The short version
- Heavy vehicle drivers must stay under 0.02. That covers trucks over 13.9 tonnes GVM and combinations over 13.9 tonnes GCM.
- The same limit applies to dangerous goods vehicles and public passenger vehicles such as buses, taxis and rideshare.
- A first special range offence (0.02 or more) can mean an on-the-spot $722 fine and an immediate 3-month suspension.
- Higher readings and repeat offences go to court and can mean a disqualification, prison and an alcohol interlock.
- You must not refuse a breath test. Refusing carries penalties similar to high range drink driving.
In this article
- The Limit Is Lower Than Most Drivers Think
- Blood Alcohol Limits in NSW
- Why Is the Limit Lower for Truck Drivers?
- Can One Drink Put a Truck Driver Over the Limit?
- Penalties for Drink Driving in NSW
- What Is the Alcohol Interlock Program?
- Why Drink Driving Hits Truck Drivers Harder
- What To Do If You Are Charged
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Charged With Drink Driving in a Truck?
The Limit Is Lower Than Most Drivers Think
The blood alcohol limit for truck drivers in NSW is much lower than for ordinary drivers. If you drive a heavy vehicle, you must keep your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) under 0.02, less than half the 0.05 limit most car drivers know.
For many people, a single drink can be enough to reach 0.02. And even at the lowest level, being over the limit can cost you your licence on the spot.
Blood Alcohol Limits in NSW
Your limit depends on your licence and the vehicle you are driving:
Zero: learner, P1 and P2 drivers, including visiting drivers on an interstate or overseas learner or provisional licence.
Under 0.02: heavy vehicles over 13.9 tonnes GVM, vehicle and trailer combinations over 13.9 tonnes GCM, dangerous goods vehicles, and public passenger vehicles such as buses, coaches, taxis, rideshare and hire cars.
Under 0.05: drivers with a full licence, including fully licensed interstate and overseas drivers, who aren’t driving one of the vehicles above.
GVM (gross vehicle mass) is the most a vehicle can weigh when fully loaded. GCM (gross combined mass) is the same for a vehicle and its trailer together. Both are set by the manufacturer, not by what you are carrying on the day.
The limit follows the vehicle, not the driver.
A truck driver on the way home in their own car has the normal 0.05 limit. The same driver behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle must be under 0.02.
Why Is the Limit Lower for Truck Drivers?
Heavy vehicles take longer to stop, carry far more weight and do far more damage in a crash. Alcohol slows your reactions and affects your judgement, and in a vehicle that size small errors have big consequences. That is why NSW sets a stricter limit for heavy vehicles and for anyone carrying passengers or dangerous goods.
Can One Drink Put a Truck Driver Over the Limit?
Yes, it can. There is no number of drinks that is guaranteed to keep you under 0.02. Your BAC depends on things like:
- your body size and sex
- whether you have eaten
- how strong the drinks are and how fast you drink them
- your own metabolism
Alcohol also leaves your body slowly, and coffee, a shower or a few hours’ sleep won’t speed it up. If you drank the night before an early start, you could still be over 0.02 when you start your shift. The only safe approach is not to drink before you drive.
Penalties for Drink Driving in NSW
For a heavy vehicle driver, any reading of 0.02 or more is an offence. The penalty depends on the reading and whether it is your first offence. These are the penalties published by the NSW Government:
$722
On-the-spot fine for a first special or low range offence
3 months
Immediate suspension for a first special or low range offence
2 years
Maximum prison term for a repeat high range offence
First offence
Special range (heavy vehicles: 0.02 or more), low range (0.05 to under 0.08) and novice range
Maximum court fine: $2,200
Maximum prison: None
Automatic disqualification: 6 months
Interlock: No
Mid range (0.08 to under 0.15)
Maximum court fine: $2,200
Maximum prison: 9 months
Automatic disqualification: 12 months
Interlock: Yes
High range (0.15 or more)
Maximum court fine: $3,300
Maximum prison: 18 months
Automatic disqualification: 3 years
Interlock: Yes
Refusing a breath or blood test
Maximum court fine: $3,300
Maximum prison: None
Automatic disqualification: 3 years
Interlock: Yes
Second or subsequent offence
Special, low and novice range
Maximum court fine: $3,300
Maximum prison: None
Automatic disqualification: 12 months
Interlock: Yes
Mid range
Maximum court fine: $3,300
Maximum prison: 12 months
Automatic disqualification: 3 years
Interlock: Yes
High range
Maximum court fine: $5,500
Maximum prison: 2 years
Automatic disqualification: 5 years
Interlock: Yes
Refusing a breath or blood test
Maximum court fine: $5,500
Maximum prison: 18 months
Automatic disqualification: 5 years
Interlock: Yes
The automatic disqualification applies unless the court orders a different period within the limits the law sets. Police can also suspend your licence immediately for any drink driving offence, before your case is decided.
