Updated June 2025
Disclaimer: This document is like a flight safety information broadcast. You may know much of this information already but please take the time to read the entire document.
This contract specifically applies to the current event you have been engaged for.
If you require clarification about these terms, please contact bookings@axleevents.com about all driving-related matters and accounts@axleevents.com about pay matters.
Pay Details
- $35.00 per hour for drivers of 8 seater, 12 seater, 1 tonne and up to 3 tonne vehicles with or without trailers. (C Class License required) and hotel assistants.
- $40.00 per hour for Driver Captains (Managing a team of drivers).
- $40.00 per hour for 22 seater and 25 seater vans with or without trailers. (Medium Rigid License required)
- $35.00 per hour for Meet & Greet assistants for VIP ticket holders.
- $40.00 per hour for Artist Liaison roles.
- If, and only if, you are registered for GST then please add this tax on top of the applicable hourly rate.
- As a contractor, you are still entitled to Superannuation. Super is an additional 11.5%. (12% from July 1st 2025) We use a default superannuation provider with Australian Retirement Trust for those that do not have their own pre-existing super account. You are not entitled to super if you invoice under a trust, partnership, or company.
- As a contractor, you are responsible for your own income tax obligations and Axle does not withhold PAYG tax.
- Your start time is either when you first collect a vehicle from the rental company or 15 minutes before your first scheduled pickup of the day (provided you arrive on time).
- Your end time is when you drop back the vehicle at the rental company or after your last drop off or obligation of the day. You are not entitled to charge for travel time to and from your home unless previously agreed upon for that event.
- Individual events involving multiple shifts must have a minimum break of 5 hours between shifts, otherwise, they are considered one ongoing shift. Please note in rare circumstances exceptions will be made to this rule with consultation.
- All shifts are a minimum 3-hour call. Even if you only pick up or drop off a vehicle or complete an hour of work, you will get paid for a minimum 3 hours. If you work again on the same day this will either be an ongoing shift (less than 5-hour break) or a split shift (more than 5-hour break).
- Event days include production days and performance days. For driving roles, on Event days you are entitled to a minimum 8-hour call on a single shift unless the expected hours are communicated and agreed to in advance. If you are required to do split shifts on event days, then each shift will be a minimum 5-hour call.
Logging Your Hours
- At the conclusion of every shift it is imperative you log your hours at axleevents.com/log-hours/
- When you complete a job (ie van return or airport drop off) that takes less than the minimum 3 hour shift, please still include your actual start time and actual end time for this shift, but just list ‘3’ as your total hours.
- For ongoing shifts without a break of 5 hours, you must provide start and finish times of your actual hours. Log your second shift with the actual times.
- Approved reimbursable expenses and photos of receipts need to be logged along with your hours at the end of each shift. Expenses are things that have been approved by the event organiser and include things like fuel, parking, uber, train etc.
- When one person does not log their hours, we cannot invoice the client until we have this information. Drivers who daily follow this instruction are prioritised for future work.
- The hours logged via the Axle website are considered your official time sheet, and are the basis on which clients are invoiced and your pay processed.
Invoicing
- Invoices will be generated and emailed to you based on your shift logs. You are not required to create your own.
Staff Portal and Axle ID
- Your Axle ID (eg ‘AX0123’) will be emailed to you prior to each event. Please use it when logging your hours and is also your username when logging into the Staff Portal.
- You can access the staff portal by creating an account at this link https://staff.axleevents.com/request-access
- Please ensure your Banking, ABN and Super details are full completed in the Financial section of the portal before logging your first shift.
Payment
- You can expect payment within 10 working days provided your financial details have been completed in the staff portal.
- In the event your ABN appears cancelled we will inform you and advise you how to rectify this – please be aware a percentage of your invoice may be withheld until we are advised the ABN has been reactivated.
- In the event you do not have an ABN you may supply us a Statement By Supplier form. However we will only accept this for your first two jobs, and will require you to supply an ABN if you work with us regularly.
