Transport, postal and warehousing industry
Last Updated: 24 June 2020
COVID-19 affected industries
Victorian COVID-19 restrictions
From 6pm on Sunday 2 August, Melbourne moved to Stage 4 restrictions and regional Victoria moved to Stage 3 restrictions.
Find how to create a COVID Safe Plan and understand how Stage 4 restrictions apply to your industry on the Business Victoria website.
From 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August 2020, all Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live. You and your staff should wear them when at work and also when travelling to and from work. If you don't, you must have a lawful reason not to.
Find more Victorian business COVID-19 information.
COVID-19 support for all Australian businesses
It's important to keep workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19. You can find the latest information and resources for your industry on the Safe Work Australia website.
If the coronavirus has affected your business, get coronavirus information and support for business.
Business types in this industry
The transport, postal and warehousing industry includes:
- transporting passengers via taxi and luxury car hire services
- transporting passengers and freight by road, rail, water or air
- postal, courier pick-up and delivery services
- scenic and sightseeing transport
- warehousing other storage activities
Further advice and assistance
Check our general business information for additional regulations and obligations relevant to your business.
For further advice and assistance, consider contacting your accountant, solicitor, business adviser or industry association.
Legislation, standards and initiatives
Key legislation
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010
- Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
- Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989
- Vehicle Regulation
- Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS)
- Austroads Registration and Licensing Task Force
- Heavy Vehicle National Law Regulations
- National trade measurement legislation
- State taxi and luxury car hire regulations
- State tow truck regulations
Industry codes of practice
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) outlines the transport industry’s individual state or territory codes of practice.
Find the licences and permits you need for your business
Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) to find information on the licences you may need.
Licences and permits
State or territory governments manage the licences and permits for the transport, postal and warehousing industry.
The licences and permits you may need include:
- taxi licence
- towing licence
- boating licence
- limousine and luxury car licence
- heavy vehicle licensing and accreditation
- public weighbridge licensing
- local and international trade regulations
- customs licensing
- warehouse licensing
- qualifications to store/transport certain goods or services (e.g. food, waste)
- approval of transport security plans
Taxation
The transport, postal and warehousing industry have specific Goods and Services Tax (GST) measures. Know your GST obligations and register with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ensure you can claim your GST credits.
Visit the ATO website to learn more about the GST requirements for the transport, postal and warehousing industry:
Other tax measures that may apply to your transport, postal and warehousing business include:
Levies and charges
Levies and charges fund activities that support the industry, such as:
- build new roads and routes
- maintain transport resources
- operate related services
The main levies that apply to the transport, postal and warehousing industry include levies on:
- vehicle permits and licences
- transport facility charges
- road safety
- airport and trade levies
Employing people
Workplace health and safety (WHS)
All business must comply with general work health and safety regulations. The transport, postal and warehousing industry also has state specific WHS requirements. These include:
- traffic management
- fatigue management
- load management for drivers
- roadside operations
- forklift operations
- manual handling
- working at height
- working near overhead wires or underground services
- waste management
- working with dangerous goods and hazardous substances
- working alone
Additional resources to help you manage your WHS include:
- Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development for safety and security information on specific transport types
- National Heavy Vehicle Regulator details fatigue management regulations and work diaries
Intellectual property
As well as trade marks, transport, postal and warehousing businesses may consider patents to protect inventions such as new equipment, new machinery, new systems or processes.
Insurance
Alongside compulsory insurances, the transport, postal and warehousing industry has specific insurances. These insurances include:
- transportation vehicles and vessels
- equipment and machinery
- cargo and goods
- property and buildings
- business interruption