Charged with drink driving in a truck?
Get advice early. You may be able to challenge an immediate suspension, and preparation affects the penalty.
What Is the Alcohol Interlock Program?
An alcohol interlock is a breath-testing device connected to your vehicle’s ignition. The vehicle won’t start unless you pass a breath test. If you are convicted of mid range, high range or a repeat offence, the court must make an interlock order, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
- You serve a shorter disqualification, then hold an interlock licence for at least 12 months, and up to 48 months for repeat high range offences.
- A zero alcohol limit applies to every interlock driver.
- You can’t drive any vehicle that doesn’t have an interlock fitted.
- The NSW Government estimates the program costs $2,200 to $2,500 a year, plus a $200 licence fee.
For a professional driver, this can be a serious problem, because your employer’s trucks won’t have your interlock fitted. Get advice early about what an interlock order would mean for your work.
Why Drink Driving Hits Truck Drivers Harder
A suspension or disqualification takes away your whole licence, not just your heavy vehicle class. For a professional driver, that can mean:
- losing your job or your contracts
- a criminal record if a conviction is recorded
- problems with insurance and future employers who check your driving record
- an interlock requirement that makes driving work very difficult
Heavy vehicle drivers also have a duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law not to drive while impaired or unfit to drive, and many transport businesses have their own drug and alcohol policies with testing at work.
What To Do If You Are Charged
- Don’t drive if your licence was suspended. Driving while suspended is a separate, serious offence.
- Read your paperwork carefully. Check whether you have a penalty notice or a court attendance notice, and note any dates.
- Get legal advice early. A lawyer can tell you whether to accept a penalty notice or go to court, and whether an immediate suspension can be appealed.
- Start gathering evidence. References, a letter from your employer and proof of any steps you have taken, such as a traffic offender program, can help at sentencing.
- Prepare for the court date. The outcome can depend heavily on how your case is put to the magistrate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the alcohol limit for truck drivers in NSW?
Drivers of heavy vehicles over 13.9 tonnes GVM, or vehicle and trailer combinations over 13.9 tonnes GCM, must have a blood alcohol concentration under 0.02. The same limit applies to dangerous goods vehicles and public passenger vehicles such as buses, taxis and rideshare.
Does the 0.02 limit apply when I drive my own car?
No. The limit depends on the vehicle you are driving. If you hold a full licence and are driving an ordinary car, the 0.05 limit applies. It drops to under 0.02 when you drive a heavy vehicle.
What happens if a truck driver blows over 0.02?
A reading of 0.02 or more in a heavy vehicle is a special range offence. For a first offence, police can issue a $722 on-the-spot fine and suspend your licence immediately for 3 months. If it goes to court, the maximum fine is $2,200 and the automatic disqualification is 6 months.
Can I refuse a breath test in NSW?
No. You must not refuse a random breath test. Refusing a breath or blood test carries a maximum fine of $3,300 and an automatic 3-year disqualification for a first offence, and an interlock order applies.
Can I drive a truck with an alcohol interlock?
Interlocks can be fitted to heavy vehicles, but on an interlock licence you can only drive a vehicle that has your interlock fitted, and a zero alcohol limit applies. For most employed truck drivers, this makes driving work very difficult during the interlock period.
Charged With Drink Driving in a Truck?
For a professional driver, a drink driving charge puts your licence and your income on the line. Eric Navea is a traffic lawyer in Sydney and a former Senior Prosecutor at the NHVR who acts for truck drivers across NSW.
Eric will explain the penalties you are facing, whether an immediate suspension can be challenged, and what evidence will help your case. With the right preparation, you may be able to reduce the time off the road.
Received a penalty notice, a suspension or a court notice? Speak with Eric before you respond.
Speak With Eric Before You RespondDisclaimer
This article is general information only, current as at 16 October 2026, and is not legal advice. Penalty amounts can change. Your situation depends on your own facts, so speak with a lawyer before you pay a penalty notice or go to court.
