Second emergency for truck driver in less than a week

A Christchurch-based truck driver must be wondering what is next after the truck and trailer unit he was driving caught fire near Dunedin on Wednesday night, less than a week after the engine of another truck he was driving blew up.

Late last week, the owner-driver was hauling refrigerated goods for Halls Refrigerated Transport when the side of the engine blew out.

Halls depot supervisor John Warburton said the driver, who did not want to be named, had ordered a replacement - a new truck - which was due to arrive early next month.

In the meantime, he hired a Volvo truck so he could continue his work for Halls, Mr Warburton said.

While it was hauling a B train on the Northern Motorway about 10.20pm on Wednesday, the truck caught fire and the driver had to abandon the vehicle at Pigeon Flat.

The driver was not injured, but the truck was extensively damaged.

Dunedin City fire station Deputy Chief Fire Officer Trevor Tilyard believed the fire might have been caused by a mechanical fault in the truck's turbo-charger.

Mr Warburton said it was not known whether the driver would tempt fate and hire another truck, or if he would just wait for his new one to arrive.

- john.lewis@odt.co.nz