it always starts from a safety aspect,” says Martini. “Even if they’re a Grade 12 student, and it’s their last week, if they’re doing something that doesn’t meet our safety requirements, we stop them immediately. So, everything starts at safety, and it ends with safety. The everything in between is really the bonus.”
Odoardi shares that earlier in his career, he had his own shop and also worked as a trainer for Shell Canada where he developed safety training, saying he transferred all his knowledge into the program.
Any equipment that gets installed at Bramalea’s shop goes through a ‘rigorous’ safety inspection by the school board and safety protocols are set in place for tech courses.
The school also provides them with safety training for various certifications like CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and first response, as well as out fall protection, lockout tagout, and more.
Learning process
At the time of our visit to the school, Grade 11 students were working in a shop with Odoardi. He told TruckNews.com that most recently, the students have been learning about air brake systems, the AC air circuits, and foundation brakes.
“They learned the foundation brakes, and basically, they jacked the truck up, they blocked it, hold the wheels, pulled the drums, removed the whole brake assembly, and then they did a brake inspection,” he explained. “Now, they’re reinstalling everything. So, they’re going to put all the brake system back together, put the wheels back on the truck, and put the vehicle back down.”
Eugene Odoardi cheers students on, assisting them in the shop. (Photo: Krystyna Shchedrina)
The teachers use a blend of instructional videos and live demonstrations to teach students before allowing them to work on vehicles, but many of these students are much better hands-on learners than they are visual learners, Odoardi observes.
However, some students grasp the theory in the classroom, but feel overwhelmed during the practical part. In such cases, teachers are available to work with these students a little more and assist them should they have any difficulties.
The mixed delivery really does work for the kids. Several students that are currently in their co-ops say they are well-prepared for the job and say the program has given them a head start in their careers.
“It really helps you find what your passion is [and] it really hones out what trade you want to go into. It just like really helps you in deciding what you want to do as a career,” Nefi said.
Neal Holsomback is rooting for his son Jay who is competing at this year’s Shell Rotella SuperRigs. The elder Holsomback knows a thing or two about winning truck beauty contests.
“I won the tractor trailer division in 1999 and was featured in the 2000 Shell Rotella calendar,” he said. Holsomback also won an award in 2005 in the classic division.
Neal Holsomback and his son Jay during Shell Rotella SuperRigs at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tex. (Photo: Leo Barros)
Loads of chrome, paint and lights along with almost non-stop polishing and buffing have been on display for the past two days at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tex. Truckers with their families, friends and supporters are showcasing their big rigs while gathering as a community to celebrate their way of life.
Daily cleaning
Winnipeg-based Jade Transport driver Andrew Worth was busy cleaning his truck after a downpour and was deliberating whether he would enter the judging lane on the first day of the competition or wait for the weather to improve. He decided to get judged later in the evening.
Worth said he keeps the truck and tanker trailer clean by wiping it down daily and getting the rig washed whenever possible. “It’s a daily routine, I try and keep everything organized and spend a bit of time and don’t let things get built up,” he said.
A cabover sits in the judging lane. (Photo: Leo Barros)
Tarik Al-Amin, competing with a limited mileage Freightliner cabover, said his is competing to support his son who enjoys the truck show circuit. He added it’s a lot easier to stay on top of things if the truck is cleaned regularly.
With more than 110 trucks in the mix, competition is fierce this year and a big rig must be truly special to be chosen as a SuperRig.
Judges Mike Gaffin, Eric Harley and Jami Jones inspect a contestant’s truck. (Photo: Leo Barros)
Judge Eric Harley said it is all in the details. Judges look at the truck’s application and if it’s working regularly, and check if drivers are maintaining it.
Judge Jami Jones agreed. “All these trucks are beautiful, details elevate them to the next level,” she said. “It’s never going to be perfect, but it has to be maintained properly.”
(Photo: Leo Barros)
Cleanliness is very important as well. Jones added that sometimes it boils down to a point or two in choosing a winner.
Cleanliness is number one when trucker and judge Mike Gaffin rates a truck. “You can’t miss wiping off a wheel cover. You will have to go under your truck and clean off the grease,” he said.
