August 2026 • Commercial Vehicle Inspection Update
August TLDR
Too Long, Didn’t ReadAugust’s important commercial vehicle inspection news centered on two CVSA updates. International Roadcheck results showed where vehicles were most often failing roadside inspections, and Brake Safety Week put additional attention on brake systems, drums and rotors. Here is the inspection and equipment information worth knowing.
23.5%
vehicle out-of-service rate across Roadcheck inspections that included the vehicle
39.1%
of vehicle out-of-service violations were related to brake systems or the 20% defective-brakes criterion
17,680
CVSA decals were applied to eligible vehicles and combinations with no critical inspection-item violations
Roadcheck Put More Than 10,000 Vehicles Out of Service
CVSA released its 2026 International Roadcheck results on August 25. During the three-day event, inspectors completed 44,047 Level I, Level II and Level V inspections that included an examination of the vehicle.
Inspectors placed 10,350 vehicles or vehicle combinations out of service after finding 13,924 vehicle out-of-service violations. That produced a 23.5% out-of-service rate among the inspections that included the vehicle. A single vehicle or combination could have more than one violation.
There was also a positive side to the results. Inspectors applied 17,680 CVSA decals in the United States and Canada to eligible vehicles and combinations that passed comprehensive inspections without critical mechanical or out-of-service violations.
Brakes Remained the Largest Vehicle Problem
Brake problems accounted for the largest share of vehicle out-of-service violations during Roadcheck.
- 3,379 out-of-service violations involved brake systems.
- 2,072 additional violations involved the 20% defective-brakes criterion.
- Combined, the two brake categories produced 5,451 violations.
- Brake-related problems accounted for 39.1% of all vehicle out-of-service violations recorded during the event.
The 20% criterion applies when 20% or more of the service brakes on a vehicle or combination have an out-of-service condition. The figures are violation counts, so they should not be read as 5,451 individual trucks.
Tires, Cargo Securement and Lights Rounded Out the Main Defects
Brakes were the largest category, but the rest of the leading vehicle violations were familiar roadside inspection problems.
- Tires: 2,914 out-of-service violations, or 20.9% of the vehicle total.
- Cargo securement: 1,724 violations, or 12.4%.
- Lights: 1,659 violations, or 11.9%.
Cargo securement was Roadcheck’s special vehicle focus for 2026. Inspectors looked for freight that was not adequately restrained, immobilized, locked, tied down, packed or monitored. Even so, tires still produced substantially more out-of-service violations than securement or lighting.
Commercial Vehicle Inspections Are Not Limited to Tractor-Trailers
Roadcheck also included 458 inspections of passenger-carrying commercial vehicles such as vans, minibuses, motorcoaches and buses.
Inspectors reported 207 safety violations in that group. Twenty-eight were vehicle out-of-service violations, and 49 passenger-carrying vehicles received CVSA decals.
Brake Safety Week Focused on Drums and Rotors
CVSA’s Brake Safety Week ran from August 23 through August 29 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Inspectors concentrated on commercial vehicle brake systems and components.
Inspection points included:
- Missing, loose, contaminated, cracked or non-functioning parts.
- Air leaks around brake components and lines.
- Over-stroking service brakes.
- Worn brake linings and pads.
- Broken or cracked drums and rotors.
- Inoperative tractor-protection systems.
- Rust holes, friction damage and broken spring-brake housing components.
The special emphasis for 2026 was brake drums and rotors. Vehicles found with a brake-related out-of-service condition were restricted from operating until the condition was corrected.
Source: CVSA 2026 Brake Safety Week
What We’re Watching Next
CVSA had not released the final 2026 Brake Safety Week results at the beginning of September. Those results are expected later this year and should provide a clearer picture of how often brake defects, including drum and rotor problems, placed vehicles out of service during the weeklong campaign.