Vehicles
- Please be aware some locations close at different times. It is your responsibility to pick up your vehicle before closing time. Most depot opening hours are available online or if in doubt, please contact the individual depot. Otherwise please be at the depot no later than 30 mins prior to your flight arrival (or earlier if your depot is not located at the airport).
- The time that the vehicle is available for collection is not necessarily your start time or the best time to collect the vehicle. Use common sense to make sure you collect your vehicle within time to start your first run but not ridiculously early that you’re using unnecessary hours. Be aware that some vehicle locations close at odd hours so call the depot to advise them if you’ll be collecting the vehicle later than the booked time so you are sure they are open and will not release your vehicle to the public.
- We make every endeavour to arrange a central pickup to avoid the cost of getting to the airport.
- Where a central pickup is unable to be arranged we will reimburse public transport travel costs to and from shift start/end locations BUT only if organised prior and approved by the relevant organiser. Trains, buses or driving your own vehicle are the means of transport to the depot or airport. You must seek approval from the relevant organiser if you think the use of a Taxi/Uber is required. Otherwise, we cannot reimburse you for the expense.
- Check your vehicle for scratches, dents and roof damage and ensure the rental company updates the vehicle condition report with the damage you note. Double-check the vehicle registration also to make sure you are driving a fully registered vehicle. Take photos of all sides of your vehicle, the interior and the odometer, before you depart the depot. This is critical to ensure you are not held responsible for pre-existing damage on a vehicle. When you return a vehicle, follow the same process with photos.
- Please sign to reduce the vehicle excess when picking up your vehicle unless told otherwise in advance. You are liable for the cost of the excess if you are involved in an accident where you are deemed to be legally at fault.
- Arrangements have been made with the rental company for all tolls to be charged back to the travel agent’s credit card. In the event that this has not occurred, please ask the rental company to speak to who made the rental booking in order for all toll charges to be charged back to the booking account. Under no circumstances should a driver put their credit card down for tolls or use their own E-tags. Please contact Jud should you encounter difficulties with this process.
- Often vehicles will be booked for longer than you require them. Nevertheless, return your vehicle as soon as you have finished your last scheduled movement. Vehicles are only charged based on the time they are used, not the time they are booked for, so if a vehicle was collected at 9am then return it before 9am otherwise it will incur an additional day’s rental cost. This also means you should mindful of the time when collecting your vehicle to do your best to ensure the vehicle isn’t returned after the collection time, incurring an extra day’s rental fee.
Accidents, Incidents or Harassment
- If you are involved in or witness any accident, ensure that you and anyone else involved are unhurt. If there are any injuries at all, then immediately call emergency services PH: 000
- If it is established that no one is injured or requires medical attention then evaluate the situation. If the accident involves multiple vehicles then, using your best judgment, estimate if the damage exceeds $2500. If it does then call the police to attend the scene.
- If multiple vehicles are involved then exchange contact details and take photos of all the damage and license plates from all vehicles involved and the license details of all drivers.
- If other parties ask about your insurance then you can inform them that the insurance is full coverage and supplied by the rental company of the vehicle you are driving.
- Report the incident immediately to both your point of contact at the event and also to Jud Campbell. Take time to jot down your recollections of the incident whilst it is still fresh.
- If the vehicle is no longer in safe driving condition then call the car rental company to arrange towing and a replacement vehicle.
- If the vehicle is still suitable to drive then when you return the vehicle, complete an incident report with the rental company.
- If you are then contacted by the other parties involved in the accident, you can inform them that they need to contact the vehicle rental company for insurance and there is no longer any need for them to contact you in the future.
- If you are experiencing bullying or any form of harassment in the workplace then please report any incidents to Jud Campbell. Other resources are available at www.fairwork.gov.au
Lobby Times
- Please arrive at all scheduled lobby calls 15mins early unless advised otherwise by a Tour Manager or your point of contact. You are paid for this time.
