Police expected to charge driver of truck that caught fire, causing traffic chaos on Princes Freeway

A Hoppers Crossing man is likely to be charged after losing control of his empty B-Double before it burst into flames at Werribee this morning.

The truck was travelling along the Princes Freeway, when the driver lost control, ploughed through road works and slammed into a concrete barrier.

The vehicle continued for about 100m, scraping the concrete and rupturing the fuel tank, before the driver ran for his life.

The 49-year-old tried to douse the flames with a small extinguisher but had to be pulled away by other motorists as the fire became out of control.

Fire crews responded to multiple calls of a truck on fire around 4.30am.

It took firefighters 40 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

The CFA issued a warning to surrounding residents to close their doors and windows due to the smoke. The warning has since been lifted.

The Princes Freeway was closed inbound for most of the morning, as crews mopped up diesel and cleared the debris. Heavy machinery was also brought in to tow the vehicle away.

The driver tested negative to drugs and alcohol. Police will investigate whether the driver, who was on his way home from Adelaide, fell asleep at the wheel.

He is expected to be charged on summons with careless driving.