What Happens If I Get Caught Speeding in a Truck?

In this article

1. What Is the Speed Limit for Trucks in NSW?
2. What Penalties Apply?
3. Heavy Vehicle Speeding Fines and Demerit Points
4. Double Demerits
5. Average Speed Cameras for Heavy Vehicles
6. How Many Demerit Points Can a Truck Driver Have?
7. When Will My Licence Be Suspended for Speeding?
8. What Happens If I Go to Court?
9. Can I Ask Revenue NSW for Leniency?
10. Are Trucks Required to Have Speed Limiters?
11. What Happens If a Speed Limiter Is Tampered With?
12. Can the Transport Business Also Be Liable?
13. Why Early Advice Matters
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Speak With Eric About Your Speeding Matter

Getting caught speeding in a truck in NSW is treated more seriously than speeding in a car. Heavy vehicles carry higher fines, and the most serious offences can lead to an immediate licence suspension.

For professional drivers who spend long hours on the road, even small speeding offences can add up quickly. One bad week can put your licence, and your income, at risk.

What Is the Speed Limit for Trucks in NSW?

In NSW, the maximum speed limit for any vehicle over 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is 100 km/h. This applies even on roads signposted at 110 km/h.

On some roads, such as steep descents, sharp bends and winding roads, special lower speed signs apply to trucks, road trains and buses. You must not exceed the speed shown on those signs.

What Penalties Apply?

If you are caught speeding in a heavy vehicle, you may face:

• a penalty notice (fine)
• demerit points
• a licence suspension
• court proceedings and licence disqualification in more serious cases.

The penalty depends on how far over the limit you were, the size of the vehicle, your licence type and whether double demerits or a school zone applied.

Heavy Vehicle Speeding Fines and Demerit Points

Heavy vehicles attract higher fines than cars. NSW groups heavy vehicles into two classes: vehicles over 4.5 tonnes GVM, and vehicles over 12 tonnes GVM. The heaviest trucks face the highest fines for serious speeding.

The amounts below are penalty notice amounts for 2025–26 for drivers on an unrestricted licence. Fines are indexed every 1 July, so always check the amount on your own notice.

For comparison, a car driver on a full licence caught up to 10 km/h over pays $149. A truck driver pays almost three times that for the same speed.

Higher fines and demerit points also apply in school zones. Learner and provisional licence holders receive at least 4 demerit points for any speeding offence.

Double Demerits

Double demerit points apply to all speeding offences during declared public holiday long weekends in NSW.

Average Speed Cameras for Heavy Vehicles

NSW uses average speed (point-to-point) cameras on major freight routes. These cameras record a heavy vehicle at two points and calculate its average speed between them.

When average speed evidence is used for a heavy vehicle speeding offence, the driver receives an extra demerit point on top of the usual points for that offence.

Heavy vehicle speeding can also be detected by fixed speed cameras, mobile speed cameras and police.

How Many Demerit Points Can a Truck Driver Have?

The demerit point limit for an unrestricted NSW licence is 13 points. Eligible professional drivers can apply to have their limit increased to 14 points.

If you reach your limit, your licence will be suspended. The suspension applies to every class on your licence, so you cannot keep driving trucks while suspended.

Read more in our guide: Can a Truck Driver Get a Work Licence in NSW?

When Will My Licence Be Suspended for Speeding?

Speeding by more than 30 km/h over the limit leads to a minimum 3-month licence suspension. Speeding by more than 45 km/h over leads to a minimum 6-month suspension.

If police catch you speeding by more than 45 km/h over, they can suspend your licence on the spot. You won’t be able to drive away. Police can also impound the vehicle or confiscate its number plates.

If a speed camera detects the offence, police cannot suspend your licence at the roadside. Instead, Transport for NSW will send you a Notice of Suspension.

If the offence also takes you to your demerit point limit, a second suspension can be added after the first one finishes.

What Happens If I Go to Court?

Serious speeding matters may end up in court, either because police charge you or because you elect to have a penalty notice decided by a court. If you are convicted, the court can impose the following maximum penalties:

A court disqualification also cancels your licence. You must reapply for a licence once the disqualification ends.

Can I Ask Revenue NSW for Leniency?

Usually not. Revenue NSW may not consider leniency for offences in heavy vehicles, or for speeding by more than 20 km/h. This means a good driving record alone is unlikely to get a heavy vehicle speeding fine withdrawn.

That makes your decision on whether to pay, seek a review on other grounds or go to court more important. Each option carries different risks.

Are Trucks Required to Have Speed Limiters?

Yes, many are. The following vehicles must be speed limited to 100 km/h:

• trucks with a GVM over 15 tonnes
• trucks with a GVM over 12 tonnes manufactured on or after 1 January 1991
• buses used for public passenger services over certain GVM thresholds.

What Happens If a Speed Limiter Is Tampered With?

Tampering with a speed limiter fitted to a heavy vehicle is an offence under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

Can the Transport Business Also Be Liable?

Yes. Under the HVNL chain of responsibility, speeding is not just the driver’s problem. Operators, employers, schedulers and others in the supply chain have a primary duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities.

That includes making sure schedules, rosters and payment arrangements do not require or encourage drivers to speed.

Maximum penalties for primary duty breaches (from 1 August 2026 to 30 June 2027) are:

In one NSW case prosecuted by the NHVR, a transport company, its managing director and a scheduler were fined a total of $210,000 in the Supreme Court for speed and fatigue-related breaches.

Why Early Advice Matters

If you have received a speeding fine, a Notice of Suspension or a court attendance notice while driving a heavy vehicle, the decisions you make early can affect the outcome. Strict time limits apply to licence appeals and court elections.

Early advice can help you:

• understand the fine, demerit points and suspension you are facing
• check whether an appeal, professional driver limit or good behaviour period is available
• decide whether to pay the fine or take the matter to court
• protect your licence and your ability to keep working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Speak With Eric About Your Speeding Matter

Eric Navea is a traffic lawyer in Sydney who acts for truck drivers and transport businesses across NSW in:

• heavy vehicle speeding offences
• licence suspensions and appeals
• speed limiter and vehicle standards matters
• chain of responsibility investigations
• Local Court proceedings.

You’ll understand the allegations, your options and the recommended strategy before making important decisions.

Speak with Eric before you pay the fine or your suspension starts.

Speak With Eric Before You Respond