Air line ruptures mid-inspection in Burnaby: what the RCMP found on a truck headed for a steep grade
A significant air leak, a partly applied spring brake and six hot brakes put the truck out of service before it reached the hill, along with seven tickets totalling $1,547.
A commercial vehicle stopped by Burnaby RCMP in early October lost its air brakes during a roadside inspection, minutes before it would have started down a steep hill. The detachment described the case in a November 9, 2026 release.
Officers stopped the truck northbound on Royal Oak Avenue as it approached the steep downhill grade at Oakmount Crescent. Police said the road is not a designated truck route.
What the inspector found
Cst. Kevin Connolly, Burnaby RCMP's Designated Commercial Vehicle Inspector, did a full inspection. According to the release:
- A significant air leak could be heard at the time of the stop.
- The truck was struggling to maintain normal air pressure.
- The spring brake (parking and emergency) was partially engaged.
- All six brakes were running hot, with a harsh burning smell.
During the inspection, the primary air line that was causing the leak ruptured and the air brake system failed. Police said that if it had happened on the descent, the driver likely would have lost all braking ability, with the risk of a catastrophic collision at or near the busy intersection of Royal Oak Avenue and Deer Lake Parkway.
Other violations
Officers also noted an overweight front axle, insecure cargo and a driver who was not wearing a seat belt. Seven tickets were issued for a total of $1,547. The truck was placed out of service and ordered to an inspection facility. The RCMP did not name the driver or the carrier.
The compliance takeaway
The warning signs in this case were the kind a driver can notice from the cab or during a walkaround: an audible leak, air pressure that will not hold, and hot brakes with a burning smell.
The other lesson is routing. The truck was on a road that is not a designated truck route, heading for a steep grade. Before taking a shortcut off the truck route, check the local bylaw map. Those roads were not chosen for heavy vehicles, and grades like this one leave no margin for an air system that is already failing.