Trailer Finance for Freight Operators
Specialist trailer finance for Australian transport operators, owner-drivers and fleet owners financing the trailer itself, separately from the prime mover that tows it. BAS and freight income assessed directly, with trailer configuration, tare weight and residual value read correctly. Flat-tops, curtainsiders, refrigerated trailers, tippers, dog trailers and skel sets bundled into one chattel mortgage, finance lease or operating lease.
- Pre-approval inside 24 hours
- $0 deposit for prime applications
- Wide specialist lender panel
- New, used, dealer or private-sale trailers
30-second check. No impact on your credit score.
Choose Your Industry
Choose the category that best describes your finance requirement.
No obligation. Soft credit check only.
Built for Operators, Backed by Specialists
Whether you are a transport operator adding trailer capacity to an existing fleet, an owner-driver pairing a new trailer with your prime mover, or a refrigerated or bulk-haulage operator, Equifund matches you to lenders that read trailer residual value and freight income correctly.
Who We Help
Specialist finance for every corner of the Australian transport industry.
Why Choose Us
Faster approvals and terms built around your transport business.
Wide Panel of Australian Lenders, Not One Credit Template
We Move Quickly So Your Trailer Is Not Left Idle
Freight, Contract and BAS Income Assessed Directly
Support for Owner-Drivers and Complex Fleet Profiles
Which Trailer Brands Can I Finance?
Every major Australian trailer brand, financed through specialist lenders for prime ABN profiles.

Krueger
Krueger trailer finance for drop decks, curtainsiders, B-double sets, refrigerated and skel trailers, new or late-model from the Brisbane and Wodonga plants.

Maxitrans
Maxitrans trailer finance for Freighter drop decks and curtainsiders, Hamelex White and AZMEB tippers and Trout River live-bottom trailers, new or used.

Vawdrey
Vawdrey trailer finance for PowerCurtain curtainsiders, refrigerated trailers with Carrier and Thermo King fitouts, B-double sets and mezzanine-deck units, new or used.

Lusty EMS
Lusty EMS trailer finance for quad-axle semi-tippers, side-tippers and tipper-and-dog combinations for quarry, civil and agriculture, new or used.

Tefco
Tefco trailer finance for PBS-rated curtainsiders, refrigerated trailers, drop-deck units and B-double sets for distribution operators, new or used.

