Washington, D.C. — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) issued its 2024 out‑of‑service (OOS) update on April 1, adding eleven new violation triggers that will affect every CDL‑A driver, owner‑operator and fleet manager who crosses a state line.
These changes aim to close loopholes that have let unsafe equipment slip through inspections for years. By standardizing language and adding concrete examples, CVSA hopes to give inspectors a clearer roadmap and give drivers a predictable set of rules that match FMCSA regulations.
Kerri Wirachowsky, CVSA’s director of inspection programs, explained that the brake‑system revisions grew out of “several situations during inspections where a missing bushing was discovered.” The agency now treats a missing camshaft bushing as one defective brake under the 20 % criterion, even when the brake does not appear out of adjustment. Wirachowsky cited at least two incidents where the camshaft jammed into the spider casting, rendering the brakes ineffective without obvious wear signs. To prevent confusion, CVSA will watermark all brake‑related pages, separating them from general brake regulations.
What This Means for Drivers
Truck drivers must verify that camshaft bushings are present and intact before heading to a weigh‑station; a missing piece will trigger an OOS stop regardless of brake feel. Trailer connections also face tighter scrutiny: a ball marked with its size coupled to an incorrect hitch now counts as a violation, while worn balls lacking size markings are exempt. Inspectors will no longer cite operating lights that work but are off at night, a concession that acknowledges drivers often keep lights off until an inspection begins. Auto‑inflation systems must maintain tread‑area pressure; a leak that does not cause a significant drop will not automatically result in an OOS, but any pressure loss beyond prescribed limits will. Finally, the upcoming Roadcheck will focus heavily on Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse compliance and tractor protection controls, and hazmat‑endorsed drivers will need to show TSA screening proof in states where CDLs are valid for more than five years.
Industry Reaction
Carrier groups have welcomed the clarification on brake bushings, noting that the previous “out of adjustment” language left too much room for interpretation. Owner‑operators appreciate the lighting concession, which removes a frequent source of paperwork delays. Some regional fleets expressed concern that the new trailer‑ball rule could increase downtime if mismatched hitches are not identified during pre‑trip inspections. Overall, the industry sees the updates as a push toward measurable safety rather than subjective judgment.
Key Points
- Missing camshaft bushings now count as one defective brake under the 20 % rule.
- Trailer balls must be correctly sized for the hitch; mismatched couplings are OOS violations.
- Functional operating lights left off at night no longer trigger an OOS.
- Auto‑inflation systems only cause OOS when pressure loss exceeds set thresholds.
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