Trucking business loans that keep freight moving
Fuel, driver pay, and tolls go out the day of the load — brokers often pay 30 to 60 days later. Financing bridges that gap.
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Not sure which financing fits?
Speed varies by product. Working capital and lines of credit can fund within a day; SBA loans take 30–90 days.
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See what you qualify for without touching your credit score.
Fuel now. Broker pays later.
A fast decision when fuel, driver pay, or a breakdown can't wait.
Guidance built for trucking
An advisor compares lenders and explains tradeoffs before you choose.
Why trucking cash flow is different
You haul the load today and get paid for it weeks later — and how much freight there is to haul shifts with the season, too.
- Delivery starts the invoice — and the invoice starts a clock you don't control. Fuel, tolls, and driver pay are due the day the load moves; the paperwork proving delivery only goes out afterward, and from there brokers commonly run Net 30, with Net 60 on larger or longer-relationship freight.
- The size of the gap moves with the fuel market, not just the calendar. Fuel runs roughly a fifth of the cost of running a truck per mile, and diesel prices swing hard — 2026's own national forecast has moved by more than a dollar a gallon over a matter of months. A fuel spike doesn't just add cost; it widens the exact gap you're financing until the invoice clears.
- Freight has a real calendar, and it isn't just "busy in summer." Retailers restocking for the holidays push dry van rates to their highest point of the year in October and November; the weeks after New Year's are consistently the slowest, with spot rates commonly down 15 to 25% from that peak.
- A slow stretch doesn't pause the truck note. Whether a load is scarce because it's the winter lull or because a lane went quiet between contracts, the truck payment, insurance, and permits keep coming due on their own schedule, not freight's.
None of that is a failure of running a tight operation — it's how freight gets paid, the same for a one-truck owner-operator and a twenty-truck fleet. A carrier can be profitable on paper and still come up short the exact week a rate lull and a slow-paying broker land together, because the freight got hauled and the money is coming — just not yet.
That payment architecture produces the same handful of pressure points on almost every trucking company's books. Four of them show up most often — and each one has a different right answer.
Four binds that put trucking companies in a cash squeeze
The reality above creates the same handful of pressure points across almost every trucking company. Each one has a different right answer — matching them correctly is most of the job.
The invoice doesn't start until delivery — and payment starts weeks after that.
Fuel, tolls, and driver pay are due the day the load moves, but broker terms commonly run Net 30, with Net 60 increasingly common on larger freight. The gap repeats every load, not just once.
Invoice factoring — advances most of a delivered load's value within a day or two, so you're not financing the broker's payment terms out of your own pocket.
Fuel and driver pay don't wait on the broker's payment terms.
Every mile costs money before the invoice does. Fuel alone runs roughly a fifth of the per-mile cost of the truck, and that number moves with the diesel market, not with what you're being paid to haul.
A working capital loan — a lump sum sized to cover fuel, driver pay, and other per-load costs now, repaid on a fixed schedule as receivables clear.
A slow winter stretch or a quiet lane doesn't pause the truck note.
Freight has a real calendar — rates and available loads commonly drop 15 to 25% in the weeks after New Year's — but the truck payment, insurance, and permits keep coming due regardless of how much freight is moving.
A business line of credit — held in reserve and drawn only when a lane goes quiet, so you're never borrowing more than the stretch requires.
A blown engine or a worn-out truck can't wait for the next load to pay for itself.
A Class 8 truck is a six-figure asset, and downtime on a single truck in a small fleet can mean the difference between hauling and not. Paying for a replacement out of cash reserves strains the whole operation.
Equipment financing — spreads the cost of a replacement or additional truck over its working life, with the truck itself typically serving as collateral.
One caution before you choose: the wrong instrument is expensive. Financing a truck that'll run for a decade on short-term working capital costs far more than equipment financing; a load that hasn't delivered yet can't be factored at all. The next section maps situations to the option that actually fits — or see what your business qualifies for and let an advisor narrow it down with you.
Which financing is right for your situation?
There's no single best option — only the one that fits what's in front of you. Find the situation that sounds like yours, and see what a Fundur advisor would likely point you toward, and why.
"The broker's paying Net 45, but my fuel card bill is due Friday."
Invoice Factoring
Turns receivables you've already earned into working cash instead of waiting out the payment cycle.
Explore invoice factoring"I fueled up this morning. I won't see that money for weeks."
Working Capital Loan
Covers the everyday operating costs now, repaid on a fixed schedule over a defined term.
Explore working capital loans"The engine's done, the truck's fifteen years old, and loads won't wait."
Equipment Financing
Spreads the cost over the asset's working life, and the equipment itself usually serves as the collateral.
Explore equipment financing"Between the lull and the next contract, the truck note doesn't skip a month."
Business Line of Credit
Reusable capacity you draw against as you need it and repay — interest only on what you use.
Explore lines of credit"We're adding three trucks and a trailer, all at once, not one by one."
