HVY DC10 WITH CLEAN MANEUVERING SPD OF 255 KTS IS GIVEN 250 KT RESTR BY DEP CTLR. FLT CREW ASSUMES THAT TO BE ONLY UNTIL OUT OF 10000 FT MSL.

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WE DEPARTED SFO; AND CONTACTED DEP CTL AND WERE CLRED TO 4000 FT. CLEANED UP THE ACFT AT 3000 FT (GEAR/FLAPS/CLB PWR) AND ACCELERATED TO CMS (CLEAN MANEUVERING SPD) WHICH WAS 256 KIAS FOR OUR WT OF 450000 LBS AT TKOF. AFTER BEING HANDED OFF WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN 250 KTS AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED THINKING THAT THE 256 KTS WAS TOO FAST FOR THE BELOW 10000 FT SPD RESTR OF 250 KTS. WE COMPLIED AND BECAUSE WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE CLRNC 'MAINTAIN 250 KTS UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED' WE FELT THAT IT REFERRED ONLY TO OUR SLIGHTLY HIGHER 255 KT CMS. AND WHEN WE REACHED 10000 FT MSL WE ACCELERATED ON SCHEDULE TO 300 KIAS. WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO ZOA WITHOUT THE CTLR TELLING US TO ADVISE THEM OF OUR SPD RESTR. ZOA TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 280 KTS AT WHICH TIME WE ADVISED HIM OF OUR 300 KT SPD. HE ASKED US IF WE WEREN'T GIVEN A SPD RESTR OF 250 KTS; TO WHICH THE FO REPLIED NO. I TOLD HIM THAT WE HAD EARLIER AND HE ALSO THOUGHT THAT IT HAD BEEN IN REF TO OUR HIGHER CMS. I CONTACTED ZOA AGAIN AND HE WASN'T TOO HAPPY WITH OUR EXPLANATION. I THINK THAT WHEN ISSUED A SPD RESTR LIKE THAT THE CTLR SHOULD INCLUDE UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED (WHICH THEY USUALLY DO) AND IN THIS CASE ADDING THE SPD RESTR HDOF TO THE CREW FOR THE NEXT CTLR REINFORCES THE INITIAL RESTR. ALSO HANDING OFF TO THE NEXT CTLR WHEN THE CREWS ARE DOING OTHER DUTIES SUCH AS AT 10000 FT; 18000 FT; 3000 FT; AFTER LNDG ON THE RWY; ETC; SHOULD BE AVOIDED. AS FOR US WE SHOULD HAVE IN HINDSIGHT DOUBLE-CHKED AT 10000 FT TO SEE IF WE WERE STILL SPD RESTR BEFORE ACCELERATING TO NORMAL CLB SPD.