(Photo: Leo Barros)
Working trucks will have chips, scrapes and dents. Judges will pay close attention to whether those have been worked upon. A touch of paint and polish shows that the rig is being maintained.
The mood was festive during the event celebrating the trucking community. The parking lot was dotted with camp chairs and coolers as families soaked in the atmosphere.
(Photo: Leo Barros)
Shell Rotella is keen to support truckers, their community and aims to strengthen the relationship with them while understanding their industry, said Julie Wright, Shell Rotella brand manager.
“SuperRigs gives us an opportunity to celebrate them, enjoy time with them and thank them for the work they do to keep the country moving,” Wright said.
The Trucking Association of New York is calling NYC congestion pricing a violation of the constitution that would put a “financial burden” on the industry.
The toll plan proposed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would charge semi trucks using an EZPass between $24 and $36 every time they enter the Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday. Commercial trucks would also be charged between $6 and $9 overnight. Cars would be charged a flat rate of $15 once a day, no matter how many times they enter and exit the designated area. The NYC congestion pricing is set to begin on June 30th, reported CBS.
The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) alleges in a lawsuit that the NYC congestion pricing violates the Commerce Clause of the constitution, which allows Congress “to regulate Commerce… among the several States.” The lawsuit cites the Federal Aviation Act of 1994, which “sets forth that a State may not enact or enforce a law, regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law related to prices, routes, or services of motor carriers with respect to the transportation of property.”
The lawsuit also alleges that the NYC congestion pricing “imposes a financial burden on TANY trucks which is not a fair approximation of their use of the Central Business District,” and “a financial burden on TANY trucks which is excessive in relation to the benefit conferred upon them.”
The lawsuit also refers to the NYC congestion pricing plan as a “scheme for which there is no prior precedent in this country.”
“Any state regulation that interferes with a motor carrier’s rates, routes, services in this way is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act,” said attorney for TANY Brian Carr.
“This is unfair to the trucking industry and the businesses that rely on us … It charges us more than passenger vehicles, and it charges us every time we go into the zone, and we are non-discretionary travel. We have to make those deliveries at the time that our customers demand it,” said director of Metro Region Operations for TANY, Zach Miller.
Supporters of the NYC congestion pricing plan claim that the trucking industry will benefit from the plan because “they will be able to do the same trip in less time. They will be able to do more trips per shift, and they also will distribute the costs among their customers,” said Rachel Weinberger, with the Regional Plan Association.
The MTA says the plan is necessary to cut down on traffic and fund improvements to mass transit in the city.
A truck driver took out a couple of gas pumps after pulling into the wrong part of a gas station in Ohio earlier this week.
The incident occurred on May 29th at about 8:20 p.m. at the Pilot on Salt Springs Road in Wethersfield, Ohio.
According to the Weathersfield Police Department, the truck driver pulled into a gas pump stall designed for passenger vehicles only, and then attempted to turn around. The attempt resulted in damage to two pumps and a portion of the roof over the pumps.
Police were called to the scene after the incident. It is unclear what citations, if any, were issued to the truck driver. No further information has been released.
A cattle hauler managed to keep the whole rig upright following a fatal, head-on wreck with a motorist.
The crash happened on Friday, May 31st at about 6:45 a.m. on State Route 101 and 529 East Main Street in Wellsville, Utah.
According to 2 KUTV, a semi truck hauling cows was heading east on SR 101 when a westbound sedan drifted into its lane, causing a head on collision. The force of the impact sent both vehicles skidding off of the roadway and into roadside ditches. The truck driver managed to keep the rig upright, despite coming to a stop at an approximately 20 degree angle.
The truck driver and the cows were not hurt in the incident, but the motorist was found unresponsive and pinned beneath the dashboard inside of his car. He was extricated and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
SR 101 was shut down for several hours as crews worked to investigate the crash and clear the wreckage.
Officers say that the motorist was driving home from work at the time of the crash, but it is unclear whether driver fatigue was a factor in the wreck. No further information has been released.
