Australia’s two largest trucking firms say there should not be hourly and kilometre payments for linehaul drivers.

Toll and Linfox have submitted a joint submission to the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) urging it not to set up the proposed payment options.

They say the RSRT must “tread cautiously” before imposing new regulations.

But their pleas were not enough, as the tribunal has announced fixed rates will begin on April 4 this year for contractor drivers - those classified as independent contractors in the supermarket distribution sector and long-distance return journeys of more than 500km.

Toll and Linfox said setting rates for linehaul work would be difficult because there are so many types of vehicles used in the sector.

They argued that the broad range of different fuel burn rates and the different amounts paid for trips between regional and capital cities made it impossible to regulate.

“In the circumstances, Linfox and Toll are, reluctantly, presently unable [to] support the setting of specific minimum rates for contractor drivers engaged generally in long distance operations,” the submission said.

“Instead, Linfox and Toll submit that there should be further consideration of this issue (particularly in the context of different industry sectors).

“Linfox and Toll are prepared to engage promptly as part of any such process.”

Both companies did support linehaul drivers receiving minimum rates.

The submission said that if the RSRT set rates for linehaul operations, their coverage should be limited to freight transported between major eastern seaboard state capital cities and Adelaide.

“There is likely to be at least some degree of greater commonality in representative vehicles used for such freight tasks, and in the fuel consumption rates achieved for transport over such routes, than is the case across the long distance sector more generally,” the submission said.

The RSRT did not take up this recommendation.

The new rules mean that from April 4, a large portion of owner-drivers must be paid for time spent waiting to load or unload, any breaks they have to take to meet fatigue management requirements, as well as time spent refuelling and filling out work diaries.

The RSRT says it will publish an online calculator to help companies work out the rates they need to pay in coming weeks.