Employment Relations Hub

National Employment Standards (NES) and Modern Awards
National Employment Standards
As a private trucking business in Queensland, the employment conditions applicable to you and your employees are provided by the Fair Work Commission under the Fair Work Act.
All employees have minimum entitlements provided for under the Fair Work Act. The primary entitlements are referred to as the National Employment Standards or NES.
Details about these standards can be found here: National Employment Standards
Modern Awards
In a trucking business, most employees have additional entitlements under a Modern Award unless the business has entered into a collective agreement/enterprise agreement. Modern Awards are generally either industry specific, (e.g. Road Transport Industry) or relate to specific role (e.g. mechanics).
To reduce confusion, where the Modern Award has not provided an entitlement greater than or different to the National Employment Standards, the Modern Award will refer to this.
The primary moderns awards applicable to trucking companies are:
| Modern Award | Primary Coverage |
|---|---|
| Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 | Drivers up to 500km, General hands and yardpersons, Distribution facility employees |
| Road Transport (Long Distance operations) 2020 | Drivers from 500km |
| Clerks - Private Sector Award 2020 | Administration |
| Manufacturing & Associated Industries & Occupations Award 2020 | Mechanics |
Modern Awards update from time to time and Modern Award pay rates are reviewed annually, in line with the National Minimum Wage (normally effective 1 July each each). Current Awards and Pay Rates are as follows:
Guides and Fact Sheets
The QTA has prepared several guides and fact sheets to address the different common scenarios a trucking business, with employess, are likely to come across.
As a starting point, it is recommended that all employer trucking business download and keep at hand Employing in the QLD Trucking Industry- A Reference Guide to the Modern Awards
Members can access each of the following guides and fact sheets:
Presentations & Webinars
See Resource section below for presentation and webinar recordings
Employee Forms, Policies and Templates
All employers must provide the following forms to any new employee:
- Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS) - ALL new employees
- Casual Employment Information Statement (CEIS) - ALL new casual employees
QTA Members can access the following templates:
Links
Australian Road Transport Industrial Association (ARTIO) - the national body that represents employers and prime contractors in the transport and logistics industry, particularly those engaged in road transport
Fair Work Commission (FWC) - the Australian industrial relations tribunal
Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) - for advice and information on the Australian national workplace relations system
Australian Taxation Office - for superannuation information
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) - for Long Service Leave information
Business Queensland - for Public Holiday information
Worksafe - for safe work conditions for employees
WorkCover Queensland - for the management of ill and injured employees
Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) - for the management of non-discriminatory work conditions

National Employment Standards (NES) and Modern Awards
National Employment Standards
As a private trucking business in Queensland, the employment conditions applicable to you and your employees are provided by the Fair Work Commission under the Fair Work Act.
All employees have minimum entitlements provided for under the Fair Work Act. The primary entitlements are referred to as the National Employment Standards or NES.
Details about these standards can be found here: National Employment Standards
Modern Awards
In a trucking business, most employees have additional entitlements under a Modern Award unless the business has entered into a collective agreement/enterprise agreement. Modern Awards are generally either industry specific, (e.g. Road Transport Industry) or relate to specific role (e.g. mechanics).
To reduce confusion, where the Modern Award has not provided an entitlement greater than or different to the National Employment Standards, the Modern Award will refer to this.
The primary moderns awards applicable to trucking companies are:
| Modern Award | Primary Coverage |
|---|---|
| Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 | Drivers up to 500km, General hands and yardpersons, Distribution facility employees |
| Road Transport (Long Distance operations) 2020 | Drivers from 500km |
| Clerks - Private Sector Award 2020 | Administration |
| Manufacturing & Associated Industries & Occupations Award 2020 | Mechanics |
Modern Awards update from time to time and Modern Award pay rates are reviewed annually, in line with the National Minimum Wage (normally effective 1 July each each). Current Awards and Pay Rates are as follows:
Guides and Fact Sheets
The QTA has prepared several guides and fact sheets to address the different common scenarios a trucking business, with employess, are likely to come across.
As a starting point, it is recommended that all employer trucking business download and keep at hand Employing in the QLD Trucking Industry- A Reference Guide to the Modern Awards
Members can access each of the following guides and fact sheets:
Presentations & Webinars
See Resource section below for presentation and webinar recordings
Employee Forms, Policies and Templates
All employers must provide the following forms to any new employee:
- Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS) - ALL new employees
- Casual Employment Information Statement (CEIS) - ALL new casual employees
QTA Members can access the following templates:
Links
Australian Road Transport Industrial Association (ARTIO) - the national body that represents employers and prime contractors in the transport and logistics industry, particularly those engaged in road transport
Fair Work Commission (FWC) - the Australian industrial relations tribunal
Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) - for advice and information on the Australian national workplace relations system
Australian Taxation Office - for superannuation information
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) - for Long Service Leave information
Business Queensland - for Public Holiday information
Worksafe - for safe work conditions for employees
WorkCover Queensland - for the management of ill and injured employees
Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) - for the management of non-discriminatory work conditions