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Protesters are pleased most freight companies have agreed to self-impose lower speed limits on Port Chalmers' main road.

Last Thursday, 20 people spent an hour stopping trucks on a pedestrian crossing on George St to protest the limit, which they want lowered from 50kmh to 30kmh.

They said large trucks travelling at that speed were a hazard and shook the foundations of buildings on the road.

Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said yesterday all the main freight companies using the road had agreed to impose a 30kmh limit and he believed the last few would eventually follow. About 15 freight companies use the road.

Larger companies had GPS technology which could monitor vehicle speeds and smaller companies were taking the route of driver education.

''I'm very happy with the outcome of this. We're all very committed to public safety,'' Mr Winders said.

It was positive there would be no more disruptions to port operations, he said.

When asked if Port Otago would support the campaign to get NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to officially change the limit, he said that decision was not its to make.

Protest spokeswoman Keely McGlynn said she was ''very pleased'' with the response of Port Otago.

''We've noticed a change already. It's certainly much calmer on the street.''

Protesters stopped trucks to make their point about the speed limit in Port Chalmers last week. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

The group did not just want to target trucking companies.

''I guess they are the biggest perceived threat, but it's everyone that drives on the road.''

For the meantime, the group would halt protests and try to talk to freight companies. She hoped they would support a campaign to get the NZTA to change the limit to 30kmh.

The NZTA has said it has no intention of lowering the limit, as 50kmh was typical of all similar national strategic highways and no injury crashes had occurred.

The agency took ownership of the road and made it part of State Highway 88 in 1989 following the Local Government Reform.