Ryan Kenny will serve at least eight years and nine months before he is eligible for parole.

He appeared in the County Court on Wednesday for sentence over the November 2, 2018 collision on the Murray Valley Highway which claimed the lives of mother-of-four Amanda Kilmister, 37, and her 12-year-old son Harrison Kilmister.

Judge Carolene Gwynn told Kenny during her sentencing remarks that she believed he has "genuine remorse" for his actions.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing death, two counts of negligent driving causing injury and one count of destruction of evidence.

The court heard, the father-of-two, had occasionally taken methamphetamine to help stay awake when driving trucks.

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On the day of the crash, he was driving a truck he had never driven before.

"You were driving a prime mover east towards Wodonga on the Murray Valley Highway, transferring offal and animal body parts from the Tongala Abattoir to the Wodonga rendering plant," Ms Gwynn said to Kenny in her sentencing.

"In the lead up to the collision you had been working long hours with little rest, in breach of the standard work conditions.

"Your prime mover was travelling in an easterly direction when it was travelled into the west-bound lane on the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with the Audi Q7 being driven by Amanda Kilmister with four members of her family in the vehicle.

"She would have had little, if any, chance to avoid that collision."

Mrs Kilmister and Harrison died at the scene.

"You were fortunate enough to sustain only minor injuries," Ms Gwynn said.

The court heard Kenny, who has served 75 days of pre-sentence detention, has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He has worked as a truck driver since he was 21 years old.

Ms Gwynn said a reference was provided to the court by Kenny's wife Ashlee.

"She talks of trying to assist you in the struggle you have faced since the accident," she said.

"She has born the brunt of being the sole bread winner, a burden she will now now bare for some time.

"She maintains her support for you and looks forward to the time when you can return to your family."

The court heard Kenny's driving put all five occupants of the car at significant risk.

"It is trite to say that your offending is extremely serious and has clearly devastated the Kilmister family, it has also left yours without a husband and father figure," Ms Gwynn said.

Kenny will be eligible for release in 2029.