Skip bin driver job description
A complete skip bin driver job description template for Australian waste operators, with the duties, licences and award detail that actually apply to the role.
Skip bin driver job description
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By downloading, you agree to our template disclaimer
This skip bin driver job description template reflects Australian workplace standards and waste industry practice at the time of publication. It is a general guide only and does not constitute legal advice. Confirm the applicable classification, licence requirements and pay rate against the Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043) and the actual duties of the role before advertising. For complex coverage questions, seek independent legal or HR advice. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
What does a skip bin driver do?
A skip bin driver delivers, exchanges and collects skips on demand rather than on a fixed route. The day is built from a booking sheet that changes as jobs are added, so the work suits a driver who can re-plan a run and still meet the commitments made to customers.
Placement is the skill that separates a good skip driver from an average one — dropping a bin on a narrow construction site or a suburban driveway without damaging surfaces or blocking access. Under the Waste Management Award skip-lift drivers sit at Level 5.
Key responsibilities
Core duties included in this job description template
Deliver and collect skips to schedule
Work a changing booking sheet, delivering, exchanging and retrieving skips across commercial and residential customers.
Operate hook-lift and chain-lift equipment
Load and unload bins safely using the vehicle's lifting system on uneven and confined ground.
Place bins safely on customer sites
Assess the ground, overhead hazards and access before placing, and avoid damage to driveways and services.
Check and restrain loads
Confirm the load is within limits, is not overfilled, and is covered or restrained before travel.
Assess loads for prohibited material
Identify asbestos, chemicals and other material that cannot be carried or tipped, and escalate rather than load it.
Weigh in and tip at the correct facility
Present at the weighbridge, record against the correct customer and stream, and tip only where licensed.
Skills and attributes
What to look for in candidates
Precision vehicle handling
Places and retrieves bins in tight driveways, laneways and active construction sites.
Route re-planning
Adjusts the run through the day as bookings change without missing commitments.
Load restraint discipline
Applies restraint and covering requirements every trip.
Customer handling
Deals directly with builders and householders, often about access and overfilling.
Site assessment
Reads ground conditions, overhead lines and services before committing to a placement.
Equipment awareness
Recognises hydraulic and chain faults that mean the vehicle should not continue.
Licences and qualifications
Requirements for skip bin driver positions vary by operator and vehicle class. These are the credentials Australian waste employers ask for most often.
- Heavy Rigid (HR) licence (Required)
Standard for hook-lift and chain-lift skip vehicles. Larger configurations may require HC.
- Load restraint knowledge (Required)
Drivers must understand and apply the load restraint requirements for open bins.
- Pre-employment medical and drug screen
Commonly required. Standard for heavy vehicle roles.
- White Card
Commonly required. Needed for delivery and collection on active construction sites.
- Asbestos awareness
Desirable. Valuable for recognising loads that cannot be accepted.
- Certificate III in Driving Operations
Desirable. Supports progression to larger vehicle classes.
Working conditions
Set clear expectations for candidates about the work environment
- On-demand schedule that changes through the day
- Frequent site access on active construction sites
- Physically demanding, including chain handling and covering loads
- Outdoor work in all weather
- Customer contact at every job, sometimes about overfilled or contaminated bins
- Fatigue management obligations under heavy vehicle law
Award coverage
Understanding the Waste Management Award
Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043)
Most skip bin driver positions in Australia are covered by the Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043). This role generally sits at Level 5, which pays $1,212.58 a week or $31.91 an hour for full-time and part-time employees, and $39.89 an hour for casuals, from 1 July 2026. See the full Waste Management Award pay guide for every classification, penalty rate and allowance.
The rates include the industry allowance
Fair Work publishes these rates with the $3.24 per hour industry allowance already included, because clause 16.2(b) makes it an all-purpose allowance — payable for all purposes including overtime and shift rates. Rate sites that strip it out quote a Level 1 rate around $26.63 instead of $30.11, and every penalty calculated from that lower base is understated.
Waste Management Award pay rates 2026-27
Minimum ordinary hourly rates by classification, effective from 1 July 2026. Casual includes the 25% casual loading. Penalty rates for weekends, evenings and public holidays apply on top.