It’s time for a video tour of this luxury Volvo VNL with a 192″ ARI Legacy sleeper.
The video tour of the roomy Volvo VNL was shared by InterUnetAutomotive on April 27, 2024.
After providing a good look at the exterior, the video takes you inside for a look at the truck’s interior features, which include a shower/toilet combination, a kitchen area with tons of counter space and a sink, and a full size refrigerator.
You’ll also see a clothes closet, tons of storage space, and a dining area that turns into a sleeping spot when the bed is folded down.
Trucking news and briefs for Friday, May 31, 2024:
Einride orders 150 electric Class 8 Peterbilts
Einride has placed an order for 150 Peterbilt 579EV battery-electric trucks.Peterbilt
Peterbilt this week announced its largest electric vehicle order to date –150 Model 579EVs from Einride, a developer of digital, electric and autonomous freight technology. This order will strengthen electric heavy-duty fleets across the US as they are deployed with Einride’s customers, Peterbilt said.
“We are proud to announce this partnership with Peterbilt and Rush Peterbilt Truck Centers as we combine our technology platform with their premium hardware to provide a market leading offering as we collaborate on the future of electric freight,” said Niklas Reinedahl, general manager North America at Einride. “Bringing new technology to market is imperative to enabling the switch to electric freight operations and we look forward to seeing this further scale Einride’s footprint in the market.”
Einride’s turnkey Freight Capacity as a Service solution provides customers a seamless, efficient switch to electric transportation with its ability to integrate electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and Einride Saga, the digital freight platform, the company said.
Since 2020, Einride has been operating electric large-scale fleets, and now, this fleet of Peterbilt electric vehicles will service Einride’s North America customers.
“Peterbilt is a leader in commercial vehicle electrification and offers the industry’s most complete lineup of electric vehicles,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president. “Our focus on creating reliable zero-emissions solutions enable Einride to electrify end-user fleets and support reducing tailpipe emissions in the transportation industry.”
New York trucking association files lawsuit over congestion tolls
The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) Thursday filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over its soon-to-be-implemented congestion pricing framework in New York City, arguing the congestion pricing policy unfairly targets trucking and logistics companies, which are charged far higher rates than passenger vehicles.
Under the finalized plan, trucks would be subject to a charge of $24 or $36 per trip into the congestion zone below 60th Street in Manhattan, depending on their size, compared to just $15 per day for passenger vehicles.
“The MTA’s reckless congestion pricing policy ignores the warnings and counsel of industry experts on both sides of the Hudson, who warn that the discriminatory way trucks and logistics companies are targeted by the plan will increase costs for residents everywhere,” said Kendra Hems, president of the Trucking Association of New York.
While the goal of the plan is ostensibly to reduce vehicle traffic during business hours, the MTA is also required to raise at least $1 billion per year with congestion pricing, per a legislative directive from Albany – meaning the agency is incentivized to maximize revenue by targeting those with inelastic schedules, like trucks. Hems noted MTA’s plan “ultimately used our essential, hard-working members as a tool to meet their arbitrary funding requirements.
The trucking industry moves nearly 90% of goods in New York’s five boroughs and has delivery schedules set by the businesses they serve, and a 2017 study conducted by the MTA itself found that reducing commercial vehicle tolls in off-peak hours has no impact on vehicle crossing times, underscoring that trucks enter New York City when they have to, not when they want to.
“My drivers would benefit more than most by having less vehicle traffic on the New York City streets, but those drivers have far fewer options – after all, they can’t move heavy freight via the subway or Metro North,” said Joe Fitzpatrick, founder of Lightning Express Delivery Service and vice chair of TANY’s Board of Directors. “As any responsible business does, we deliver when our customers ask us to deliver, which is during prime business hours. That will not change now, but what will change is higher costs for New Yorkers as a result.”
Port of Oakland eyes federal grant for zero-emission transition
The Port of Oakland and a coalition of 20 partners have applied for a federal grant that will fast-track the Oakland Seaport’s conversion to 100% zero-emission cargo handling operations.
