WHO THIS IS FOR

Refrigerated Transport Finance Built for Australian Carriers

Refrigerated transport operators across Australia running supermarket DC linehaul, food and beverage distribution, pharmaceutical cold chain, frozen and chilled freight, and fresh produce haulage are knocked back by banks that don't understand cold-chain compliance costs, stalled in single-lender queues, and pushed into generic templates by dealer finance. Whether you're a supermarket DC linehaul carrier on a multi-year contract, a regional food and beverage distributor on chilled rounds, a pharma cold-chain specialist on TGA-licensed work, a frozen-freight carrier on national routes, or a fresh produce hauler on seasonal demand, we finance reefer prime movers, refrigerated B-doubles, reefers and last-mile reefer vans on the cold-chain contract.

Your application goes to specialist transport and cold-chain lenders who score supply contracts, cold-chain compliance, reefer asset value and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing reefer trucks or trailers Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Winning a new cold-chain supply contract Quote the work confident your pre-approval is locked in and the reefer will be on the route 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 reefer loans Free up monthly income cycle, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Refrigerated Transport 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 refrigerated transport business and the reefer prime movers, trailers or vans you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Refrigerated Transport Finance Specialist

An Australia-based refrigerated transport 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 balloon structure tailored to how your cold-chain contract actually pays.

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.

EQUIPMENT WE HELP FINANCE

Refrigerated Transport Brands and Classes We Help Finance

From single-temp distribution reefers to multi-temp pharma B-doubles. New and refurbished across every major brand on the Australian cold-chain market.

Brands We Help Finance

  • Kenworth
  • Scania
  • Volvo
  • Mack
  • Western Star
  • Isuzu
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • DAF
  • Hino
  • Iveco
  • MAN
  • Freightliner

Refrigerated Transport Classes We Help Finance

  • Reefer Prime Movers

    Single and B-double prime movers for cold-chain linehaul and DC corridor work.

  • Multi-Temp B-Doubles

    Split-compartment reefers for combined frozen + chilled supermarket runs.

  • Reefers

    Light and medium reefers for metropolitan FMCG and meal-kit distribution.

  • Pharma Cold-Chain Trailers

    TGA-compliant temperature-controlled trailers for pharmaceutical and clinical freight.

  • Last-Mile Reefer Vans

    Refrigerated panel vans for final-mile food and restaurant distribution.

  • Fresh Produce Carriers

    Seasonal and year-round reefer combinations for fruit, vegetables and meat.

RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Refrigerated Transport Operators

Refrigerated transport finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from owner-drivers on chilled rounds to national cold-chain fleets. ACL 389328.

"New three-year linehaul contract with a national supermarket DC, two reefer B-doubles needed by mobilisation. Cody had pre-approval back in under a day against the signed contract."

Brett, Operations Manager
Supermarket linehaul

"Chilled distribution business on metropolitan rounds for a national meal-kit brand. Bank wouldn't price the contract as recurring income. Jake matched us with a lender that read the customer relationship as the case."

Hayden, Director
Chilled distribution

"Pharma cold-chain operator on TGA-licensed pharmaceutical runs. Specialist temperature-controlled trailer needed compliance certification. John found a lender that understood the asset and approved it on the contract case."

Sharon, GM
Pharma cold-chain

"Owner-driver stepping up to a second reefer prime mover after winning a sub-contract slot with a major mother carrier. Jason structured the loan with a balloon to match the contract's renewal cycle."

Dale, Owner-Driver
Second reefer

"Frozen-freight specialist running interstate corridor work for a national ice-cream brand. Bank wouldn't fund the older fleet refresh. Tom found a non-bank lender that scored on contract longevity and approved three refurbished prime movers."

Marty, Fleet Manager
Frozen interstate

"New three-year linehaul contract with a national supermarket DC, two reefer B-doubles needed by mobilisation. Cody had pre-approval back in under a day against the signed contract."

Brett, Operations Manager
Supermarket linehaul

"Chilled distribution business on metropolitan rounds for a national meal-kit brand. Bank wouldn't price the contract as recurring income. Jake matched us with a lender that read the customer relationship as the case."

Hayden, Director
Chilled distribution

"Pharma cold-chain operator on TGA-licensed pharmaceutical runs. Specialist temperature-controlled trailer needed compliance certification. John found a lender that understood the asset and approved it on the contract case."

Sharon, GM
Pharma cold-chain

"Owner-driver stepping up to a second reefer prime mover after winning a sub-contract slot with a major mother carrier. Jason structured the loan with a balloon to match the contract's renewal cycle."

