Trucking company Cootes has grounded its Victorian fuel transporting fleet over safety concerns, only days after a third of its large NSW operation was ordered off the road when major defects were detected.
VicRoads officers inspected 32 trucks and trailers on Friday and found major defects in 25.
Safety checks on fuel tankers "revealed defects in brakes, shockers, air bags, loose bolts and oil leaks," VicRoads acting boss Peter Todd said.
"(Friday's) inspections are disappointing, however Cootes Transport management has agreed to immediately ground their fuel and LPG fleets voluntarily and will have all vehicles independently inspected for roadworthiness," he said.
It was "too early to say" whether grounding the fleet would affect fuel supply, Mr Todd said.
About 400 of the 1200 trucks in Cootes' NSW fleet were pulled from service on Monday.
NSW Transport Minister Duncan Gay ordered full compliance inspections for all fuel and LPG tankers in the state after spot checks identified major defects in 17 vehicles.
Cootes made headlines last October when one of its fuel tankers crashed in Mona Vale, in Sydney's north, resulting in the death of two people.
