WHO THIS IS FOR

Transport Finance Built for Australian Freight Operators

Freight operators across Australia running linehaul, 3PL contract, FMCG, port drayage, last-mile and bulk-haulage work are knocked back by banks, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you're an owner-driver on a single prime mover, a small-fleet linehaul operator on a national 3PL contract, a specialist on grocery distribution, a port drayage sub-contractor on container runs, a last-mile e-commerce operator on fleets, or a livestock/fuel/bulk-liquid bulk hauler, we finance prime movers, semi-trailers, drop-decks, B-doubles and full combinations.

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

  • Upgrading ageing trucks 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 truck loans Free up monthly income cycle, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How 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 transport business and the truck, trailer or fleet you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Transport Finance Specialist

An Australia-based 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 repayment structure tailored to how your freight 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.

EQUIPMENT WE HELP FINANCE

Transport Brands and Classes We Help Finance

From single-truck owner drivers to multi-fleet linehaul operators. New, used, dealer and private-sale across every major brand on the Australian market.

Brands We Help Finance

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

Transport Classes We Help Finance

  • Prime Movers

    Single and multi-axle prime movers for linehaul and corridor work.

  • Trucks

    Light, medium and heavy rigids for distribution and metropolitan work.

  • Semi-Trailers

    Tautliners, drop-decks, flat-tops, B-doubles and trailer combinations.

  • Tippers + Tipper Combos

    Tippers and tipper trailer sets for civil and quarry haulage.

  • Trucks

    Reefer prime movers, multi-temp B-doubles and reefers.

  • Specialist Bodies

    Crane trucks, tow trucks, vacuum trucks and concrete agitators.

RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Transport Operators

Transport finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from owner-drivers to mid-size fleets. ACL 389328.

"Linehaul contract for a national 3PL underwrote a four-trailer order across curtain-sider and skel plus a new prime mover. Cody had us settled on one chattel mortgage with one credit decision."

Mick, Operations Manager
National linehaul

"Port drayage contract from Port Botany to Moorebank Intermodal added two more prime movers on the back of the contract. Terry structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the contract's three-year run."

Hannah, Director
Port drayage

"FMCG run on the Pacific Highway with steady year-round volume. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the recurring shipper contract and structured repayments to the weekly payment cycle."

Carly, Operations Manager
FMCG

"Sydney-to-Brisbane corridor on the Newell Highway, steady interstate freight on a national 3PL contract. Jason matched us with a lender that scored on the recurring 3PL contract income and the active job book."

Wayne, Operations Manager
Interstate corridor

"Bought an ex-fleet prime mover at a Western Sydney auction yard, low kilometres and clean books. Equifund had us pre-approved before walking in so the bid stood up against finance buyers in the room."

Brett, Owner-Driver
Owner-driver

"Linehaul contract for a national 3PL underwrote a four-trailer order across curtain-sider and skel plus a new prime mover. Cody had us settled on one chattel mortgage with one credit decision."

Mick, Operations Manager
National linehaul

"Port drayage contract from Port Botany to Moorebank Intermodal added two more prime movers on the back of the contract. Terry structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the contract's three-year run."

Hannah, Director
Port drayage

"FMCG run on the Pacific Highway with steady year-round volume. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the recurring shipper contract and structured repayments to the weekly payment cycle."

Carly, Operations Manager
FMCG

"Sydney-to-Brisbane corridor on the Newell Highway, steady interstate freight on a national 3PL contract. Jason matched us with a lender that scored on the recurring 3PL contract income and the active job book."

Wayne, Operations Manager
Interstate corridor

"Bought an ex-fleet prime mover at a Western Sydney auction yard, low kilometres and clean books. Equifund had us pre-approved before walking in so the bid stood up against finance buyers in the room."

Brett, Owner-Driver
Owner-driver

"Cold-chain distribution across Macarthur and the M7 corridor required a upgrade on three trucks plus two trailers. Jake found a lender that scored on the cold-chain contracts and approved the whole upgrade."

Lisa, GM
Cold chain

"Stepped up from sub-contract driving on Hunter Valley coal haul to running our own prime mover and trailer combination. Alex structured a chattel mortgage with the right balloon to align with the contract's progress payments."

Beau, Owner-Driver
Hunter Valley coal haul

"Last-mile e-commerce contract on a national platform underwrote five new rigids plus four cargo vans across the Wetherill Park distribution loop. They put us with a lender that scored on the e-commerce contract pipeline."

Brad, Operations Manager
Last-mile e-commerce

"Cattle haul on the New England Highway down to Sydney saleyards and back. Steady district contracts. John found a lender that scored on the recurring saleyard contracts and the active pastoral pipeline."

Murray, Owner-Driver
Livestock haulage

"Picked up a regional fuel distributor contract on the Hume Highway and across Greater Western Sydney. Tom structured a chattel mortgage with a balloon to match the seasonal income pattern."

Hayden, Director
Fuel haulage

"Cold-chain distribution across Macarthur and the M7 corridor required a upgrade on three trucks plus two trailers. Jake found a lender that scored on the cold-chain contracts and approved the whole upgrade."

Lisa, GM
Cold chain

"Stepped up from sub-contract driving on Hunter Valley coal haul to running our own prime mover and trailer combination. Alex structured a chattel mortgage with the right balloon to align with the contract's progress payments."

Beau, Owner-Driver
Hunter Valley coal haul

"Last-mile e-commerce contract on a national platform underwrote five new rigids plus four cargo vans across the Wetherill Park distribution loop. They put us with a lender that scored on the e-commerce contract pipeline."

Brad, Operations Manager
Last-mile e-commerce

"Cattle haul on the New England Highway down to Sydney saleyards and back. Steady district contracts. John found a lender that scored on the recurring saleyard contracts and the active pastoral pipeline."

Murray, Owner-Driver
Livestock haulage

"Picked up a regional fuel distributor contract on the Hume Highway and across Greater Western Sydney. Tom structured a chattel mortgage with a balloon to match the seasonal income pattern."

Hayden, Director
Fuel haulage
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank 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 Transport Finance Questions

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

What types of trucks and trailers can I finance in Australia?

We finance new, used, demonstrator, dealer and private-sale trucks and trailers 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 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 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 transport, private sale, or auction purchase?

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

Can I refinance an existing 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 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 transport operators in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-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 transport operators?

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

Low-doc 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 transport finance?

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

Can you finance a prime mover plus trailers together on one application?

Yes. Specialist transport lenders on our panel routinely score truck-and-trailer combinations (B-doubles, semi-trailer plus prime mover, prime mover plus trailer plus skel) as one chattel mortgage with one credit decision, secured on the freight income and the assets.

Will the lender take active shipper contracts as security instead of property?

Yes. Lenders on our panel routinely score transport finance on the recurring shipper, 3PL, port drayage or freight contract income, plus the asset value, without asking for property security on top.

Does the loan structure suit irregular freight income?

Yes. Specialist transport lenders structure repayments to align with the contract's payment cycle (weekly grocery distribution, contract progress claims, day-rate drayage, seasonal bulk haulage), rather than forcing calendar-month repayments.

Equifund finance specialist on call
transport finance specialists

Apply for Your Transport Finance

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

Pre-approval in 24 hours
80+ lender panel
Equifund
Business Details
Equifund
Contact Information
Equifund
Asset Information