Antonios Maounis Van Eldik, who now works with a landscaping company, walked free from Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday after being given a five-month wholly suspended jail term.
The 53-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by negligent driving as well as driving with an illicit drug in his blood.
He was behind the wheel of a heavy truck on Hobart's Bowen Bridge on September 27, 2024, when he reached down to pick up a cigarette he had dropped at his feet.
Van Eldik didn't notice traffic had stopped in front of him before ploughing into a car containing Max and Jan Tonks and their daughter.
The pair, who were both in their 80s, died at the scene, while their daughter as well as other people in vehicles further ahead were injured.
Magistrate Catherine Geason said Van Eldik had six previous driving matters between 2009 and 2024, including driving while disqualified and with methamphetamine in his system.
Since the fatal crash, he has been caught driving without a seatbelt and while using a phone.
He had taken methylamphetamine two days before the crash during birthday celebrations, the court was told, which was detected in a blood test.
Ms Geason said the Tonks' daughter suffers severe post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, anxiety and depression.
"(She was) very close with her parents ... the impact for her will continue to be deeply felt," Ms Geason said.
Ms Geason accepted Van Eldik, who she described as an experienced truck driver, had expressed deep remorse and had written an apology letter to the Tonks and others injured.
"Obviously you will have to live with the consequences of your negligence forever," Ms Geason said.
"The community expects drivers in your situation to exercise due care."
Ms Geason said Van Eldik's early guilty plea, genuine remorse and the fact he was a partial carer for his wife were taken into account during sentencing.
The five-month sentence was suspended on the condition he doesn't commit a jailable offence for two years.
He was also ordered to be on a one-year community correction order, complete 100 hours of community service and be subject to home detention for four months on the drug charge.
Van Eldik, who had been on bail after the crash, was disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years.
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