WHO THIS IS FOR

Commercial Trailer Finance Built for Australian Operators

Commercial Trailers owner-operators, subcontractors and small-fleet operators across Australia are knocked back by banks, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you run interstate freight on B-double and semi-trailer combinations, reefer trailers for cold-chain distribution, tipper trailers for civil and quarry work, low-loader trailers for plant and equipment transport, livestock trailers for cattle and sheep cartage, hire-out commercial trailers, or owner-driver subcontract work.

Your application goes to specialist transport and trailer lenders who assess freight income, asset value and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing commercial trailers or trailers Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Securing a new freight contract Quote the work confident your pre-approval is locked in and the asset will be on site for day one.
  • Buying used, dealer or private sale Auction, dealer and private deals other lenders walk away from. We settle direct to the seller and handle the paperwork end to end.
  • Refinancing existing equipment loans Lower monthly repayments, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Commercial Trailer Finance Works in Australia

A simple, secure online application, with honest advice from a Australia specialist you can trust.
No pressure. No hit to your credit score.

01
Group (3)

Complete the Form in 60 Seconds

Tell us about your business and the commercial trailer you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Commercial Trailer Finance Specialist

An Australia-based commercial trailer finance specialist reviews your situation and walks you through the documents needed for the lender match.

03
Frame (9)

Get Pre-Approved Over the Phone

You'll have a clear pre-approval often within 1 business day, with rate, term and repayment structure tailored to how your business income actually flows.

04
Group (5)

Settle the Loan
and Take Delivery

Your specialist sources the strongest matched offer and coordinates settlement with the dealer, private seller or auction house.

Get My Pre-Approval
60 second form. No impact on your credit score.
RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Commercial Trailer Operators

Commercial Trailer finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from owner-operators to mid-size fleets. ACL 389328.

"Container subbie contract started Monday and we needed a new skel trailer on the road Sunday. Cody settled the finance Friday and the trailer hit the port run on schedule."

Wayne, Owner-Driver
Port container sub

"National retailer's linehaul contract underwrote a fleet of curtain-sider commercial trailers. Equifund put it on one chattel mortgage as a package with one credit decision."

Carly, Operations Manager
National retail linehaul

"Intermodal freight contract on port and rail shuttle work kept the skel fleet busy. They matched us with a lender that scored on the intermodal contract income."

Brett, Owner
Intermodal freight

"Demo curtain-sider on a metro distribution run for two weeks. Load times and tare numbers stacked up. John had us approved by the end of the demo and the unit stayed."

Mick, Driver
Metro distribution

"Ex-fleet commercial trailers at a major operator's sell-down, clean books, low kilometres. Equifund pre-approved us across the catalogue."

Hayden, Owner-Operator
Transport operator

"Container subbie contract started Monday and we needed a new skel trailer on the road Sunday. Cody settled the finance Friday and the trailer hit the port run on schedule."

Wayne, Owner-Driver
Port container sub

"National retailer's linehaul contract underwrote a fleet of curtain-sider commercial trailers. Equifund put it on one chattel mortgage as a package with one credit decision."

Carly, Operations Manager
National retail linehaul

"Intermodal freight contract on port and rail shuttle work kept the skel fleet busy. They matched us with a lender that scored on the intermodal contract income."

Brett, Owner
Intermodal freight

"Demo curtain-sider on a metro distribution run for two weeks. Load times and tare numbers stacked up. John had us approved by the end of the demo and the unit stayed."

Mick, Driver
Metro distribution

"Ex-fleet commercial trailers at a major operator's sell-down, clean books, low kilometres. Equifund pre-approved us across the catalogue."

Hayden, Owner-Operator
Transport operator

"First time on a tier-two retailer linehaul contract. Terry structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the contract's renewal cycle."

Hannah, Director
Retail linehaul

"Linehaul operator expanding from general freight into FMCG distribution. Jake matched us with a lender that scored on the active retailer pipeline as the case for new trailers."

Brad, Operations Manager
FMCG distribution

"Owner-driver stepping up from sub-contract to running our own commercial trailer on a national linehaul gig. Jason structured a chattel mortgage with the right balloon to align with the income cycle."

Beau, Owner-Driver
National linehaul

"Hire-out commercial trailer fleet to linehaul and metro distribution sub-contractors. They put us with a lender that structured the loan to the hire-revenue cycle rather than standard repayments."

Glen, Yard Owner
Hire-out fleet

"Regional transport operator running interstate and intrastate freight. Equifund found a lender that scored on the recurring shipper contracts and approved on the active job book."

Murray, Owner
Regional transport

"First time on a tier-two retailer linehaul contract. Terry structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the contract's renewal cycle."

Hannah, Director
Retail linehaul

"Linehaul operator expanding from general freight into FMCG distribution. Jake matched us with a lender that scored on the active retailer pipeline as the case for new trailers."

Brad, Operations Manager
FMCG distribution

"Owner-driver stepping up from sub-contract to running our own commercial trailer on a national linehaul gig. Jason structured a chattel mortgage with the right balloon to align with the income cycle."

