Truckie double the limit

A logging truck driver stopped by police was found to be over the limit for drink driving.

A logging truck driver stopped by police for speeding was breath tested and found to be nearly double the legal alcohol limit for driving.

The incident has shocked senior police and trucking industry representatives, who say they take a zero tolerance approach to impaired driving.

The northbound truck driver was stopped on State Highway 1, near Mata south of Whangarei, about 5.15pm on Saturday.

Highway patrol Sergeant Chris Goodall said the truck driver was travelling at 100km/h and the maximum speed limit for heavy vehicles was 90km/h.

The truck did not have any logs but the trailer was being piggy-backed behind the truck cab.

It is routine for police to breath test all drivers stopped and the 51-year-old driver failed the roadside test.

He was taken to Whangarei Police station where he was tested again and recorded a breath alcohol level of 700 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath - the limit is 400mcg.

Because of the level his driver's licence was immediately suspended for 28 days. A friend came and collected the truck.

The Whangarei man was charged with driving with an excess breath alcohol level - third or subsequent - and will appear in the Whangarei District Court on October 2.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Murray Hodson said the situation had the potential to be absolutely catastrophic with alcohol and a speeding heavy vehicle.

He reassured the public that police would be enforcing the posted speed limits on Northland roads for all types of vehicles at any time of the day.

"The majority of truck drivers are law-abiding but there will always be some that stretch the rules at times."

Northern Freight Group spokesman Daron Turner said the industry had a "zero tolerance" approach to impaired driving.

He said numerous companies did regular random drug testing on truck drivers and logging truck drivers using the NorthPort facility, at Marsden Point, could be stopped and drug or alcohol tested at any time.