Road Transport Award Pay Rates 2026-27
All pay rates under the Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award 2020 (MA000039) for 2026-27, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and break rules.
Road Transport Award
MA000039 · Road Transport
Common roles: Truck driver, Heavy vehicle driver, Bus driver, Tanker driver, Removalist
$27.83
Base rate/hr
$34.79
Casual rate/hr
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Classification Pay Rates — Road Transport Award
| Level | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | $27.83 | $34.79 | $1,057.54 | $54,992.08 |
| Grade 4 | $28.32 | $35.40 | $1,076.16 | $55,960.32 |
| Grade 5 | $28.67 | $35.84 | $1,089.46 | $56,651.92 |
| Grade 6 | $29.00 | $36.25 | $1,102.00 | $57,304.00 |
| Grade 7 | $29.42 | $36.78 | $1,117.96 | $58,133.92 |
| Grade 8 | $30.28 | $37.85 | $1,150.64 | $59,833.28 |
Penalty Rates — Road Transport Award
$41.75/hr
$55.66/hr
$69.57/hr
$41.75/hr
$55.66/hr
Break Rules — Road Transport Award
| Shift Length | Meal Break | Rest Break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 hours | None | None | No |
| 5–8 hours | 30 min | 15 min | Yes |
| 8–11 hours | 30 min | 15 min | Yes |
| 11+ hours | 60 min | 30 min | Yes |
Calculate Your Exact Rate
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Compare with Related Awards
| Award | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Transport Award | $27.83/hr | $34.79/hr | $55.66/hr | $69.57/hr |
| Hospitality Award | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $39.66/hr | $59.49/hr |
| Retail Award | $27.81/hr | $34.76/hr | $41.71/hr | $62.57/hr |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $33.71/hr | $53.94/hr | $67.43/hr |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $33.34/hr | $53.34/hr | $66.68/hr |
More on the Road Transport Award
Road Transport Award (MA000039) overview
Coverage, penalty rates, casual overtime method and break rules.
Search enterprise agreements
An enterprise agreement replaces the award where one covers your workplace. Search by employer.
Enterprise agreements in road transport
- NJE Aviation Services Engineering Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Little Red Trucks Victoria – TWU Enterprise Agreement 2026–2029
- Qube Logistics (NSW) and the TWU Road Transport Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Sea1 Offshore Australia Pty Ltd Engineer Officers Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Singapore Airlines Enterprise Agreement 2026
- K&S Energy (Townsville and Cairns) Drivers Enterprise Agreement 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Road Transport Award pay rate for 2026-27?
Under the Road Transport Award (MA000039), the Grade 3 base rate is $27.83/hr from 1 July 2026. The casual rate (including 25% loading) is $34.79/hr. Higher classification levels receive progressively higher rates.
What is the Sunday rate under the Road Transport Award?
Permanent employees under the Road Transport Award receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee, that's $55.66/hr on Sundays.
What is the public holiday rate under the Road Transport Award?
Public holiday work under the Road Transport Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $69.57/hr.
Who is covered by the Road Transport Award?
The Road Transport Award covers employees in the road transport industry. Common job titles include Truck driver, Heavy vehicle driver, Bus driver, Tanker driver, Removalist, Road train driver.
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