Freight Pulse & Law: Brake Safety Week Blitz + DOT Codifies English Proficiency Rule

Shippers and carriers should prepare now for heightened DOT and FMCSA enforcement. CVSA Brake Safety Week runs August 23–29, 2026, while new federal proposals and ELD actions increase compliance pressure across the trucking and logistics sector.

What will inspectors target during Brake Safety Week?

Certified inspectors across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will focus on brake drums and air-disc brake rotors, including cracks, excessive wear, corrosion, damage, and improper repairs.

Key facts:

• Brake-related out-of-service violations can sideline a vehicle until repairs are completed.

• During Brake Safety Week 2025, inspectors conducted 15,175 inspections and placed 2,296 vehicles out of service for brake violations, according to CVSA results.

• Last year’s drum-and-rotor focus produced 113 violations, with 39 trucks removed from service specifically for those defects, according to TruckingInfo.

• The 2026 CVSA focus makes preventive maintenance essential.

What does FMCSA’s ELP proposal change?

The DOT’s August 10 NPRM, docket FMCSA-2026-0826, proposes codifying English Language Proficiency failures as an explicit out-of-service violation. FMCSA estimates the enforcement approach could affect approximately 9,000 drivers annually, with a limited exception for trips confined to U.S.–Mexico border commercial zones.

FMCSA is also removing non-compliant ELDs. Carriers must verify every device against the Registered Devices list, replace revoked units by the applicable deadline, and maintain compliant backup records.

The non-domiciled CDL rule remains in effect while litigation proceeds toward September 15 oral arguments in the D.C. Circuit.

How should shippers prepare?

• Audit carrier safety ratings through FMCSA SAFER.

• Confirm preventive brake inspection records before tendering freight.

• Verify carrier ELD status and driver documentation.

• Use PrePass where appropriate, but do not treat bypass technology as a substitute for maintenance.

• Build contingency capacity for vehicles placed out of service.

Lanta Logistics helps shippers manage carrier compliance, transportation execution, and supply chain visibility through 3PL services and FlowOps, our logistics software for real-time operational control.