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MA000042CurrentTransport, logistics and maritime

Transport (Cash in Transit) Award

The Transport Cash in Transit Award is highly specialised. The main compliance risk is assuming it applies to any security employee who handles valuables. It does not. Employers need to confirm genuine cash in transit coverage, classify crew roles correctly, use the right roster model and apply the award's industry specific allowances carefully, while still checking the NES and any enterprise instrument overlap.

Consolidated through
1 July 2026
Source checked
1 August 2026
Official source
Current award

01Who this award covers

This is a narrow industry award for the cash in transit industry, which the award defines as the transport of cash and other valuables. It is not a general security award. The first question is whether the work is genuinely cash in transit work and whether the employee fits one of the award's own classifications.

Businesses and work usually covered

  • Businesses whose work is the transport of cash and other valuables.
  • Armoured vehicle crews performing core cash in transit duties.
  • Non armoured vehicle operations carrying covered valuables work.
  • Labour hire employees supplied into covered cash in transit operations.
  • Trainees hosted through group training services into covered cash in transit work.

When another award or arrangement may apply

  • Employees performing cash in transit work only as a minor or incidental part of other security work covered by another modern award, modern enterprise award or enterprise instrument.
  • Employees excluded from award coverage by the Act.
  • Employees covered by a modern enterprise award, enterprise instrument or relevant state public sector award.
  • Employees whose work is better matched to another award classification where this award has no suitable classification.

02Roles and classifications

The award contains classification levels that connect an employee's duties, skills and responsibility to a minimum rate. Common role descriptions include:

  • Escort employees who are trained and qualified to perform escort duties as part of an armoured vehicle crew.
  • Non armoured vehicle operators.
  • Armoured vehicle operators.
  • Crew leaders.
  • Employees performing mobile cash unit work or ATM work where the relevant allowance provisions are triggered.

A familiar job title is only a starting point. Match the employee's real duties against the classification definitions and keep a written record of the level selected.

03Rules employers need to check

Prove cash in transit coverage first

Clause 4 coverage, Clause 12 classifications

This award only works where the role is truly cash in transit work and the employee fits one of the award's narrow classifications.

  • Confirm that the business is in the cash in transit industry and not just doing occasional valuables work as part of another service.
  • Then match the employee to escort, non armoured vehicle operator, armoured vehicle operator or crew leader.
  • If the work does not fit those classifications, another award may be more appropriate.

Set up engagement terms properly

Clauses 8 to 11

Engagement type should be formal from day one because the award links it to ordinary hours, overtime and minimum payments.

  • Tell employees whether they are full-time, part-time or casual when they are engaged and record that decision.
  • Part-time employees need a written regular pattern of work.
  • Casual employees have a minimum engagement, a casual loading and overtime rules tied to the award.

Run roster cycles under the award framework

Clause 14 ordinary hours, Clause 15 meal breaks

Cash transport rosters are operationally sensitive, but the award still imposes structure. Do not rely on depot custom alone.

  • The award sets ordinary hours, a standard weekday span and limits on daily hours.
  • There are two main methods for organising ordinary hours: a rostered day off system or a five day system in the listed circumstances.
  • Starting times, rostered days off and roster changes all need to be managed under the award rules.

Check all purpose and duty based allowances

Clause 18 allowances

Allowance settings are central in this award and cannot be treated as incidental extras. They follow the actual duties performed.

  • All employees receive an industry allowance under the award.
  • There are additional provisions for mobile cash unit work, first aid and ATM work.
  • Some allowances are paid for all purposes, so they can affect later calculations.

Check overlap and NES issues

Clause 3 NES and award, Clause 4.7 overlap rule

Coverage questions do not end once the industry is identified. Overlap with other instruments still has to be checked employee by employee.

  • The NES continue to apply.
  • If the employer is covered by more than one award, the employee is covered by the classification most appropriate to the work and the environment in which it is normally performed.
  • Enterprise instruments and state public sector awards can displace this award.

Watch higher duties and crew changes

Clause 16 minimum rates, Clause 16.2 higher duties

Short term duty changes can alter the applicable class of work. The payroll treatment should match the work actually performed.

  • If an employee performs more than one class of work on a day, the higher class rules need to be checked.
  • Crew role changes should be reflected in payroll settings, not treated as informal rotation.

04Pay rates, penalties and allowances

The safest way to check a current rate is to start with the employee's classification, employment type and working pattern, then use Fair Work's current pay guide or Pay and Conditions Tool. Rates can change after an Annual Wage Review or an award variation.

Open the official pay guideFair Work OmbudsmanCalculate pay and conditionsFair Work Pay and Conditions Tool

05Common workplace examples

Armoured vehicle crew transporting cash between sites

Yes, this is the clearest kind of role the award is aimed at, provided the employee fits one of the award classifications such as escort, armoured vehicle operator or crew leader.

Security guard who only occasionally transports cash

Usually no. If the cash work is only a minor or incidental part of other security work covered elsewhere, this award does not apply to that employee for that work.

Employee operating a mobile cash unit and servicing ATMs

The award can still apply, but you also need to check the mobile cash unit allowance and any ATM work allowance if those duties are being performed. The duties, not just the job title, matter.

06Recent changes to this award

PR799280, PR799322, PR799479

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

Affected: 16 - Minimum rates, 18 - Allowances, Schedule A - Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay, Schedule B - Summary of Monetary Allowances, Schedule C - Supported Wage System

07What to do next

  1. 01List each role that handles valuables and separate core cash in transit work from broader security work.
  2. 02Issue written engagement and classification details at the start of employment.
  3. 03Check whether the business uses the rostered day off method or the alternative five day method and build rosters accordingly.
  4. 04Review whether mobile cash unit work, ATM work or first aid duties trigger additional allowances.
  5. 05Audit any labour hire or trainee arrangements to confirm the host work is genuinely covered cash in transit work.
  6. 06For mixed businesses, test whether another award or enterprise instrument covers some employees instead.

08Common questions

Does any security employee who sometimes handles cash fall under this award?

No. The award excludes employees who do cash in transit work only as a minor or incidental part of other security work covered elsewhere. The work has to be genuinely within the cash in transit industry.

What classifications does this award use?

The core classifications are escort, non armoured vehicle operator, armoured vehicle operator and crew leader. The award also has specific allowance provisions for mobile cash unit work and ATM work.

Are the allowances important under this award?

Yes. The award includes an industry allowance for all employees and separate provisions for mobile cash unit work, first aid and ATM work. Whether they apply depends on the duties actually performed.

Can a part-time employee work up to full-time hours?

Yes. Part-time employees can agree to work up to 38 ordinary hours in a week at ordinary rates if that arrangement is mutually acceptable. The part-time arrangement still needs to be set up in writing.

Do the NES and enterprise instruments still matter here?

Yes. The NES still apply, and enterprise awards, enterprise instruments and some state public sector awards can displace this award for particular employees.

Official sources and related help

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Modern award coverage and classification depend on the facts. Check the current official award and get advice for your business before relying on this page.

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