Police say they were disturbed by the findings of a recent truck compliance sweep.

Officers from the inter-state Joint Traffic Taskforce charged four truck drivers and handed out over 23 infringement notices during their a crack down on dangerous heavy vehicles.

The most recent sweep sought non-compliance of vehicle and loading standards, and saw drug and alcohol testing of drivers.

In the Daroobalgie area of NSW alone, the taskforce found four drivers who had severely exceeded their allowed working hours, as well as 11 unregistered trucks.

One Volvo B-double on the Newell Highway was particularly bad.

Inspections revealed a 200 litre barrel of an unnamed substance had ruptured on board, leaked throughout the length of the truck and along the roadway.

The same truck featured restraint breaches and other defects.

HAZMAT personnel had to be called in to deal with the spill, and the road surface is expected to require extensive repair work.

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Assistant Commissioner John Hartley says truck drivers should get their acts together.

“The Joint Traffic Taskforce is there to ensure that heavy vehicles are safe on our roads,” he said.

“The Taskforce should not be doing the work of owners and operators in ensuring proper load management and vehicle compliance.

“What we will do is take action against those that continue to fail themselves, their staff, and other road users.

“Recent heavy vehicle fatal crashes and court outcomes should serve as a warning to those drivers, owners, operators, and all of those in the supply chain as to what the consequences can be.

“We need the industry to take ownership of their own compliance, and help us drive down the road toll in NSW,” he said.