Road Transport Award Penalty Rates
All penalty rates under the Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award 2020 (MA000039) for 2025-26, including weekends, public holidays, evening, and overtime.
Road Transport Award — Key Rates at a Glance
Saturday
$41.75/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$55.66/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$69.57/hr
2.5x base
Overtime (first 2 hours)
$41.75/hr
1.5x base
Overtime (after 2 hours)
$55.66/hr
2x base
Rates shown for Level 1 ($27.83/hr base). See full table below for all levels.
Full Penalty Rate Table — Road Transport Award
| Level | Base Rate | Saturday 1.5x | Sunday 2x | Public Holiday 2.5x | Overtime 1.5x | Overtime 2x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | $27.83/hr | $41.75/hr | $55.66/hr | $69.57/hr | $41.75/hr | $55.66/hr |
| Grade 4 | $28.32/hr | $42.48/hr | $56.64/hr | $70.80/hr | $42.48/hr | $56.64/hr |
| Grade 5 | $28.67/hr | $43.01/hr | $57.34/hr | $71.68/hr | $43.01/hr | $57.34/hr |
| Grade 6 | $29.00/hr | $43.50/hr | $58.00/hr | $72.50/hr | $43.50/hr | $58.00/hr |
| Grade 7 | $29.42/hr | $44.13/hr | $58.84/hr | $73.55/hr | $44.13/hr | $58.84/hr |
| Grade 8 | $30.28/hr | $45.42/hr | $60.56/hr | $75.70/hr | $45.42/hr | $60.56/hr |
Compare Penalty Rates Across Awards (Level 1)
| Award | Base Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Transport Award | $27.83/hr | $55.66/hr (2x) | $69.57/hr (2.5x) |
| Hospitality Award | $26.44/hr | $39.66/hr (1.5x) | $59.49/hr (2.25x) |
| Retail Award | $27.81/hr | $41.71/hr (1.5x) | $62.57/hr (2.25x) |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $53.94/hr (2x) | $67.43/hr (2.5x) |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $53.34/hr (2x) | $66.68/hr (2.5x) |
Calculate Your Exact Penalty Rate
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalty rates under the Road Transport Award?
The Road Transport Award (MA000039) provides penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday, Overtime (first 2 hours), Overtime (after 2 hours). Percentage rates range from 1.5x to 2.5x of the base hourly rate.
What is the Sunday penalty rate for road transport workers?
Under the Road Transport Award, permanent employees receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee at $27.83/hr, this means $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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