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 – depot hand in training Depot hand in training | $1143.98 | $30.11 | $37.64 |
| Level 2 – labourer / depot hand Labourers, depot hands, waste facility attendants, process workers, driver offsiders | $1168.48 | $30.75 | $38.44 |
| Level 3 – weighbridge / driver to 4.5t Weighbridge operators, trainee drivers up to 14 tonnes, drivers of vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes | $1180.58 | $31.07 | $38.84 |
| Level 4 – plant to 150 BHP / driver to 14t Truck-mounted crane, road sweeper and incinerator operators; earthmoving plant up to 150 BHP; drivers over 4.5 up to 14 tonnes | $1199.18 | $31.56 | $39.45 |
| Level 5 – driver 14–30t Rear-end loading, roll-on/roll-off, side lift, skip lift, liquid and septic/chemical waste drivers | $1212.58 | $31.91 | $39.89 |
| Level 6 – articulated / over 30t Articulated vehicle drivers, rigid vehicles over 30 tonnes, front lift operators, SOLO grab-operated collection | $1240.98 | $32.66 | $40.83 |
| Level 7 – driver/instructor Driver/instructor, all systems | $1321.78 | $34.79 | $43.49 |
| Level 8 – intermodal / plant over 150 BHP Intermodal and tipping platform operators; earthmoving plant over 150 BHP | $1381.68 | $36.36 | $45.45 |
| Level 9 – double articulated (B double) Double articulated (B double) drivers | $1393.88 | $36.68 | $45.85 |
Source: the Fair Work Waste Management Award pay guide (MA000043). Full classifications, penalty rates, allowances and a calculator are in the Waste Management Award pay guide .
Who should use this template?
This job description template is designed for Australian waste and resource recovery employers
Whether you run a single depot or a multi-site collection fleet, a clear job description reduces disputes about duties and makes award classification easier to defend.
How to use this template
Tips for adapting the job description to your operation
Name the vehicle and equipment
Specify the exact vehicle class and lifting system so applicants know what licence and experience they need.
State the start time honestly
Early starts are the single biggest reason waste roles turn over. Put the real start time in the ad.
Confirm the classification level
This role generally sits at Level 5, but check the classification against the actual duties before you advertise a rate.
List the tickets you will actually check
Only list credentials you will verify. Requirements you do not check discourage good applicants for no benefit.
Describe the site environment
Depot, transfer station, picking line or on-road — candidates self-select accurately when the environment is clear.
Add your own safety expectations
Include any site-specific procedures, PPE and fatigue management obligations that apply.
Ready to hire your next skip bin driver?
Once the crew is in place, build compliant rosters in minutes, track early starts with GPS clock-ins and export award-ready timesheets to payroll.
Related resources
More templates and tools for waste and resource recovery employers
Waste Management Award pay guide
Every classification, penalty rate and allowance under MA000043, plus a free calculator.
View the guideWaste management rostering
How collection fleets roster early starts, depot clock-ins and licence-matched relief drivers.
See the industryHR policy templates
Free workplace policy templates including code of conduct, WHS and leave policies.
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This job description is aligned with Australian workplace award requirements
Skip bin driver job description FAQ
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A skip bin driver delivers, exchanges and collects skips on demand using hook-lift or chain-lift equipment. The role includes assessing each site before placement, checking loads for prohibited material and overfilling, restraining and covering the load, and tipping at a licensed facility.
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A Heavy Rigid (HR) licence is standard for hook-lift and chain-lift skip trucks, with a Heavy Combination (HC) licence needed for larger configurations. A White Card is commonly required because much of the work is on active construction sites.
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Kerbside runs a fixed route on a set day. Skip work runs from a booking sheet that changes through the day, so the driver re-plans the run continuously. Placement skill matters more, because bins go onto driveways and confined sites rather than being lifted from a kerb.
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Level 5 under the Waste Management Award, which covers drivers of vehicles over 14 and up to 30 tonnes including skip-lift, rear-end loading, roll-on/roll-off and side-lift configurations.
Before you download
General information only — not legal advice
This document is a general HR template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.