Minimum Pay Rates for Truck Drivers

The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) has issued a draft road safety remuneration order (draft Order) and statement on minimum payments for contractor drivers.

Specifically, the draft Order contains minimum pay rates for drivers distributing goods for supermarket chains and for drivers in all long distance operations in the private transport industry (as those terms are defined by the relevant modern award). These minimum rates are based on research commissioned by KPMG (which has been highly criticised by employer groups, who have said the rates are much higher than current industry standards).

Amongst other things, the draft Order is set to impose requirements on an employer/hirer and a participant in the supply chain to ensure their contracts are consistent with the order.

The RSRT has published a draft payments calculator on its website which is available through the following link: http://paymentscalculator.rsrt.gov.au/

This draft Order has been published for the consideration of interested parties and has not been made (yet). Submissions by interested parties are due not later than 23 September 2015.

For further information, please contact:

Louise Houlihan
Principal
03 9611 0144
lhoulihan@sladen.com.au

Jane O'Brien
Senior Associate
03 9611 0155
jobrien@sladen.com.au

Rohan Kux
Senior Associate
03 9611 0107
rkux@sladen.com.au

Joanna Bandara
Associate
03 9611 0196
jbandara@sladen.com.au