Payroll is complex in Australian trucking because every shift is a moving target - long-haul hours, fatigue rules, allowances and the Road Transport Award all collide in ways that change week to week. Add in mixed employment types, STP, super and real-time visibility into driver hours and it becomes one of the most compliance-heavy payroll environments in the country.

ClockOn simplifies all of it. Designed for trucking and logistics operators, ClockOn automates award interpretation, manages driver timesheets and allowances, streamlines STP Phase 2, and gives fleet managers real visibility into hours worked on the road.

Why Payroll Is Complex for Australian Trucking Companies

We know what it’s like trying to run payroll in a trucking business. Every week brings a new mix of hours, fatigue rules, allowances and award conditions that never seem to stay still. It’s a high-stakes environment where even small errors can quickly turn into compliance headaches and costly underpayments.

Here's a (short) list of hurdles most trucking businesses have to overcome:

1. Long-distance operations create complex shift patterns
2. Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award compliance is difficult to calculate manually
3. Fatigue laws require accurate visibility into driver hours
4. Multiple workforce types: casuals, full-time, owner-drivers, subcontractors
5. Allowances: travel, meals, loading, tools, overnight, living away
6. Super, tax, deductions, leave accruals, and STP obligations
7. High risk of underpayments without reliable rule automation

How ClockOn Solves Trucking Payroll & Compliance Challenges

ClockOn cuts through the chaos of trucking payroll by automating the award, handling every shift scenario and giving you real-time visibility into driver hours and allowances. It turns a high-risk, high-complexity process into something accurate, consistent and fully compliant (every single payday).

Award & Rule Interpretation

ClockOn automates award conditions including early starts, long-haul hours, weekends, public holidays and fatigue-related breaks. Overtime, penalties, and allowances are calculated automatically, reducing manual work and cutting disputes caused by misinterpretation.

STP Phase 2 Ready

ClockOn delivers full ATO-compliant STP Phase 2 reporting with clear validation steps that detect issues before submission. Every payroll run is audit-ready, giving transport operators peace of mind.

Driver-Specific Pay Categories & Allowances

Custom pay categories allow you to set up driver allowances per route, per shift, per vehicle type, or per individual employee. Travel, meals, living-away-from-home, and fatigue-based adjustments are all supported.

Accurate Time & Attendance – Even on the Road

Accurate time and attendance shouldn’t fall apart the moment a driver leaves the depot — and with ClockOn, it doesn’t. GPS-tagged clock-ins, mobile timesheets and real-time visibility mean you always know who worked when and where, no matter how far the run takes them.

GPS-Tagged Mobile Clocking

Drivers clock in/out via the ClockOn GO mobile app, with GPS tagging for real-time visibility. This reduces time fraud, improves fatigue monitoring, and gives depot managers clarity on hours worked across long-distance routes.

Depot-Based Clocking Options

Use ClockOn’s Kiosk mode for yard or warehouse staff. Timesheets flow into an approval workflow so managers can review, edit, and approve hours before payroll is processed.

Full Payroll Processing Built for Transport

ClockOn provides a complete payroll workflow — review → calculate → preview → finalise — built for transport operators.

1. Automatic tax, super, leave, and allowance calculations

2. Handles allowances commonly used in the transport industry

3. All driver rules and award conditions are embedded into each run

4. Strong audit trail for compliance, audits, and Fair Work checks

Check out our video below for an overview of the payroll features:

Beyond Payroll – Integrated HR & Compliance Tools

ClockOn gives trucking businesses the HR and compliance backbone they rarely have time to build — centralised records, leave management, document storage and work rights checks all in one place. It keeps your team organised, your obligations covered and your compliance audit-ready year-round.

Employment & Driver Records

Store licences, driver medicals, dangerous goods certifications, and expiry dates in one place. Get automated reminders for renewals.

Onboarding & VEVO Checks

Digital onboarding captures TFN, bank details, super choice, visas, and work-right documents. Everything syncs with payroll automatically.

Incident & Document Management

Log safety events and compliance incidents. Upload fatigue management policies, training documents, and link files directly to a driver profile.

Rostering for Transport Teams

Create rosters for depot teams, drivers, and admin staff — including rotating runs, early starts, long-haul cycles, and split shifts. Publish shifts straight to the GO mobile app. Managers can access rosters, leave, and timesheets inside ClockOn’s Manager Portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Road Transport Award and how does it affect payroll?

It defines how drivers must be paid, including penalties, overtime, loading, allowances, and fatigue rules. Software with award automation reduces errors.

How do trucking companies pay drivers per kilometre?

The Road Transport Award includes kilometre-based rates. ClockOn supports custom pay categories that allow per-km or hybrid pay structures.

What allowances should be included in driver pay?

Common allowances include meal, travel, tool, loading, and living-away-from-home allowances. ClockOn automates these through custom allowance rules.

Is ClockOn compliant with STP Phase 2?

Yes — ClockOn is fully STP2 compliant, with built-in error checking before lodgement.

Can I use ClockOn for casuals, full-time staff, and contractors?

Yes — ClockOn supports all employment types including subcontractors and owner-drivers (with limited payroll requirements).

Ready to Streamline Payroll for Your Fleet?

See ClockOn in action — get a demo tailored to your transport business.