Limitador de Velocidade Brasil: Speed Limiters for Caminhões, Carretas and Ônibus
Brazil moves almost everything by road. Soy and corn from Mato Grosso, sugar and ethanol from São Paulo, iron ore from Minas Gerais, containers to Santos, and passengers on routes that cross several states. The device that caps a vehicle’s road speed is called a limitador de velocidade. In English it is a speed limiter or speed governor.
AutoKontrol makes them in the UK. We are part of Scorpion Group, which has built vehicle electronics since 1973, and our units are ECE R89 type-approved. We ship direct to Brazilian fleets with fitting instructions, and the fleet fits the unit with its own oficina or a local auto-electrician. This page covers the speed limits your caminhões and ônibus run under, which limitador de velocidade suits which vehicle, and where it pays back.
Speed limits for caminhões, carretas and ônibus in Brazil
Under article 61 of the Código de Trânsito Brasileiro (CTB, Lei 9.503/1997), where there is no sign, the maximum speeds on rural roads are:
| Road | Cars, vans, motorcycles | Other vehicles (trucks, buses) |
|---|---|---|
| Dual carriageway (pista dupla) | 110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Single carriageway (pista simples) | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Dirt road (estrada de terra) | 60 km/h | 60 km/h |
A limitador de velocidade set at or below 90 km/h on a caminhão or carreta means the vehicle cannot drift above the limit on a long, empty descent. Fleets that want a stricter policy than the CTB ceiling can set the unit lower.
The tachograph and the limiter
Article 105 of the CTB requires a tachograph (registrador instantâneo inalterável de velocidade e tempo) on school transport vehicles, passenger vehicles with more than 10 seats and cargo vehicles over 4,536 kg GVW. Article 230 XIV makes driving with a tachograph that is “viciado ou defeituoso”, where one is required, a grave infraction.
The two devices do different jobs. The tachograph records what the vehicle did. A limitador de velocidade decides what it can do. Fleets that fit both have the record and the control, and the record shows the control working. For the full picture on CONTRAN rules, see Brazil CONTRAN speed limiter rules.
Compare Brazil with its neighbours in truck speed limits in Latin America by country.
Why Brazilian fleets fit a limitador de velocidade
Diesel por quilômetro. Distances are long, loads are heavy and fuel is a large share of operating cost. Speed has a strong effect on consumption, and a limiter takes the highest-consumption running off the table. Put your own numbers into the HGV fuel consumption calculator.
Rodovia safety. A loaded carreta takes a long time to stop. Capping speed gives the motorista margin on descents, in the wet and on night runs.
Insurance. A sealed limiter with tamper detection is something you can show a seguradora. A written policy alone is weaker.
Client and site rules. Ports, mills, mines and large shippers set speed rules for the transportadoras that serve them. A sealed limiter plus a speed record from TrackSpeed lets you show you meet them.
Driver behaviour. The limit holds whatever the pedal does, whoever the motorista is.
Which limitador de velocidade fits your vehicles
| Your vehicle or need | Fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caminhão, carreta or ônibus with an electronic throttle | DBW speed limiter | Electronic, works on the drive-by-wire throttle signal. Fit about 1.5 hours. |
| Older diesel with mechanical fuel control | System 80 | Mechanical, works on the fuel line. Fit about 60 minutes. Accuracy +/-1-2 km/h. |
| Tracking plus a record of speed | TrackSpeed | Limiter with ScorpionTrack GNSS tracking. Fit about 60 minutes. |
| Lower speeds inside mills, ports, depots, mines | GeoKontrol | GPS geofenced zone speed limits. |
| Vehicles using SENT throttle sensors | SENT speed limiter | Built for the SENT sensor protocol. |
The dividing line is how the engine controls fuel. An electronic pedal means the DBW. Mechanical fuel control means System 80, which is the answer to searches for a limitador de velocidade mecânico. Our article on electronic versus mechanical speed limiters goes through the choice.
Limitador de velocidade for ônibus and school transport
A sealed limitador on an ônibus gives the operator a visible control and the passengers a calmer ride. See our guides to speed limiters for buses and coaches and school zone speed limiters for the options.
Sectors where it makes most sense
- Agribusiness. Soy, corn, cotton and sugar cane with heavy harvest peaks and many trucks on rural roads.
- Long-haul freight (transporte rodoviário de cargas). Carretas on the BR corridors. The biggest fuel bills and the longest exposure.
- Mining. Iron ore and other haulage, with site rules that vary by location. GeoKontrol applies a lower speed inside a site and releases it outside.
- Intercity and school buses. Passenger safety and a visible control.
How supply and fitting work
We ship direct to your fleet with fitting instructions. Your own oficina can fit the unit, or you can use a local auto-electrician or any workshop you trust. Our technical team supports you remotely through fitting, setup and calibration. A DBW takes about 1.5 hours, and System 80 or TrackSpeed about 60 minutes each. The installation guide shows the steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What speed should a limitador de velocidade be set to in Brazil?
At or below the limit for the road and the vehicle. Under CTB article 61, trucks and buses (other vehicles) are held to 90 km/h on rural roads where there is no sign. Many fleets set a little lower for fuel and margin.
Is a tachograph the same as a limitador de velocidade?
No. A tachograph records speed and time, while a limitador de velocidade caps the speed. Article 105 of the CTB requires the tachograph on cargo vehicles over 4,536 kg GVW, passenger vehicles with more than 10 seats and school transport. Many fleets fit a limiter alongside it.
Does it work on older diesel caminhões?
Yes. System 80 is mechanical and works on the fuel line, so it suits older diesels with mechanical fuel control.
Can our own oficina fit it?
Yes. We ship with fitting instructions, and your oficina or a local auto-electrician can fit it. We support remotely.
Does it help diesel consumption per km?
Speed strongly affects diesel use, and a limiter removes the highest-consumption running. The size of the gain depends on your load, route and current driving, so test your own figures in the fuel savings calculator.
Related resources
- Speed limiter laws in Latin America
- Brazil CONTRAN speed limiter rules
- Truck speed limits in Latin America by country
- Tamper detection and tamper-proof speed limiters
Get a quote for your Brazilian fleet
Tell us what you run and how many vehicles, and we will come back with the right limitador de velocidade for each. Request a quote or email international@autokontrol.com.