A unique feature of the LDO Award is the structure and basis of minimum wage rates. The award provides two options for payment based around a trip structure:

• paid on the basis of distance travelled – called the CPK rate, or
• paid by the hour (in common with most modern awards) - (clause 13)

At the commencement of employment the employer must nominate whether the employee is to be paid under the CPK method or the hourly rate method. The method may be changed from one to the other by 4 weeks’ written notice to the employee. Where no method has been nominated the CPK method will apply (sub-clause 13.3(b)).

Additionally, having regard to the nature and charactristics of long distance driving, and in order to add certainty to the pay rates and to minimise disputes over distances travelled and/or time taken, and consistent with safety considerations, the award includes tables setting out agreed distances and agreed journey times for commonly used routes and destinations.

Another feature of the LDO Award (by comparison to most other modern awards) is the absence of specific clauses dealing with overtime rates and shiftwork provisions.  This is because additional amounts for overtime and shiftwork, including weekend work, have been factored into the CPK and hourly rates. This is discussed later in this Handbook.

The LDO Award contains separate Tables setting out the minimum rates for wages based on whatever respective method of pay is applicable.  For convenience, Table A as follows, represents a consolidation of the CPK minimum rates (at sub-clause 13.4(a)) and the Hourly minimum rates (at sub-clause 13.5(b)).