FIRE crews including five CFA tankers and one FRV firefighting appliance took several hours to clear an incident on the Hume Freeway northbound, near the turn-off to Tarrawingee, on Sunday.

The driver of the rigid tautliner was able to escape his vehicle unharmed and call triple zero when the incident occurred at about 11.30am.

District 23 acting assisting chief fire officer Paul Scragg said the truck was carrying miscellaneous goods consisting of plastic tables and gym gear which took some time to extinguish.

"We were there for several hours because items from the truck had to be removed and extinguished," Mr Scragg said.

"We are still determining how the fire started."

All northbound traffic had to be managed by police during the incident.