Drake
Drake trailer finance for low loaders, deck-widening floats, jeep-and-dolly combinations and swing-wing extendables for plant transport and oversize loads, new or used.
Plus Byrne Trailers, Haulmark, Southern Cross, Freightmaster, Muscat Trailers, Action Trailers and every other major make on the Australian market. If your brand is not listed, we still finance it.
Which Trailer Finance Structure Is Right for You?
Five ways to structure your finance, each suited to a different goal and cashflow position.
Chattel Mortgage
You own the trailer from the day finance settles, while your lender holds a mortgage over it as security until the loan is repaid. It is the most requested structure for GST-registered transport operators, since you can typically claim the GST back on the purchase price straight away and depreciation runs through your own business. Trailers are not passenger cars, so the ATO's car depreciation limit does not apply and the full purchase price is generally depreciable. A balloon payment can be added to lower your regular repayments if that suits your cash flow better.
Hire Purchase
The lender owns the trailer for the life of the agreement and you make fixed repayments to use it, with ownership transferring to you once the final payment clears. It suits owner-drivers who want the certainty of a fixed repayment structure, and the GST is spread across your payments rather than claimed as one lump sum upfront.
Finance Lease
Your lender retains legal title to the trailer for the term of the lease while you use it in your operation, making regular lease payments that are typically fully tax deductible. At the end of the term you can make an offer to buy the trailer, refinance the residual, or hand it back, giving you flexibility if your fleet needs change with your contracts.
Operating Lease
You pay to use the trailer for an agreed term, and your lender carries the risk of its residual value, not you. It suits fleet operators who like to keep their trailers current, since bundled servicing is often included and you simply hand the trailer back and roll into a newer unit when the term ends.
Unsecured Business Loan
Funds are approved against your business's trading position rather than security over the trailer itself, so you can move quickly on a private sale or older trailer a traditional lender might decline. It typically comes with a shorter term and can settle the same day, once your trading history has been assessed.
Depreciation and car cost thresholds set by the ATO. Credit licensing regulated by ASIC.
Clear Terms. No Unnecessary Complexity. Fast Outcomes.
A straightforward path designed to move you from application to pre-approval quickly.
Complete the Form in 60 Seconds
Tell us about your transport business and the trailer or trailer set you are financing through our secure online form.
Speak With a Trailer Finance Specialist
An Australian trailer finance specialist reviews your situation and walks you through the documents needed for the lender match.
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 freight income actually flows.
Settle the Loan and Take Delivery
Your specialist sources the strongest matched offer and coordinates settlement with the dealer, private seller or auction house.
Real Results for Real Operators
See how Australian transport operators are getting the trailers they need, even with complex profiles.
What Other Equipment Can I Finance?
Equifund finances every major commercial asset class for prime ABN profiles, backed by a wide lender panel.
Apply for Your Trailer Finance
Three quick steps. An Australian trailer finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.
What Our Clients Have to Say
Rated 5.0 on Google by Australian transport operators for fast pre-approvals, flexible terms and specialist service. 5.0 ★ · Real Google reviews
Have Questions?
Straight answers to the questions Australian transport operators ask most.
What types of trailers can I finance in Australia?
We finance every trailer class: flat tops, drop decks, extendables, curtainsiders (including mezzanine and double-deck), refrigerated trailers (single and multi-temp), tippers (semi, side, dog), B-double sets, skel trailers, low loaders, jeep and dolly combinations, tankers, pneumatic bulk and tilt trays. All major Australian-made brands including Krueger, Maxitrans (Freighter, Hamelex White, AZMEB), Vawdrey, Lusty EMS, Tefco and Drake. New, used, demonstrator, dealer or private sale.
How long does trailer finance take to settle?
Pre-approval typically comes back inside a business day when your application is complete. Settlement happens once you have signed contracts and any final lender conditions are met. Specialist asset lenders move faster than major banks on trailer deals because they assess the trailer set and freight income directly rather than waiting on property valuations.
Do I need to own property to qualify?
No. Equifund's specialist lender panel includes options that assess on the trailer asset, your freight income and trading history rather than requiring property as security. This matters most for owner-operators, family fleets and bulk-haulage subcontractors who don't want to lock the property folio.
Do I need a deposit?
$0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially established operators with active freight contracts or subcontract head-contractor agreements. New ABNs typically need some contribution, but $0 deposit on the right deal is common for ongoing operators with verifiable freight income.
Can I finance a used trailer, private sale, or auction purchase?
Yes. Used trailers (including ex-fleet and end-of-life-cycle units), private sale and auction purchases are all financeable through the specialist asset lenders we work with. Major banks typically apply age cut-offs that rule out older trailers; specialist lenders look at trailer condition, axle-set wear and PBS rating rather than calendar age alone.
Can I refinance an existing trailer loan?
Yes. Refinance is common when an existing deal was settled at high rates, has an unfavourable structure such as restrictive covenants, or is consolidating multiple trailers into one facility. We compare your current setup against the specialist panel and present options.
Can I finance multiple trailers in one application?
Yes. Fleet deals, two or three trailers for a single contract, a B-double plus tag set, or a staged purchase across a 12-month pipeline are all common. The lender panel includes options that split fleet deals across facilities or fund them under one master agreement.
Can I finance a prime mover and trailer set together?
Yes. Combined prime mover and trailer applications (lead-and-tag, B-double plus dolly, road train sets) are common and usually structured under a single facility against the contract value. Specialist lenders understand how the prime mover and trailer set work together as a revenue-earning unit.
What's the difference between chattel mortgage and finance lease for trailers?
Chattel mortgage: you own the trailer, claim depreciation and GST, and the lender holds security over the asset. Finance lease: the lender owns the trailer and you make rental payments, with GST claimed on each payment. Most owner-operators run chattel mortgage for the depreciation benefit; fleet operators sometimes mix in a lease for balance-sheet and fleet-renewal reasons. Both are available across the specialist panel.
Which lenders does Equifund work with?
A wide panel of Australian lenders spanning major banks, specialist asset financiers and non-bank lenders that specifically understand freight income, head-contractor agreements and trailer-set residual value.
What is freight income recognition?
Freight income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from freight invoices, head-contractor agreements, purchase orders and ongoing route contracts, rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. It matters for owner-operators and fleet operators whose income comes from freight-rate or contracted haulage, not a fortnightly pay slip.
What is low-doc trailer finance?
Low-doc trailer finance is asset finance approved on a reduced document set, typically BAS, bank statements and the freight contract or quote, rather than full financials and tax returns. Best suited to established operators with an active ABN, freight income and trading history who don't have current-year financials prepared.
What is pre-approval in trailer finance?
Pre-approval is a conditional credit decision from a specialist lender before you commit to a specific trailer. It gives you a confirmed budget, a repayment estimate and a window to find the right asset. Pre-approval is a credit decision, not a guarantee; final approval is subject to the chosen trailer meeting the lender's asset criteria.
What is an Australian Credit Licence (ACL)?
An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) is the ASIC authorisation required to engage in regulated credit activities in Australia. Equifund operates under ACL 389328. This means we are bound by responsible lending obligations and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act when arranging finance.
Can you finance trailer plant for infrastructure subcontractors?
Yes. Major state infrastructure programs, from Sydney's rail and motorway works to Melbourne's transport upgrades and Queensland's civil pipeline, are strong asset cases for specialist lenders that fund tipper-and-dog combinations, side-tippers, drop decks and curtainsider sets for tier-1 and tier-2 subcontractors across the national infrastructure pipeline.
How do you assess freight income for B-double or refrigerated logistics work?
B-double linehaul, refrigerated logistics, container drayage and bulk-haulage income is read from head-contractor purchase orders, shipper contracts, BAS, freight invoices and ongoing route agreements rather than monthly PAYG. Specialist lenders on the panel understand interstate linehaul cycles, reefer distribution-centre run contracts, port drayage wharf agreements and grower-harvest haulage cycles, and structure repayments around the contract calendar.
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