The Port and its clean energy partners are seeking a $417 million grant through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program: Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition.
The Port’s proposal is called “Community Led, Business Supported, Proven and Ready to Go! Transforming the Port of Oakland to Zero Emissions.” The project would significantly advance industry and community goals to transition to zero-emissions operations and strengthen longstanding relationships to meet shared goals, the Port said.
The Port is working closely with 20 community-based organizations, workforce development organizations, marine terminals, Port users, and industry leaders on the proposal. It will support emissions reductions and climate adaptation initiatives that will benefit the region’s industry-impacted communities in East and West Oakland, while advancing a community-verified and air district-supported, air-monitoring system to measure project effectiveness and outcomes.
The Port proposes a project cost up to $586 million, to include the replacement of approximately 760 pieces of equipment with zero-emissions (ZE) equipment (battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell) including:
482 drayage trucks
179 yard tractors
59 forklifts
33 front end loaders
Five reach stackers
One rail car mover
Another major component of the proposal will be partnering with three local workforce development organizations to support green skills and train drivers on how to operate and maintain the newest zero-emissions equipment and vehicles and supporting infrastructure. In addition, the project includes a Truck Loaner Program, which will provide zero-emissions trucks to independent owner-operators and fleets operating in disadvantaged communities – at no cost to the trucker.
Latest Bendix Fusion system now available on select Kenworth trucks
The latest version of the Bendix Fusion safety technology system is now available on select Kenworth trucks, Bendix announced Wednesday. Bendix Fusion now includes new features and enhanced capabilities, building on long-standing and road-proven advanced driver assistance technologies, the company said.
Bendix Fusion has been available on a growing range of Kenworth models since 2016 and has been standard on select Kenworth trucks – including its on-highway flagship T680 model – since 2018. Built on the foundation of the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program full-stability system, Fusion gathers input through radar, video, and brakes, combining and cross-checking the data from sensors that are working together and not just in parallel.
By creating a more detailed assessment from this information, Fusion delivers collision mitigation on moving and stationary vehicles while prioritizing alerts to help reduce driver distraction.
The new Bendix Fusion system features a new radar, which allows the system to add a new feature – ACB Stop and Auto-Go (with pedestrian cancel) and service brake hold. The new radar also allows Bendix to update this generation of Fusion’s key functionalities – autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and stationary vehicle braking. In the cab, drivers will notice new dashboard-integrated messaging designed for even easier understanding.
Like previous versions, the latest Fusion can provide multi-lane AEB, highway departure warning and braking, active cruise with braking (ACB), following distance alerts, lane departure warning, and alerts when speeding.
ACB Stop and Auto-Go is only available with cruise control on and set, according to TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions – Controls. If a detected vehicle ahead slows to a stop, the system can automatically de-throttle the engine, activate the engine retarder and apply the service brakes to bring the truck to a full stop.
“ If the forward vehicle resumes moving within a few seconds – and if the system does not detect a pedestrian or object between your truck and that vehicle – your vehicle may accelerate back up to the previously set cruise control speed while maintaining the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you,” Thomas added
Fusion with ACB Stop and Auto-Go is available on select Kenworth T680 powertrains with automated transmission.
The latest Bendix Fusion also includes a new function: Service Brake Hold. If the system intervenes with service brakes and the truck comes to a full stop, the service brakes will now hold the vehicle at a stop until the driver takes action.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced Aug. 25-31 as the dates for this year’s Brake Safety Week.
CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the week. This year, the focus will be on the condition of brake linings and pads.
Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and could affect a motor carrier’s safety rating, CVSA says in its announcement. It adds that some jurisdictions have performance-based brake testers (PBBT) and will be using them during the Brake Safety Week.
(Photo: iStock)
Commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related violations will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.
According to CVSA, brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage of all out-of-service vehicle violations cited during roadside inspections. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2023 vehicle violation data shows that six out of the Top 20 vehicle violations were brake-related.
Meanwhile, last year’s CVSA International Roadcheck results showed that brake-system violations were the top vehicle violations, comprising 25.2% of all out-of-service violations.