Business Term Loan
A defined lump sum for a large, planned commitment, repaid in predictable fixed installments.
Explore term loans"I want to buy the terminal we've leased for ten years."
SBA Loan
Longer terms and lower rates spread a major investment across the years it actually earns.
Explore SBA loansWhat business financing costs — and how to compare offers
Pricing varies by lender, product, and your business profile, so any page quoting you a single rate is guessing. What you can control is knowing how offers are priced and insisting they're presented the same way.
Interest rate vs. factor rate
An interest rate is charged on a shrinking balance, so paying down early reduces what you owe. A factor rate is a multiplier fixed at signing — a 1.25 factor on $100,000 means $125,000 repaid whether you take the full term or not. Ask which one you're being quoted before anything else.
What moves your pricing
Time in business, monthly revenue and its consistency, credit profile, the amount requested, and whether the financing is secured. Equipment financing typically prices best because the machine itself is collateral; fast unsecured working capital typically prices highest.
Fees worth asking about
Origination fees (commonly 1%–5%), and the prepayment terms. On interest-based financing, paying early should save money; on factor-rate financing it often won't unless the lender offers an early-payoff discount. Payment frequency matters too — daily or weekly drafts pull cash faster than monthly.
Match the term to the asset
The most expensive mistake isn't a high rate — it's a mismatch. Repaying a ten-year machine over nine months strains cash flow no matter how good the rate looks. Short-term money belongs against short-term gaps you'll repay from an identified draw.
The one habit that protects you: insist on two numbers in writing from every lender — the total dollars you will repay and the APR — and compare offers only on those. Never on the factor rate or the monthly payment alone. It's also how Fundur presents every offer, so the comparison is honest from the start.
Rates, factor rates, and fees vary by lender and business. Your actual terms are disclosed in full before you accept anything.
Two needs sit just outside this page. If the pressure is delivered loads waiting on broker terms, that is freight factoring — priced mainly on your customer’s credit rather than your own. If you are buying the truck rather than running it, that is commercial truck financing, repaid over the years the unit earns. The trucking loans on this page are for the operating cost in between.
Tell us about the job. We'll find the fit.
Most owners end up using more than one — a line of credit for one need, equipment financing for another. An advisor compares your real options across multiple lenders and tells you plainly when borrowing isn't the right move. Checking won't affect your credit.
How trucking companies put financing to work
Used well, financing isn't a distress signal — it's how carriers take the load, or the season, they'd otherwise pass on. Three situations that show up constantly, with the math behind them.
Getting paid before the broker's 45 days are up
A load delivers on time and the paperwork's signed, but the broker's terms are Net 45. Fuel, driver pay, and the next load's expenses don't wait that long. Invoice factoring advances most of the load's value within a day or two of delivery — and because the factoring company checks the broker's credit before advancing, it's also a read on whether that broker is worth hauling for again.
Financing the move from day cab to sleeper
A regional day-cab operator gets offered steady over-the-road freight, but the lanes run multiple days and a day cab means a motel bill every night the truck can't make it home. A sleeper adds real cost over a comparable day cab, but equipment financing turns that difference into a truck payment instead of nightly lodging — and the truck itself secures its own financing.
When the lanes go quiet after the holidays
Dry van spot rates and available loads drop sharply in January and February, the predictable low point after the holiday freight surge. Fixed costs don't take the same dip — truck payments, insurance, and permits stay exactly where they were in December. A working capital loan covers the stretch and is repaid once spring freight, including produce season for reefer-equipped trucks, brings volume back.
Figures are illustrative examples, not offers. The pattern holds, though: in each case the financing is sized to a specific, identifiable gap with a clear repayment source — which is exactly what a lender is looking for, too.
From application to funded, in three steps
Most of the process happens in minutes, and many trucking companies are funded within a day — without keeping a truck off the road to chase paperwork.
Tell us about the work
Time in business, monthly revenue, your trade, and what the money is for. Checking your options uses a soft credit pull, so your score isn't affected.
About 5 minutesCompare offers with an advisor
See what you qualify for side by side. A dedicated advisor walks through total cost and repayment against your draw schedule — and says so if borrowing isn't the right call.
Same dayGet funded
Accept the offer that works and funds are deposited to your business account — often the same or next business day, so the schedule never slips.
As fast as 24 hrsHave three to six months of business bank statements ready and keep your legal business name consistent across your application, statements, and W-9. Incomplete or mismatched paperwork is the single most common cause of delay. Speed also varies by product: working capital and lines of credit can fund within a day, while SBA loans take 30–90 days and invoice factoring takes a few days to set up before advances begin.
Do you qualify?
Lenders set their own standards, but most weigh the same core signals. Because approval leans on revenue and cash flow rather than perfect credit, many trucking companies qualify on the strength of their deposit history alone. For scale, the median SBA 7(a) approval to a general freight trucking business in fiscal year 2025 was $80,000 — the smallest of any industry Fundur serves, and a reminder that most trucking financing is equipment and working capital rather than SBA (see SBA lending by industry).
