Road Transport and Distribution Award pay rates from 1 July 2026: transport worker grades 1 to 10 with the vehicles each grade covers, casual, weekend and public holiday rates, and take-home pay in 2026–27.
Award truck driver pay runs from $27.51 an hour for a light rigid vehicle to $29.42 for a B-double and $31.55 at Grade 10. Casuals get $33.59 to $39.44. Open in the pay calculator.
Pay rates by grade
| Grade and examples | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1: General hand, yardperson, vehicle washer, driver's or removalist's assistant, loader (not freight forwarder), courier on foot or bicycle | $26.87 | $33.59 | $1,021.00 | $53,092 | $1,761 |
| Grade 2: Freight forwarder loader, tow motor driver, rigid vehicle (including motorcycle) up to 4.5 tonnes GVM | $27.51 | $34.39 | $1,045.50 | $54,366 | $1,794 |
| Grade 3: Forklift up to 5 tonnes, two-axle rigid vehicle over 4.5 and up to 13.9 tonnes GVM, concrete mixer up to 2 cubic metres | $27.83 | $34.79 | $1,057.60 | $54,995 | $1,810 |
| Grade 4: Three-axle rigid vehicle over 13.9 tonnes GVM, forklift over 5 and up to 10 tonnes, weighbridge attendant | $28.32 | $35.40 | $1,076.20 | $55,962 | $1,834 |
| Grade 5: Rigid vehicle with 4 or more axles over 13.9 tonnes GVM, rigid and heavy trailer (3 axles, up to 22.4 tonnes GCM), three-axle articulated vehicle, forklift over 10 tonnes | $28.67 | $35.84 | $1,089.60 | $56,659 | $1,852 |
| Grade 6: Articulated vehicle with more than 3 axles over 22.4 tonnes GCM, rigid and heavy trailer over 22.4 and up to 53.4 tonnes GCM, mobile crane up to 25 tonnes | $29.00 | $36.25 | $1,102.00 | $57,304 | $1,869 |
| Grade 7: Double articulated vehicle (including B-doubles) up to 53.4 tonnes GCM, low loader over 43 tonnes GCM | $29.42 | $36.78 | $1,118.00 | $58,136 | $1,890 |
| Grade 8: Rigid vehicle with trailer(s) or double articulated vehicle (including B-doubles) over 53.4 tonnes GCM, mobile crane over 25 and up to 50 tonnes | $30.28 | $37.85 | $1,150.50 | $59,826 | $1,933 |
| Grade 9: Vehicle and trailer combinations over 94 tonnes GCM, mobile crane over 50 tonnes, gantry crane | $30.78 | $38.48 | $1,169.70 | $60,824 | $1,959 |
| Grade 10: Multi-axle platform trailing equipment with carrying capacity over 70 tonnes | $31.55 | $39.44 | $1,198.80 | $62,338 | $1,997 |
Examples summarised from Schedule B of the award; each grade also covers other roles. Full-time weekly rate for 38 hours; take-home pay is after income tax and the Medicare levy for a full year in 2026–27. Low loaders over 43 tonnes and Grade 10 equipment over 70 tonnes get extra amounts.
Weekend and public holiday rates
| Grade | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Casual Saturday | Casual Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $40.31 | $53.74 | $67.18 | $47.02 | $60.46 |
| Grade 2 | $41.27 | $55.02 | $68.78 | $48.14 | $61.90 |
| Grade 3 | $41.75 | $55.66 | $69.58 | $48.70 | $62.62 |
| Grade 4 | $42.48 | $56.64 | $70.80 | $49.56 | $63.72 |
| Grade 5 | $43.01 | $57.34 | $71.68 | $50.17 | $64.51 |
| Grade 6 | $43.50 | $58.00 | $72.50 | $50.75 | $65.25 |
| Grade 7 | $44.13 | $58.84 | $73.55 | $51.49 | $66.20 |
| Grade 8 | $45.42 | $60.56 | $75.70 | $52.99 | $68.13 |
| Grade 9 | $46.17 | $61.56 | $76.95 | $53.87 | $69.26 |
| Grade 10 | $47.33 | $63.10 | $78.88 | $55.21 | $70.99 |
Ordinary hours worked on a weekend by agreement. Overtime and shift rates are in the pay guide.
How it works
- The Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 covers road transport and distribution work, including roles such as couriers, removalists' assistants and distribution facility employees. Oil distribution employees have separate rates.
- Your grade depends on the vehicle or equipment you drive, by gross vehicle mass (GVM) or gross combination mass (GCM).
- Casuals get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. Super is paid on top. Many transport companies have enterprise agreements that pay more.
Common questions
How much does a truck driver earn under the award?
From 1 July 2026, a driver of a two-axle rigid truck (Grade 3) gets at least $27.83 an hour ($1,057.60 a week). A B-double driver up to 53.4 tonnes (Grade 7) gets $29.42, about $58,136 a year, before overtime and allowances.
What is the Road Transport Award casual rate?
$33.59 an hour at Grade 1 up to $39.44 at Grade 10, including the 25% casual loading.
What grade is a forklift driver?
Grade 3 for forklifts up to 5 tonnes lifting capacity ($27.83 an hour), Grade 4 for over 5 and up to 10 tonnes ($28.32), Grade 5 above that.
What are the weekend rates for transport workers?
For ordinary hours worked on a weekend by agreement, time and a half on Saturdays and double time on Sundays: $41.75 and $55.66 at Grade 3. Public holidays are double time and a half.
Does this award cover long distance truck drivers?
No. Long distance drivers are covered by the separate Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award, which has its own rates.
When do the rates go up?
Each year from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Next: 1 July 2027 (Annual Wage Review).
See also delivery rider minimum pay, warehouse worker pay and the overtime calculator.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide and award text, Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 [MA000038], rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-22. General information only.