KEEPING AUSTRALIAN FREIGHT MOVING

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.

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.

Who We Help & Why Choose Us

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.

Transport Operators Adding Trailer Capacity
Owner-Drivers Pairing a New Trailer With Their Prime Mover
Refrigerated and Perishable Freight Operators
Tipper and Bulk Haulage Operators
Container Drayage and Port Operators
Transport Operators Adding Trailer CapacityTransport Operators Adding Trailer Capacity
Owner-Drivers Pairing a New Trailer With Their Prime MoverOwner-Drivers Pairing a New Trailer With Their Prime Mover
Refrigerated and Perishable Freight OperatorsRefrigerated and Perishable Freight Operators
Tipper and Bulk Haulage OperatorsTipper and Bulk Haulage Operators
Container Drayage and Port OperatorsContainer Drayage and Port Operators

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

What We Finance

Which Trailer Brands Can I Finance?

Every major Australian trailer brand, financed through specialist lenders for prime ABN profiles.

Krueger trailer finance
Largest Australian maker

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 trailer finance
Ballarat-built trailers

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 trailer finance
Curtainsider specialist

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 trailer finance
Tipper specialist

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 trailer finance
Adelaide-built trailers

Tefco

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

Drake trailer finance
Low loader specialist

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.

Compare Your Options

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.

Best ForGST-registered operators wanting full ownership
OwnershipYours from day one
Term1 to 7 years

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.

Best ForOwner-drivers wanting eventual ownership
OwnershipTransfers on final payment
TermFlexible

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.

Best ForOperators preferring an off-balance-sheet structure
OwnershipOptional buyout at term end
TermFlexible

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.

Best ForFixed-cycle trailer refresh
OwnershipReturned at term end
Term3 to 5 years

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.

Best ForFast settlement or older trailers
OwnershipYours from day one
TermFlexible

Depreciation and car cost thresholds set by the ATO. Credit licensing regulated by ASIC.

How the Process Works

Clear Terms. No Unnecessary Complexity. Fast Outcomes.

A straightforward path designed to move you from application to pre-approval quickly.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

04

Settle the Loan and Take Delivery

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

Recent Settlements

Real Results for Real Operators

See how Australian transport operators are getting the trailers they need, even with complex profiles.

B-Double Curtainsider Set$155,000
Hume Corridor, NSW-VICBAS assessed

B-double curtainsider set for Hume corridor Sydney-Melbourne linehaul. A bank wanted three years of trading history before they would look at the lead-and-tag set. The specialist lender structured repayments around the freight contract cycle, sets on the road in four weeks.

Interstate linehaul operator
Get a Quote Like This
Quad-Axle Side Tipper$110,000
Northern Melbourne, VICHead-contract security

Quad-axle dog tipper feeding aggregate to a Melbourne civil site. A new side-tipper made the difference. The lender that took the head-contractor PO as the security case kept our property folio clear.

Civil tipper operator
Get a Quote Like This
Twin Refrigerated Trailers$180,000
Truganina, VICContract PO funded

Refrigerated trailer fit-out for a DC contract needed two reefers on a 24-month pipeline. A bank wanted full financials. The specialist lender funded the deal on the contract PO, both trailers on the road within mobilisation.

Cold-chain logistics operator
Get a Quote Like This
Three Skel Trailer Sets$135,000
Port Botany, NSW3-week turnaround

Port Botany container drayage skel sets needed three units against a 12-month wharf contract. A bank wanted PAYG income on the director. The specialist lender took the wharf contract value as the security case, sets on the wharf within three weeks.

Container drayage operator
Get a Quote Like This
Drake Low Loader$165,000
Pilbara, WA$480k asset

A low loader for moving plant between Pilbara mining sites. The dealer's structure was going to eat the margin on a $480,000 asset. The specialist lender took the head-contractor PO as the security case, low loader in service within a fortnight.

Heavy haulage operator
Get a Quote Like This
B-Double Drop Deck Set$150,000
Stuart Highway, NT-SASeasonal repayments

Drop-deck trailers plus a dolly set for the Darwin-Adelaide corridor. A bank wanted full financials. The specialist lender structured repayments around the freight income cycle rather than a flat monthly schedule.

Road train operator
Get a Quote Like This
Beyond Trailer Finance

What Other Equipment Can I Finance?

Equifund finances every major commercial asset class for prime ABN profiles, backed by a wide lender panel.

Equifund trailer finance specialist
Fast, No-Obligation Application

Apply for Your Trailer Finance

Three quick steps. An Australian trailer finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

Business Details
Contact Information
Asset Information
Reviews

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

N
Nicole Hawkins5 August 2026

Great service from Cody quick and easy to deal with

B
Brad Skillman4 August 2026

Alex was fantastic to deal with , highly recommended

B
Bex14 July 2026

We had a fantastic experience with our finance broker. They were incredibly fast, proactive, and excellent at problem-solving throughout the entire process. Nothing was too much trouble, and they found solutions whenever challenges came up.

R
riley lamperd14 July 2026

Equifund was absolutely amazing to deal with. Alex and Amelia were fantastic. Talking to Alex felt like talking to one of my mates at the pub. Highly recommend them to anyone.

FAQs

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.

Find Us Locally

Where Can I Get Trailer Finance in Australia?

Specialist trailer finance across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra and Hobart.

Be ready when you find the right trailer.

Get Pre-Approved