Distribution facility employee level 1 Pay Rate 2026
As of 1 July 2026, a Distribution facility employee level 1 under the Road Transport and Distribution Award (MA000038) earns a published minimum of $27.83 an hour ($1,057.60 a week, about $55,143 a year) full-time before tax.
The Road Transport and Distribution Award covers the road freight and distribution industry: the carriers, couriers and logistics operators that move goods by road, and the distribution centres that store and dispatch them. It applies to truck, van and courier drivers across everything from light vehicles to articulated rigs, as well as furniture removalists, tanker and livestock carriers, tow-truck and dangerous-goods drivers, and the warehouse-based distribution staff who load, pick and dispatch freight. Minimum rates are set across the transport worker grades and distribution facility levels, scaling with vehicle size, load and the responsibility carried.
Minimum pay rates
| Employment type | Hourly | Weekly | Annual (× 52.14) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time / part-time | $27.83 | $1,057.60 | $55,143 |
| Casual (loading included) | $34.79 | — | — |
Penalty rates
| When | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | $27.83 | $34.79 |
| Saturday | $41.75 | $48.70 |
| Sunday | $55.66 | $62.62 |
| Public holiday | $55.66 | $90.45 |
Higher rates typically apply to shift work, especially night and early-morning driving, and to work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Overtime worked beyond the ordinary hours is also generally paid at a higher rate.
Work out your pay
Pick full-time, part-time or casual to see the exact published rate for this classification.
Common questions
How much does a Distribution facility employee level 1 get paid?
The published minimum for a Distribution facility employee level 1 is $27.83 an hour, which works out to $1,057.60 for a standard full-time week, or about $55,143 across a year. These rates took effect on 1 July 2026 and are the legal minimum before any allowances, penalties or overtime.
What is the casual rate for this work?
Casual drivers and distribution staff are paid a loading on top of the permanent hourly rate, bringing the casual minimum to $34.79 an hour. The loading is paid instead of paid leave and other permanent entitlements, so it is already built into that figure.
What are the weekend and public holiday rates?
Weekend and public holiday work usually attracts a higher rate. The published Saturday rate is $41.75 an hour and the Sunday rate is $55.66 an hour, while work on a public holiday is set at $55.66 an hour.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. Last checked .
Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database for the Road Transport and Distribution Award (MA000038).
General information only — not legal, industrial or financial advice. These are the published minimum rates for information. Your modern award or enterprise agreement prevails if there is any inconsistency. Check the official source above or the Fair Work Ombudsman for your situation.