One of the most common enquiries our HR advisors receive is about wages under the Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award 2020. In particular, our Members ask us: what wage is appropriate for a driver on a particular licence (e.g. HC licence)?
The Road Transport Award is different from others because the grades are based on the type and size of vehicle the person is driving rather than the licence they hold.
To make it easier, we’ve created a summary of the grade and relevant wage based on the current Award. You can view this on our website here:
| Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award 2020 Pay rates as at 1 July 2024 for a full-time driver Note: If the driver is casual, you will need to add on casual loading Note: Does not include any other allowances the driver may be entitled to. | ||||
| Classifications | Weekly | Hourly | KM rate | |
| 1 and 2 | NOTE: Grade levels in this award align with equivalent grade levels in the Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020. Grades 1 and 2 are not applicable to this award. | |||
| 3 | Driver of 2 axle rigid vehicle up to 13.9 tonnes GVM. Capacity up to 8 tonnes. | $975.50 | $38.04 | $0.5073 |
| 4 | Driver of 3 axle rigid vehicle over 13.9 tonnes GVM. Capacity over 8 and up to 12 tonnes. | $992.70 | $38.72 | $0.5162 |
| 5 | Driver of 4 axle rigid vehicle over 13.9 tonnes GVM. Driver of rigid vehicle and heavy trailer combination with GCM of 22.4 tonnes or less. Driver of articulated vehicle with GCM of 22.4 tonnes or less. Capacity over 12 tonnes | $1,005.00 | $39.20 | $0.5226 |
| 6 | Driver of rigid vehicle and heavy trailer combination with GCM over 22.4 tonnes but not more than 42.5 tonnes. Driver of articulated vehicle with GCM over 22.4 tonnes. Driver of low loader (as defined) with GCM of 43 tonnes or less. Capacity up to 24 tonnes. | $1,016.40 | $39.64 | $0.5285 |
| 7 | Driver of rigid vehicle and heavy trailer combination with GCM over 42.5 tonnes but not more than 53.4 tonnes. Driver of double articulated vehicle with GCM 53.4 tonnes or less (includes B‑doubles). Driver of low loader (as defined) with GCM over 43 tonnes. | $1,031.20 | $40.22 | $0.5362 |
| 8 | Driver of rigid vehicle and trailer(s) or double articulated vehicle with GCM over 53.4 tonnes (includes B-doubles). Multi-axle trailing equipment up to 70 tonnes capacity. | $1,061.20 | $41.39 | $0.5518 |
| 9 | Driver of road train or triple articulated vehicle exceeding 94 tonnes GCM. | $1,078.90 | $42.08 | $0.561 |
| 10 | Multi-axle trailing equipment. | $1,105.70 | $43.12 | $0.575 |
