Finance for transport and logistics, shaped around how you get paid.

Prime movers, rigids and trailers are financed on chattel mortgages with terms up to seven years, usually with a balloon and often on low documentation for established operators, and a fleet facility lets trucks be added as contracts are won. Trailers can run on longer terms than trucks because they last longer.

Invoice finance advances up to 80 to 90 per cent of freight invoices within a day or two so fuel, tolls and wages are covered while customers take 30 to 60 days, and a line of credit fills the gaps. Fuel cards with extended terms help too. A broker sizes the facility to your monthly billings.

Yes. Tax debt and expensive short-term loans can be refinanced into a single facility secured against the fleet, lowering the repayment and protecting the business from ATO action. Lenders assess the fleet’s equity and recent trading, and a broker knows which lenders accept ATO debt.

We start with a conversation about your business. To assess your options, lenders commonly need identification and recent business bank statements. Depending on the loan, they may also request BAS, financials or statements for existing debts. Your broker gives you a clear list for your situation.

Yes. Owner-drivers are financed on the strength of a carrier agreement or subcontract, driving history and a clean credit file, with new ABNs usually needing a deposit of 10 to 20 per cent and established operators often approved with no deposit. A used truck within age limits keeps the deposit small.

Often no deposit is required, particularly for established businesses buying standard assets from a dealer. A deposit is more likely where the business is new, the asset is older or specialised, the credit profile is weaker, or the amount is large relative to turnover. Deposits typically range from around 10% to 30% in those cases. Putting money in reduces the amount financed and can improve the terms offered, but it is not always necessary.

The common ones are an establishment or documentation fee charged at settlement, a monthly account-keeping fee, and a PPSR registration fee for recording the lender's interest in the asset. A brokerage fee may also apply, which we disclose to you in writing before anything is submitted. Some agreements include an early termination or break cost. Fees vary by lender and are typically a modest part of total cost compared with the interest, but they should still be compared.

Lenders publish maximum residual or balloon percentages that fall as the term lengthens, because the asset is worth less at the end of a longer term. For a vehicle, a common pattern is up to roughly 50% on a two-year term, reducing to around 20% to 30% on a five-year term. The ATO also sets minimum residual values for finance leases. A larger balloon lowers monthly repayments but increases total interest and leaves a lump sum to deal with at the end.

It is far less common than it once was. Under hire purchase the financier owns the asset and you hire it, with ownership transferring automatically after the final instalment. Since the GST changes that made chattel mortgage more attractive for businesses accounting on a cash basis, most equipment lending is written as a chattel mortgage or lease instead. Some lenders still offer commercial hire purchase, and your accountant can advise whether it suits your circumstances.

The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register of security interests in personal property, including vehicles and equipment. When a lender finances an asset, it registers its interest so the security is publicly recorded and its priority is protected if the asset is sold or the business fails. It also means a buyer searching the register will see the finance. The registration is released once the contract is paid out, and a small registration fee is usually passed on to you.