A team of about 16 police staff stopped 760 vehicles at a checkpoint at the Cromwell entrance to the gorge between 4.30am and 8.30am yesterday.
Police checked drivers had correct licences and vehicles were warranted and safe and were pleased to find almost no unroadworthy vehicles - and no drunk drivers.
Its Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit tested the safety of large trucks and also checked how long the drivers had worked as an indicator of driver fatigue.
Police Otago Lakes Central area road policing manager Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said a truck and trailer unit was identified as having a significant structural fault in the trailer which needed to be welded before it could continue.
''There could have been some major potential implications had the trailer come away from the truck. It could have had some disastrous results.''
Police found a few minor infringements but overall ''the results were pretty good'', he said.
It was too early yesterday to say how many tickets were issued.
''We also breath-tested the drivers as a matter of course and it was good to see there were no positive tests for alcohol in any of the vehicles.
''Overall, Police was pleased to find the majority of vehicles were in roadworthy condition.''
The site was chosen because about 4000 vehicles used the gorge each day, he said.
''It is a major route for commuters as well as commercial vehicles, so any crashes that occur on that stretch of road, apart from there being a risk of serious injury or fatals, it also closes the road for an extended period of time which has a major effect on the public and commercial goods transports.''
''All drivers ... do a walk around your car and check for faults. Are your tyres up to scratch, are there any obvious faults? A current warrant of fitness is always a good start.''
