As Brake Safety Week rolls into gear, a new generation of truck drivers is giving the decades-old inspection blitz a glow-up. Gen Z drivers are taking their brake checks viral – with tarot cards, vape clouds, and brake pad unboxing videos set to lo-fi beats.
“I don’t touch a drum brake until I sage the axle,” said 23-year-old tanker driver and influencer Devin “BrakeBabe420” Martinez. “My followers expect that spiritual alignment comes before mechanical alignment.”
CVSA inspectors are trying to adapt. “We pulled over one guy who handed us a QR code to his brake check tutorial,” said Sergeant Pete Calhoun. “It was choreographed to a Doja Cat remix. I gave him a clean sheet and a follow.”
Instead of the usual chalk and flashlight, Gen Z mechanics bring phone tripods and ring lights to roadside inspections. A TikTok video showcasing a brake hose replacement, captioned “#NotJustAPrettyTractor,” has garnered over 3 million views.
But not everyone’s vibing.
“I asked a kid if he had an air brake endorsement, and he sent me a meme,” grumbled veteran DOT officer Sharon Blatz. “I don’t even know what ‘slay that PSI king’ means.”
Truck stops are reportedly seeing a surge in sales of pastel-colored torque wrenches and brake dust glitter filters.
The FMCSA issued a neutral-toned PSA: “While we support all efforts to promote brake safety, we remind drivers that astrology is not a certified diagnostic method.”
Still, Gen Z drivers insist their way works. “My brakes squealed, and Mercury was in retrograde,” said flatbed hauler Luna James. “So I adjusted the slack adjusters and blocked my ex. Now everything runs smoother.
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