Beau, Owner-Driver
National linehaul

"Hire-out commercial trailer fleet to linehaul and metro distribution sub-contractors. They put us with a lender that structured the loan to the hire-revenue cycle rather than standard repayments."

Glen, Yard Owner
Hire-out fleet

"Regional transport operator running interstate and intrastate freight. Equifund found a lender that scored on the recurring shipper contracts and approved on the active job book."

Murray, Owner
Regional transport
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Commercial Trailer Finance

Side-by-side on the criteria that decide whether an Australian trailer finance deal settles or stalls.

Criterion Equifund Specialist Major Bank
Income type Reads freight invoices, contractor payments and BAS PAYG salary preferred, freight income often discounted
Lender access Panel of 80+ Australian lenders matched to your file One bank, one credit template
Pre-approval speed Typically inside 24 hours 5 to 10 business days on average
Documentation Low-doc options available for established operators Full financials usually required
Deposit $0 deposit available for prime applications Deposit typically required
Industry expertise Australia-based transport finance specialists Generic commercial credit team
FAQ

Common Commercial Trailer Finance Questions

Straight answers to the questions Australian businesses and operators ask most.

What types of commercial trailer can I finance in Australia?

We finance new, used, demonstrator, dealer and private-sale commercial trailer across all major makes and models. Your specialist matches the finance to your work and the lender to your file.

How long does commercial trailer finance take to settle?

Pre-approval is typically inside 24 hours once you submit the form. Settlement timing then depends on the lender and asset details, with many Australian deals settling within a week of pre-approval.

Do I need to own property to qualify?

No. Many of our lenders score the deal on freight income and asset value rather than requiring property security. Non-property owners regularly settle commercial trailer finance through Equifund.

Do I need a deposit?

Not always. $0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially for established operators with active freight contracts. Other deals may require a deposit depending on the asset, the lender and the loan term.

Can I finance a used commercial trailer, private sale, or auction purchase?

Yes. We finance dealer purchases, private sales, auctions and end-of-lease buyouts. The commercial trailer just needs to meet the lender's age and condition requirements.

Can I refinance an existing commercial trailer loan?

Yes. Many Australian operators refinance to access a better rate, restructure repayments around their income cycle, release equity from the asset, or consolidate multiple commercial trailer loans into one facility.

Which lenders does Equifund work with?

We have a panel of 80+ Australian lenders spanning major banks, specialist asset financiers and non-bank lenders that specifically understand freight income and transport assets. Your specialist matches your file to the right lender for the deal.

Can I finance multiple commercial trailers in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-commercial trailer deals for Australian fleets, often splitting the package across more than one lender to fit each asset's spec and your overall structure.

Do you finance trailers and equipment as well as commercial trailers?

Yes. Commercial Trailers, attachments, trailers and related equipment are all on the panel. Equipment security can be structured independently of commercial trailer finance if that better suits the deal.

What's the difference between a chattel mortgage and a finance lease?

A chattel mortgage gives you immediate ownership of the commercial trailer while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the commercial trailer for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the commercial trailer on the lender's books with set monthly payments and an optional residual paid at the end of the term. Useful for fleet operators managing repayments against vehicle turnover. Your Australia-based commercial trailer finance specialist will recommend the structure that suits your business and tax position. Read the full chattel mortgage vs finance lease comparison.

What is freight income recognition?

Freight income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from freight invoices, contractor payments and BAS rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. Bank credit templates often miss this. Specialist lenders read freight income accurately, which is why established Australian operators frequently get approved on deals that mainstream banks decline.

What is low-doc commercial trailer finance?

Low-doc commercial trailer finance is approval on a reduced documentation set, usually a Director declaration plus business activity statements or recent bank statements, rather than full financials. It is faster to process and common for established small-fleet operators in Australia who would rather not produce two years of full tax returns for a single asset purchase.

What is pre-approval in commercial trailer finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a commercial trailer. It sets the maximum loan amount, indicative rate, term and repayment structure so you can negotiate with dealers, private sellers or auction houses on solid ground. Equifund pre-approvals are typically issued within 24 hours of form submission.

What is an Australian Credit Licence (ACL)?

An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) is a licence issued by ASIC permitting a business to engage in credit activities under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act. Equifund holds Australian Credit Licence 389328. Working with an ACL holder is a baseline regulatory protection for the borrower and a baseline trust signal for any Australian finance provider.

Can you finance commercial trailers across all configurations?

Yes. New, demo and used commercial trailers (flat-deck, B-double, curtainsider, refrigerated, drop-deck, tipper, low-loader, livestock, tanker) for freight, bulk haulage and specialist transport are routinely financed through specialist lenders on our panel.

Can you finance commercial trailers on contract income rather than property security?

Yes. Lenders on our panel score commercial trailers on contract income, BAS and active freight contracts. The trailer itself secures the loan.

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commercial trailer finance specialists

Apply for Your Commercial Trailer Finance

Three quick steps. A commercial trailer finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

Pre-approval in 24 hours
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