NSW Industrial Relations Commission approves application to increase rates by 2.4 per cent.
Owner-drivers carting excavated and demolition material in New South Wales have received a rate increase to offset rising running costs.
The State’s Industrial Relations Commission has approved changes to the Transport Industry – Excavated Materials Contract Determination to give owner-drivers working under it a rate rise of 2.4 per cent.
The increase took effect on August 15.
The NSW branch of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) applied for the increase to account for changes in costs such as wages, insurance, fuel prices, tyres, maintenance and allowances.
“Owner-drivers need fair, safe and substantial rates. Central to this is the ability to recover increased costs whether covered by a determination or not,” a spokesperson for the NSW TWU says.
“Companies need to ensure owner-drivers are recovering increased costs and getting a fair deal.”
The Determination guarantees owner-drivers a minimum kilometre or hourly rate and payment for loading time.
The rates vary depending on the number of axles a truck has. The Determination lists payments for trucks with two axles up to seven axles.
There are a number of contract determinations for the transport industry in place in NSW.
The documents impose terms and conditions on principle contractors to ensure owner-drivers they use receive minimum payments.
There are currently determinations in place for the car carrying, concrete haulage, general freight, waste collection, quarried material, courier and interstate transport sectors.