Typical signals only — exact thresholds vary by lender and borrower. These are the minimums to see what you qualify for; requirements vary by product, and SBA loans and term loans generally ask for more time in business and a stronger credit profile.
What you'll need to apply
- 3–6 months of business bank statements — the primary way revenue is verified.
- Basic business details — legal entity name, EIN, trade, and time in business.
- Government ID and a voided check — typically required at funding, not to apply.
- For larger requests: business tax returns or a simple profit-and-loss statement.
What lenders look at in trucking
- Freight and customer mix. Depending on a single broker, shipper, or lane for most revenue reads as concentration risk.
- DOT/FMCSA safety and compliance record. CSA scores and out-of-service history are underwriting signals here, not just safety ones.
- Fleet age and equipment condition. Trucks are collateral value and an operational-risk signal at the same time.
- Fuel cost exposure. How your freight rates hold up against fuel-price swings, since fuel runs roughly a fifth of your per-mile cost.
Trucking business loan FAQs
How do I qualify for a trucking business loan?
Most lenders look for steady monthly revenue (often $10,000+), at least six months in business, and a US business bank account. Recent bank statements matter most; a consistent load history or signed freight contracts strengthen the file, since they show where repayment will come from.
What credit score do I need for trucking financing?
Many options start around a 500 credit score. Stronger credit unlocks better pricing and larger amounts, but because approval weighs revenue and cash flow heavily, carriers with fair or rebuilding credit routinely qualify.
How much can I borrow for my trucking business?
Amounts typically range from $10,000 up to $5 million depending on revenue, time in business, and the financing type. Equipment financing and larger term loans reach the upper end; working capital is usually sized against monthly deposits.
How fast can I get funded?
Many trucking companies get a decision the same day and funding as fast as 24 hours. Speed depends on the lender, the product, and how quickly you provide documents — complete, consistent paperwork is the biggest accelerator.
Do I need collateral for a trucking business loan?
Many working capital loans and lines of credit are unsecured, though a personal guarantee or general lien on business assets is common. Equipment financing is typically secured by the truck itself, which is part of why it prices well.
Are interest payments on trucking financing tax deductible?
Interest on business financing is often deductible when funds are used for business purposes, but rules vary by structure and situation. Confirm with your CPA — particularly on equipment, where depreciation treatment may also apply.
Can I get financing to cover fuel and driver pay between broker payments?
Yes — that's the core use case. A working capital loan or line of credit covers fuel, driver pay, and other per-load costs while a broker's Net 30 or Net 45 terms run their course, then is repaid as invoices clear.
Can I finance a load a broker hasn't paid yet, and how is that different from quick pay?
Invoice factoring advances most of a delivered load's value, typically within a day or two, and works across every broker and shipper you haul for through one provider. Quick pay is offered directly by an individual broker, usually pays a bit slower, and has to be set up and tracked separately with each one.
Can I finance a truck purchase, and does new or used matter?
Yes — equipment financing covers new and used Class 8 trucks and trailers, with the vehicle itself typically serving as collateral. Used trucks are financeable within an age range that varies by lender.
Does seasonal freight volume hurt my chances of qualifying?
Not on its own. Freight has a real calendar — a slower January and February is normal — and lenders who work with carriers expect it. What matters is a clear, consistent deposit pattern backed by bank statements, not a flat month-over-month number.
Can owner-operators and small fleets both qualify, and does my own authority matter?
Yes, both qualify. Operating under your own MC authority versus running leased-on to a carrier changes which documents a lender asks for, but it doesn't rule either structure out — revenue and cash flow are what carry the underwriting decision.
What happens to my financing if a broker doesn't pay, or goes out of business?
If you're using invoice factoring, the factoring company generally checks the broker's credit before advancing funds, and non-recourse arrangements can shift the risk of broker non-payment away from you. Ask any factoring provider directly which model they offer before you sign.
What is the difference between trucking loans and truck financing?
Trucking loans fund the running of the business — fuel, driver pay, insurance, repairs and the gap while brokers pay on terms. Truck financing funds buying the vehicle, secured on the truck and repaid over years. They are underwritten differently and it is expensive to confuse them: short-term operating money will not carry a truck purchase, and a multi-year note is the wrong shape for this week’s fuel. See commercial truck financing for vehicle purchases, and freight factoring if the real problem is delivered loads sitting unpaid.
Financing for related industries
Keep the freight moving. We'll find the financing that fits.
See the trucking financing options you qualify for in minutes — a soft credit check to start, and no obligation to accept an offer.
Fundur is a financing marketplace, not a lender. Fundur does not make credit decisions or guarantee approval, rates, terms, or funding times. A dedicated funding advisor can walk you through any option you receive. Final terms depend on lender approval.