Road Transport Award.
Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020. Verified penalty rates, shift loadings, leave loading and RDO arrangements, with a live calculator under the NES.
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| Component | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual rate (FULL-TIME) | 4 wks × 38h ÷ 52 | 2.923 hrs/wk |
| Hours accrued | 2.923 × 52 wks | 152.42 hrs |
| Hourly base rate | - | $35.00 |
| Base leave value | 152.42 × $35.00 | $5,334.62 |
| 17.5% leave loading | base × 0.175 | + $933.56 |
| Total payout | - | $6,268.17 |
Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.
Road Transport Award pay rates and penalties.
Dollar rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Penalty rates verified against the MA000038 award text.
Penalty rates by shift type
What each hour is worth as a percentage of the base rate, for permanent and casual employees.
Hourly rate by classification level
6 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.
- Level 1Transport worker (entry)
- Level 2Driver (local / short-haul)
- Level 3Driver (long-haul / heavy vehicle)
- Level 4Specialist driver / multi-combination
- Level 5Leading hand / depot supervisor
- Level 6Depot manager
National Minimum Wage, 4-year trend
Lifted each year by the Annual Wage Review. Up 23.7% since FY2023. Percentages are the movement in the NMW itself, which exceeded the award increase in the years the Commission realigned it to the C13 rate.
Where these numbers come from
- Dollar rates
- FWO Pay Guides and FWC Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
- Penalty rates and allowances
- MA000038 on awards.fairwork.gov.au, the official award text.
- Industry figures
- ABS Labour Force, May 2026; ABS EEH, Aug 2025. Covers the broader industry, not only employees under this award.
- Your own figures
- Check your classification in the FWO Pay Calculator.
Penalty rates in full
Every loading in the award, side by side for full-time, part-time and casual employees.
| Hours worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (incl. loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 200% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
| Afternoon shift | 117.5% | 142.5% |
| Night shift | 130% | 155% |
All values are percentages of the base hourly rate. Casual rates shown are inclusive of the 25% casual loading on top of the FT/PT rate. For your own dollar amounts, use the FWO Pay Calculator.
Pay rates by classification
Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual hourly includes the 25% loading.
| Level | Classification | Weekly rate | Hourly rate | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Transport worker (entry) | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Level 2 | Driver (local / short-haul) | $1,079.60 | $28.41 | $35.51 |
| Level 3 | Driver (long-haul / heavy vehicle) | $1,157.80 | $30.47 | $38.09 |
| Level 4 | Specialist driver / multi-combination | $1,267.40 | $33.35 | $41.69 |
| Level 5 | Leading hand / depot supervisor | $1,388.90 | $36.55 | $45.69 |
| Level 6 | Depot manager | $1,547.80 | $40.73 | $50.91 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual rates include the 25% loading on top of the hourly rate. Source: FWO Pay Guides.
Allowances
Paid on top of the base rate. Amounts effective from 1 July 2026.
| Allowance | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance | $19.40 | per occasion | When required to work overtime without notice and no meal is provided. |
| Travelling time allowance | Per award schedule | per hour | Paid for travel between depot and job site when exceeding ordinary hours. |
| First aid allowance | $15.90 | per week | For appointed first aid officers. |
| Cabin allowance | $24.60 | per week | For long-haul drivers required to sleep in the vehicle cabin. |
The numbers that drive this award.
Set by Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 (MA000038) and the NES.
Award-specific provisions.
Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.
Continuous-shift workers receive 5 weeks annual leave; long-distance drivers have separate provisions in addition.
Standard 17.5% on minimum hourly rate. Shift workers receive the GREATER OF 17.5% or the shift penalty they would have earned during the leave. Run the numbers in the annual leave loading calculator.
Ordinary hours may be worked on an RDO cycle (clause 13.7(a)). RDOs accumulate to a maximum of 10 days and may be taken or paid out at the ordinary hourly rate by written agreement. Oil distribution workers (clause 14.6(a)) work 9 days of 7 hours 47 minutes plus one RDO per two-week cycle.
Calculate your leave under this award
The Road Transport Award sets your pay rates, but your paid leave runs on the National Employment Standards. Work out 4 weeks of holidays with the annual leave calculator, and your 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave with the personal leave calculator. To confirm which award applies to you and how it lifts entitlements above the NES floor, read our guide to modern awards.
Who this award covers.
The Road Transport Award (MA000038) is the common name for the Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.
Industries
Work types
Notes & exclusions. Specific provisions for long-distance versus short-distance drivers (separate pay structures). Includes labour-hire businesses placed in the road-transport industry.
Roles paid under this award.
Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.
- 01long distance driver
- 02short distance driver
- 03distribution worker
- 04transport worker
- 05vehicle driver
- 06forklift operator
- 07mixer operator
- 08rigger
- 09removalist
- 10loader
- 11dispatcher
Road Transport Award questions, answered.
Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000038. Verified against the modern award text.
Who does the Road Transport Award cover?
What is the Saturday penalty rate under the Road Transport Award?
What is the Sunday rate under the Road Transport Award?
What is the public holiday rate under the Road Transport Award?
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Road Transport Award?
How is annual leave loading calculated for shift workers under the Road Transport Award?
What is the casual loading under the Road Transport Award?
Does the Road Transport Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Does the Road Transport Award have evening or night-shift loadings?
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Road Transport Award?
Verified against the modern award text.
Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 (MA000038) on the Fair Work Commission's awards.fairwork.gov.au.
For up-to-date pay rates by classification, refer to the FWO Pay Calculator. Modern awards are reviewed and varied periodically by the Fair Work Commission; check the source for the latest text.