Waste collection driver job description
A complete waste collection driver job description template for Australian waste operators, with the duties, licences and award detail that actually apply to the role.
Waste collection driver job description
PDF format • Ready to download
By downloading, you agree to our template disclaimer
This waste collection 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 waste collection driver do?
A waste collection driver runs a fixed kerbside route on a set day, in a vehicle that is usually a rear-loading, side-lift or skip-lift truck. The work starts early — the Waste Management Award opens ordinary hours at 4.00am precisely because collection has to be finished before traffic builds.
The role is more than driving. Drivers complete pre-start vehicle checks, watch for contamination and hazardous items in bins, manage the truck around parked cars and pedestrians, and weigh in at a transfer station or landfill at the end of the run. A missed street is a service failure that a council or commercial client hears about the same morning.
Key responsibilities
Core duties included in this job description template
Complete the assigned collection route
Work a fixed kerbside or commercial route to the published schedule, covering general waste, recycling and green waste streams as rostered.
Carry out pre-start and post-trip vehicle checks
Inspect brakes, lights, hydraulics, tyres and the lifting mechanism before departure, and report defects before the vehicle leaves the depot.
Operate the lifting and compaction equipment safely
Use side-lift arms, rear-loader packers or skip-lift gear in line with the manufacturer instructions and the site safe work method statement.
Identify contamination and hazardous items
Recognise material that does not belong in the stream, tag or leave the bin as procedure requires, and report hazardous items rather than loading them.
Weigh in and dispose at the correct facility
Present at the weighbridge, record the load against the correct customer or stream, and tip only at the facility licensed for that material.
Work safely around the public
Manage the vehicle in residential streets with parked cars, pedestrians and children, and follow reversing and spotter procedures.
Skills and attributes
What to look for in candidates
Heavy vehicle handling
Confident manoeuvring a heavy rigid vehicle in narrow residential streets and tight commercial yards.
Reliability at early starts
Consistently on time for a pre-dawn start, because the route cannot begin without the driver.
Hazard awareness
Spots contamination, overloaded bins and obstructions before they become an incident.
Safety discipline
Follows pre-start checks and reversing procedures every time, not only when supervised.
Public-facing conduct
Deals calmly with residents and business customers while working to a tight schedule.
Basic mechanical awareness
Recognises when a hydraulic or brake fault means the vehicle should not leave the depot.
Licences and qualifications
Requirements for waste collection driver positions vary by operator and vehicle class. These are the credentials Australian waste employers ask for most often.
- Heavy Rigid (HR) licence (Required)
A current HR licence is the standard requirement for side-lift and rear-loader collection vehicles. Some fleets require HC for larger configurations.
- Current driver history check (Required)
Most operators check the driving record before offering a collection role.
- Pre-employment medical and drug screen
Commonly required. Standard for heavy vehicle roles, including fatigue and fitness-for-duty assessment.
- Waste industry induction
Provided. Site and route induction covering the depot, disposal facilities and stream-specific procedures.
- Certificate II or III in Waste Management
Desirable. Not required to start — many drivers train on the job — but useful for progression to larger vehicle classes.
- First aid certificate
Desirable. Valued on crews working away from the depot for most of the shift.
Working conditions
Set clear expectations for candidates about the work environment
- Early starts — the award opens ordinary hours at 4.00am, and most runs begin before dawn
- Outdoor work in all weather, with frequent cab entry and exit
- Exposure to odour, dust and noise, with PPE provided
- Physically demanding, including manual handling of bins that have not presented correctly
- Weekend and public holiday work on some commercial and event runs
- Fatigue management obligations under heavy vehicle law
Award coverage
Understanding the Waste Management Award
Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043)
Most waste collection 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 waste collection 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.
Browse templatesRelated job descriptions
More roles in this category — free templates you can download and edit.
Waste driver instructor job description
Free waste driver instructor job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreWeighbridge operator job description
Free weighbridge operator job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreDepot hand job description
Free depot hand job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreFront lift driver job description
Free front lift driver job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreResource recovery sorter job description
Free resource recovery sorter job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreSkip bin driver job description
Free skip bin driver job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreExplore the waste management cluster
Guides, tools and templates to help you hire, roster and pay waste crews
Industries
How-to guides
Regulatory sources
This job description is aligned with Australian workplace award requirements
Waste collection driver job description FAQ
-
A waste collection driver operates a rear-loading, side-lift or skip-lift truck along a fixed route, collecting general waste, recycling or green waste and disposing of it at a licensed facility. The role includes pre-start vehicle checks, identifying contamination, and weighing in at a transfer station or landfill.
-
A Heavy Rigid (HR) licence is the standard requirement for side-lift and rear-loading collection vehicles. Some operators require a Heavy Combination (HC) licence for larger configurations, and skip and hook-lift work may need additional endorsements.
-
Almost always. The Waste Management Award opens ordinary hours at 4.00am, which is unusually early and reflects how kerbside collection actually runs. An early start inside that span is ordinary time, not overtime.
-
Yes. Even on a fully automated side-lift run, drivers get in and out of the cab repeatedly, reposition bins that have not presented correctly, and work in heat, rain and cold. Rear-loader crews handle bins manually throughout the shift.
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.