Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award

Coverage alone is not enough under this award. Correct grade selection is the key control point because the schedule distinguishes very different transport tasks.

• Confirm that the work is passenger transportation of the kind listed in the coverage clause.
• Then classify by the duties actually performed under Schedule A.
• Do not assume all drivers in the same business sit at the same grade.
• Where no classification in this award fits the role, the note to clause 4.6 warns that another award may need to be considered.

Written hours and minimum engagement rules should be built into every engagement document because they vary by employment type.

• Full time employees have a minimum payment for each shift or day engaged.
• Part time employees need a written agreement covering usual hours, days, expected start and finish times and classification.
• The part time agreement and any variation must be kept in writing.
• Casual minimum engagement rules differ, including the school transport exception.

Rosters under this award are not one size fits all. Work cycle rules, charter rules and notice requirements all need active management.

• The award allows several work cycle options for ordinary hours.
• Ordinary hours on one day must stay within the daily limit exclusive of meal breaks.
• Roster notice requirements are detailed and should be followed closely.
• Single day charters for coach and bus drivers have a special waiting time rule and allow the rostered shift to be split into 2 working periods without a return to depot requirement.

Breaks, overtime and penalties need separate payroll treatment, especially where charter work, route work and two driver operations sit in the same business.

• Meal break rules apply once the employee has worked the award's maximum period without a meal break.
• If a rostered meal break cannot be provided, the employee must receive a paid crib break instead.
• Overtime and penalty rates are dealt with in separate clauses and are not cumulative.
• Different rules apply for two driver operations and for employees other than two driver operations.

Quoting and payroll both need to reflect higher duties, charter waiting time and the award's specific allowance triggers rather than relying on a single hourly figure.

• The award contains a higher duties clause where an employee performs the duties of a higher grade for the required period.
• Allowance rules include first aid, articulated bus and expense related items such as overtime meal allowance and log book or work diary reimbursement.
• Waiting time on single day charters is dealt with in the ordinary hours clause and should not be mixed up with overtime.
• Travel and living away issues should be checked under the relevant allowance clauses when planning trips.

The award works with the NES. Leave, casual conversion and written hours arrangements should be reviewed together rather than as separate issues.

• Annual leave, personal or carer's leave and parental leave all sit with the NES and supplementary award clauses.
• The award contains annual leave loading and leave in advance provisions.
• Casual conversion is dealt with in the NES and the award points employers back to that pathway.
• Leave and casual conversion issues should be checked alongside the written hours arrangements already in place.

PR799280, PR799343, PR799499

The current consolidated award incorporates these recent variation determinations. Use the consolidated wording when checking any affected clause, schedule, rate or allowance.

Affected: 15 - Minimum rates, 17 - Allowances, Schedule B - Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay, Schedule C - Summary of Monetary Allowances, Schedule D - Supported Wage System