Dale, Owner-Driver
Second reefer

"Frozen-freight specialist running interstate corridor work for a national ice-cream brand. Bank wouldn't fund the older fleet refresh. Tom found a non-bank lender that scored on contract longevity and approved three refurbished prime movers."

Marty, Fleet Manager
Frozen interstate

"Fresh produce carrier on seasonal stone-fruit work, intense Nov to March, quiet rest of year. Equifund matched us with a lender that structured the term to the seasonal income cycle, lower in winter and higher across harvest."

Glen, Owner
Seasonal produce

"Multi-temperature B-double trailer needed for a new combined frozen-and-chilled supermarket route. Specialist asset, specialist lender appetite. Terry put it with a lender that knew the spec and approved on the route's contract."

Lachy, Operations Manager
Multi-temp trailer

"Refrigerated van fleet for last-mile food delivery contract with a national restaurant group. Equifund structured a master facility so additions inside the contract limit don't trigger a new application."

Adam, Director
Last-mile reefer vans

"Refinanced four legacy reefer trailer loans into one cold-chain facility. Repayment dropped, term matched the supermarket contract renewal, and we made room in the equipment budget for a new prime mover."

Wayne, Owner
Cold-chain refinance

"Established cold-chain carrier expanding into pharma freight after winning a national distributor contract. Equifund put it with a lender that scored the new vertical's signed contract and approved the trailer additions on the same facility."

Heath, Operations Lead
Pharma expansion

"Fresh produce carrier on seasonal stone-fruit work, intense Nov to March, quiet rest of year. Equifund matched us with a lender that structured the term to the seasonal income cycle, lower in winter and higher across harvest."

Glen, Owner
Seasonal produce

"Multi-temperature B-double trailer needed for a new combined frozen-and-chilled supermarket route. Specialist asset, specialist lender appetite. Terry put it with a lender that knew the spec and approved on the route's contract."

Lachy, Operations Manager
Multi-temp trailer

"Refrigerated van fleet for last-mile food delivery contract with a national restaurant group. Equifund structured a master facility so additions inside the contract limit don't trigger a new application."

Adam, Director
Last-mile reefer vans

"Refinanced four legacy reefer trailer loans into one cold-chain facility. Repayment dropped, term matched the supermarket contract renewal, and we made room in the equipment budget for a new prime mover."

Wayne, Owner
Cold-chain refinance

"Established cold-chain carrier expanding into pharma freight after winning a national distributor contract. Equifund put it with a lender that scored the new vertical's signed contract and approved the trailer additions on the same facility."

Heath, Operations Lead
Pharma expansion
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Refrigerated Transport Finance

Side-by-side on the criteria that decide whether an Australian transport 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 Refrigerated Transport Finance Questions

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

What types of refrigerated transport can I finance in Australia?

We finance new, used, demonstrator, dealer and private-sale refrigerated transport across all major makes including Kenworth, Scania, Volvo, Mack, Western Star, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz and DAF. Your specialist matches the finance to your work and the lender to your file.

How long does refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport, private sale, or auction purchase?

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

Can I refinance an existing refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport operators in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport operators?

Yes. Refrigerated Transports, attachments, trailers and related equipment are all on the panel. Equipment security can be structured independently of refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the reefer truck for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the refrigerated transport 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 income cycle against vehicle turnover. Your Australia-based refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport finance?

Low-doc refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a refrigerated transport. 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.

Will lenders price cold-chain contracts as recurring income?

Yes. Specialist transport and cold-chain lenders on our panel recognise supermarket DC linehaul contracts, pharma cold-chain agreements, food and beverage distribution contracts and seasonal fresh-produce work as recurring contract income, and approve reefer prime movers and trailers without consumer credit scoring.

Can specialist temperature-controlled trailers be financed against the contract?

Yes. Lenders on our panel finance multi-temperature B-doubles, TGA-compliant pharma trailers, marine-grade reefers and other specialist cold-chain assets against the contract that justifies them, with chattel mortgage terms matched to the contract length and renewal cycle.

Can a cold-chain fleet operator consolidate trailer additions onto one facility?

Yes. Cold-chain carriers running rolling fleet refreshes or contract-led trailer additions can set up a master facility on our panel that approves additions inside the limit without a new application each time, reducing credit hits and admin.

Equifund finance specialist on call
refrigerated transport finance specialists

Apply for Your Refrigerated Transport Finance

Three quick steps. A refrigerated transport finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

Pre-approval in 24 hours
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