BURNABY, B.C. - An overweight commercial vehicle with failing brakes, insecure cargo and an unbelted driver was placed out of service in Burnaby after its air brake system failed during a roadside inspection, RCMP say.
In early October, Burnaby RCMP officers stopped the commercial vehicle driving north on Royal Oak Avenue as it approached the steep downhill grade at Oakmount Crescent. The vehicle was travelling on a road that is not designated as a truck route, police said.
Cst. Kevin Connolly, Burnaby RCMP’s Designated Commercial Vehicle Inspector, conducted a complete inspection of the vehicle. At the time of the stop, a significant air leak was heard, the truck was struggling to maintain a normal air pressure level, and the spring brake was partially engaged with all six brakes running hot, creating a harsh burning smell.
During the inspection, the primary air line causing the air leak ruptured and the air brake system failed. Had that happened while the vehicle was descending the hill, police said, the driver likely would have lost all braking ability, potentially causing a catastrophic collision at or near the busy intersection of Royal Oak Avenue and Deer Lake Parkway.
The failed brakes were not the only problem. Officers also found an overweight front axle and insecure cargo, and the driver was not wearing a seat belt. In total, seven tickets were issued totalling $1,547. The vehicle was placed out of service and ordered to an inspection facility.
Why this matters
A loaded commercial vehicle that loses its brakes on a downhill grade is a danger to everyone below it, and this truck was stopped before it started down one of Burnaby’s residential slopes, above a busy intersection. Roadside commercial vehicle inspections exist to catch exactly this kind of failure before it becomes a collision, and this stop is a reminder to commercial operators across Metro Vancouver that overweight loads, unsecured cargo and deferred brake maintenance can end a trip on the spot.
The Burnaby RCMP is the city’s police service, and its commercial vehicle inspector conducts dedicated checks of trucks operating on Burnaby roads.
(Source: Burnaby RCMP, November 9, 2026)
You Might Like