Fuel and Reimbursements
- Please organise with your Tour Manager/ Event Organiser /Point of Contact to receive a float for any required purchases such as fuel or supplies. All purchases made with this money require receipts to be returned to the Tour Manager / Event Organiser.
- The best practice with fuel is filling up prior to the completion of the job or the departure of the Tour Manager, so you are reimbursed by the tour manager and not required to wait for reimbursement.
- All vehicles need to be refilled prior to return due to the high cost of rental companies charge for fuel unless you are specifically told by a transport coordinator, tour manager or promoter representative.
- In some instances, you may be required to purchase fuel or other items prior to receiving a float. It is your responsibility to reconcile all fuel and miscellaneous receipts with the Tour Manager before the end of your period of work. We will only reimburse you for unpaid receipts via your invoice if it has been arranged prior to the completion of your final shift.
- Tour managers generally dislike receiving change from float so it’s best to attempt filling up to the closest $5 increments or at worst bringing back only gold coin change. If necessary, keep topping up the vehicle to round the total up to the nearest dollar or $5 increment.
- On some jobs you may receive float from Axle staff. When this occurs please include this information in your end of shift log, along with details of any receipts. The best way to reconcile your float and receipts in your invoice is detailed on the Axle driver invoice template.
Airport Collections Sydney & Brisbane
- In Sydney and Brisbane Axle has a license to use commercial/limousine areas for pickups. These areas are for the domestic and international terminals and require an Etag to enter boom gates. They are charged based on the time you are waiting in the commercial area.
- If you have received an Etag then it will come in a pouch that electronically shields and protects the tag from registering with other toll roads. Keep the tag in the pouch and hidden out of view until you are at the airport and can remove it from the pouch. Please ensure the tag is always in the pouch and hidden from view at all other times so as not to register costs whilst driving on other toll roads.
- When using these areas, make sure you are familiar with where you enter and exit. If you do not exit via the correct boom gate area then Axle is charged the maximum fee which is in excess of $150 per entry. Please see the maps and videos in appendix A below for the correct area and if in any doubt please contact Jud.
Dress
- As an event runner/assistant, it is important to look professional and dress smart-casual (like you are going to a decent restaurant with a loved one) dressed in enclosed shoes.
Meals
- On most festival events and large arena shows you will generally receive meal tickets or catering. On all other events, all meals are at your own expense.
Conduct
- This states the obvious for experienced drivers, but we expect all our drivers to be professional, discrete, knowledgeable, helpful, punctual, reserved, prepared, safe, sober, cautious, oblivious to fame and non-harassing.
These are the general event-driving commandments:
- Do not consume any alcohol and remain drug-free throughout your shift.
- All vehicles are to be a hassle-free, safe zone for an artist/guest. Do not request autographs or photos, ask questions where none are required and or do anything that portrays you as a fan – even if you are. Some of you will enjoy fantastic conversations with your guests, which is fine, but you are not there to sell them on your latest project, be their new friend or discuss other festivals/events, or ask for favours or tickets. Maintain a courteous but professional distance.
- Drive cautiously, and smoothly and obey all road rules.
- Treat everyone like your grandmother – open doors, and boots, assist with bags etc.
- Know the best way you absorb information. Some tour managers will text requests, some will verbalise them. If your memory is not the best, bring a notebook and pen.
- Be early. Don’t sleep through your alarm! If necessary, set multiple alarms and triple-check them.
- Run your air-conditioning before your guest arrives to cool your vehicle down, especially on hot days.
- Always know ahead of time where you are going. If you don’t know where a location is, ask the other drivers working with you, use your mobile to consult Google Maps or do a reconnaissance of the location and trip. Use your phone’s GPS and a dash mount so you have real-time traffic updates.
- Monitor your fuel level so you don’t run out of fuel or must refuel with passengers.
- Bring a car charger and dash mount for your mobile phone so you always have a working phone and are able to use GPS legally. It is not legal or ok to have a phone resting in your lap.
Thank you. We look forward to working with you!
Appendix A
For specific instructions for each airport please navigate to “Contractor Resources” in the menu.