Sydney inspectors say they've caught truckies carrying cars piled three deep, and held on with only basic chains, during a five-day heavy vehicle blitz.
NSW Police and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) ran Operation Steel 5 from Monday until Friday, inspecting 592 prime movers and 442 trailers.
A total of 681 mechanical faults, including 60 major defects, were detected.
Five vehicles had to be grounded.
NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander John Hartley said some truck drivers were caught using basic chains to tie down multi-tonne loads.
"A number of trucks were identified carrying three or four car bodies on the one flat bed, with only basic chains and restraints preventing them falling off and causing mayhem," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said in a statement on Friday.
"We continue to be stunned and disappointed by the number of heavy-vehicle drivers who fail to obey even the most basic rules of the road."
The blitz was launched the day before a deadly multi-vehicle smash in southwest Sydney.
Tuesday's crash, involving a truck and five cars on the Hume Highway near Campbelltown, killed the 57-year-old truck driver.
Fourteen others, including a month-old baby and two toddlers, were admitted to hospital.
Following the smash, Operation Steel 5 inspectors examined 17 prime movers and 11 trailers from the company that owned the truck at the centre of Tuesday's crash.
They allegedly identified 45 faults relating to brakes, suspension, wheels and tyres, chassis, oil and fuel leaks, tow couplings, ancillary equipment and steering.
RMS director of safety and compliance Peter Wells said the Joint Heavy Vehicle Taskforce would now scrutinise warehouses where trucks were being loaded.
"Companies that load, send and receive freight can and will be held equally liable," he said.
"These companies and their directors need to take their roles seriously and accept responsibility."
