Transport (Cash in Transit) Award

If you run a cash-in-transit operation in Australia, securely collecting, transporting and delivering cash and valuables, and you employ staff who are not otherwise award-free, the Transport (Cash in Transit) Award 2020 (MA000042) is generally the relevant award. General freight transport falls under the road transport awards and standalone security guarding under the Security Services Industry Award. Confirm coverage for your specific operation against the Fair Work source before setting pay and conditions.

Match the employee to the level that reflects the work they actually perform, using the award's classification definitions, which weigh the skills, responsibilities and security requirements of each role. In cash-in-transit, driving, crew and guarding duties and any licensing requirements drive the level. Title alone is not enough; assess the real duties, then read the current minimum rate for that level from the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Casual cash-in-transit employees are paid an hourly rate plus a casual loading, commonly 25% across modern awards, in place of the paid leave and other entitlements casuals do not receive. The loading can combine with weekend, shift and public holiday penalties when casuals work those times, so it is not always a flat add-on. Treat 25% as a guide and confirm the exact loading and how it interacts with penalties for this award on the Fair Work source before running pay.

Ordinary hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays attract penalty rates under the award. As a guide, Saturday loadings are commonly around 25% and Sunday around 50%, but MA000042 sets its own figures and casuals may be treated differently. Cash runs and ATM servicing often fall on weekends, so always confirm the current Saturday and Sunday rates for your employee type on the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing pay.

Work on a public holiday is paid at a significant premium, which across awards can reach up to 150% of the minimum rate, and a minimum engagement may apply. Employees who would normally work that day but do not because it is a public holiday are generally entitled to their ordinary pay under the National Employment Standards. Check the current public holiday entitlement for MA000042 against the Fair Work source before running a pay period that includes one.

Overtime applies when an employee works beyond the ordinary hours set by the award, such as exceeding the daily or weekly limits or working outside the spread of ordinary hours. Secure runs that extend to finish safely can readily generate overtime. Overtime is paid at penalty rates that step up after the first couple of hours, with higher rates on Sundays and public holidays; confirm the applicable multipliers on the Fair Work source.

Yes. Part-time employees work fewer than full-time hours on a reasonably predictable pattern, and the award requires a written agreement setting out the agreed hours, days and times, with any changes also agreed in writing. Part-timers receive pro-rata leave and the same minimum rates as full-timers for their classification. Check the part-time provisions in the award for the full requirements, including how additional hours are treated.

Because runs can fall in the early morning, evening or overnight, the award provides shift loadings on top of the base rate for afternoon and night shifts, with the loading depending on when the shift falls. These loadings apply in addition to any weekend or public holiday penalties, so a weekend overnight run can combine several elements. Map each shift's start time and day, then confirm the current loading for that shift band against the Fair Work source.

The award's distinctive allowances are the Industry allowance and the Mobile cash unit allowance, alongside others such as a vehicle or driving-related allowance and a meal allowance for qualifying overtime. It does not provide a named firearm or licensing allowance; the cost of firearm or security licences (and cards such as ASIC or MSIC) is dealt with by reimbursement instead. Which apply depends on the role and the work, and they are paid on top of the base rate. Identify the relevant allowances for each employee and confirm current amounts on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Annual leave loading is an extra payment on top of base pay when an employee takes annual leave. Under this award it is 17.5% of the minimum rate of pay, and it applies to full-time and part-time employees taking paid annual leave. Casuals do not accrue annual leave. Where an employee normally earns shift loadings, the leave loading is designed so they are not worse off taking leave; apply it when processing leave payments and confirm the calculation against the Fair Work source.

Minimum rates and many allowances are reviewed each year in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The 2026 review increased modern award minimums by 4.75%. Apply the new rates from that pay period, not the calendar date, and refresh each classification rate and allowance from the Fair Work Pay Calculator each year so your cash-in-transit payroll stays compliant.

Cash-in-transit crews may be required to hold firearm or security licences for certain roles, but the award does not provide a named firearm or licensing allowance for holding them. Instead, the cost of cards and licences is generally dealt with through reimbursement of fees such as ASIC or MSIC cards, while the distinctive wage allowances are the Industry allowance and the Mobile cash unit allowance. Identify which roles carry licensing requirements and confirm the current reimbursement and allowance arrangements against the Fair Work source.

The risks with MA000042 sit in the detail: the right classification for drivers, crew and guards, shift loadings, the Industry and Mobile cash unit allowances, overtime on long secure runs, weekend and public holiday penalties, and figures refreshed every July. Anchor every figure to the Fair Work Pay Calculator and review pay each 1 July, keeping accurate records of hours and shifts. Valont's People Hub runs award-compliant payroll for cash-in-transit operators, mapping classifications, allowances and penalties so the right amount is paid every cycle.