Minimum pay rates for road transport workers in Australia under the Transport Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 (MA000038)
$26.87
Base rate/hr
$33.59
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for road transport workers is $26.87/hr under the Transport Award. Casuals receive $33.59/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Local delivery drivers, general haulage drivers, and road transport workers are covered by the Road Transport and Distribution Award (MA000038) — from vans and rigid trucks to B-doubles. Interstate long-haul drivers fall under the separate Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award (MA000039). Fatigue management and loading/unloading time are key pay issues.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Transport Worker Grade 1 | $26.87 | $33.59 | $53,095.12 |
| Grade 2 | Transport Worker Grade 2 | $27.51 | $34.39 | $54,359.76 |
| Grade 3 | Transport Worker Grade 3 | $27.83 | $34.79 | $54,992.08 |
| Grade 4 | Transport Worker Grade 4 | $28.32 | $35.40 | $55,960.32 |
| Grade 5 | Transport Worker Grade 5 | $28.67 | $35.84 | $56,651.92 |
| Grade 6 | Transport Worker Grade 6 | $29.00 | $36.25 | $57,304.00 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This compensates for no paid leave, no notice period, and no redundancy pay. Here's what that looks like for each level:
| Level | Base Rate | + 25% Loading | Casual Rate/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $26.87 | +$6.72 | $33.59 |
| Grade 2 | $27.51 | +$6.88 | $34.39 |
| Grade 3 | $27.83 | +$6.96 | $34.79 |
| Grade 4 | $28.32 | +$7.08 | $35.40 |
| Grade 5 | $28.67 | +$7.17 | $35.84 |
| Grade 6 | $29.00 | +$7.25 | $36.25 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $26.87/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$40.31/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$53.74/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$67.18/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $40.31/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $53.74/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $67.18/hr |
| Afternoon Shift | 1.175x | $31.57/hr |
| Night Shift | 1.3x | $34.93/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $40.31/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $53.74/hr |
View the complete Transport Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Transport Award Pay Rates →Related awards that may also apply:
If your payslip shows less than $26.87/hr (or $33.59/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in road transport. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Real Fair Work decisions and Federal Court penalties in this industry.
The minimum base rate for road transport workers is $26.87/hr (Grade 1) under the Road Transport and Distribution Award. A driver of a rigid vehicle up to 4.5t GVM (Grade 2) earns $27.51/hr, and a Grade 4 driver (3-axle rigid over 13.9t) earns $28.32/hr base. Casual drivers receive the 25% loading on top.
Yes. All time spent loading, unloading, and waiting at depots or customer sites is paid working time. If you're required to be at a location, you must be paid. Unpaid waiting time is a common breach in this industry.
Under the Road Transport and Distribution Award, ordinary hours worked on a Saturday (by agreement) pay 1.5x and Sunday pays 2.0x. Public holidays pay 2.5x. Overtime beyond 38 hours per week is 1.5x for the first 2 hours, then 2.0x.
Long-distance drivers under the Long Distance Operations Award (MA000039) are paid via an hourly driving rate or a cents-per-kilometre rate, plus meal and overnight accommodation allowances when away from their home depot. Note that MA000039's classification grades were renumbered in 2026-27 — old Grade 1 is now Grade 3.
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