Road Transport and Distribution Award

The first step is to identify which part of the transport or distribution business the employee actually works in and whether an exclusion applies.

• Coverage extends beyond standard freight driving and reaches distribution facilities, air freight forwarding storage and distribution, meat delivery, petroleum distribution, milk distribution, quarry cartage and vehicle relocation.
• Some activities are carved out to other awards, especially long distance work, cash in transit, mining and waste management.
• If more than one award could apply, use the classification most appropriate to the work performed and the environment in which it is normally performed.

Most classification errors happen when businesses assume one transport label covers every role in the operation. This award does not work that way.

• The award uses separate classification streams for transport employees, distribution facility employees and oil distribution workers.
• Warehouse or distribution staff should not be forced into a driver grade just because the business is in transport.
• Oil distribution workers have a separate minimum rate structure and need their own payroll treatment.

For warehouse staff, the right level turns on the work actually being done inside the facility and the equipment or responsibility attached to it.

• Distribution facility levels step up from basic storing, packing, housekeeping and small delivery work into licensed materials handling, heavier vehicle work, inventory control, reporting and co ordination.
• A role that starts as basic warehouse work can move levels if the employee later takes on broader equipment, vehicle or stock control duties.
• The business should review actual duties, not just the original hiring label.

You cannot assume every shift is ordinary time. The spread of hours and weekend agreement rules affect whether overtime or other payments are triggered.

• Ordinary hours average 38 per week over the chosen work cycle.
• Ordinary hours may be worked Monday to Friday, and Saturday or Sunday ordinary hours need the required agreement.
• Ordinary hours generally must not exceed 8 per day and sit within the ordinary spread unless the award allows a different spread for the work in question.

RDO administration is both a recordkeeping and payroll issue. Informal practices are risky under this award's specific rules.

• If the business uses an RDO system, the roster should show how RDOs are taken or accumulated.
• A scheduled RDO can be changed by agreement, or with 48 hours notice if there is no agreement.
• Accumulation and payout arrangements need written agreement and cannot be left informal.

Allowance treatment under this award is role specific and calculation specific. A flat weekly amount is not a safe shortcut.

• Allowances must be paid where they apply and separately identified.
• The award distinguishes allowances that apply to full time, part time and casual employees and sets out how they are calculated for those employees.
• Special vehicle allowances are identified as all purpose, so they flow into later award calculations where the clause says they do.

PR799280, PR799318, PR799475

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

Affected: 17 - Minimum rates, 19 - Allowances, Schedule C - Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay, Schedule D - Summary of Monetary Allowances, Schedule E - Supported Wage System