A proposal has been unveiled that would see a range of changes in the transport industry, including paid waiting time and 14-day payment terms.

The long sought-after improvements to pay conditions are detailed in a draft road safety remuneration order released by the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT). New requirements would be imposed on the retail, livestock, bulk grain, interstate long distance and intrastate long distance sectors if the changes are implemented. 

Under the order, ‘work’ is redefined to include queuing, loading and unloading a truck, inspecting a load, cleaning or refuelling, recording information and waiting because of a natural disaster or other emergency. It also states a hirer must pay an owner-driver within 14 days of receiving an invoice for work performed. The draft order is open to industry feedback until July 26.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) had requested the RSRT set minimum hourly and kilometre rates; a rate formula for contractors was proposed, others suggested a cost model. 

“None of the parties, however, have provided sufficient material for the Tribunal to be satisfied that the rates or approach they have proposed is appropriate for the purposes of establishing any rates of payment for road transport drivers, particularly contractor drivers,” the RSRT said in a statement, “the costing models available have varying assumptions and the rationale for selecting one set of assumptions over another is unclear. Similarly, the basis for some of the minimum rates proposed has not been adequately provided. Nor has the rationale for prescribing minimum rates, as opposed to adopting other approaches, been adequately canvassed.”

The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s Draft Road Safety Remuneration Order is available for viewing and feedback on the website.