A record number of Australian truck drivers are under the influence while behind the wheel, according to Victoria Police reports.

Figures show more than 150 truck drivers tested positive for drugs last year, with approximately one in 15 of those tested being caught for substance use.

Meanwhile, VicRoads has stripped 11,000 heavy duty licenses from truck drivers for offences like speeding and drug-use.

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Victorian truckies are also being investigated over a drug syndicate, with claims ice and speed are being sold to heavy haul drivers.

Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill says police are looking into claims truck drivers are using codewords over two-way radios to sell the drugs to other drivers across Victoria.

“There is an ongoing investigation to look at organised trafficking of ice in that (the trucking) sector,” Mr Hill told Fairfax Radio on Tuesday.

He says while police believe the syndicate is predominantly Victorian based, they are also investigating international connections

Truck drivers are often expected to work long hours with a tight schedule, with one driver telling News Corp drugs like speed and ice were a “tool” to help truck drivers do their job.

Police said truck drivers were sometimes driving for more than 16 hours a day and used illicit drugs to stay awake.

According to the report, fatal incidents involving heavy vehicles jumped by a whopping 90 per cent to 59 accidents.

— with AAP