Business Credit For The Trucking/Transportation Industry

Trucking and transportation businesses are considered among the highest-risk businesses by lenders. For this reason, it can be challenging for even seasoned trucking and transportation companies to obtain credit lines and loans. Establishing and maintaining good business credit, as well as personal credit, enables trucking and transportation business owners to secure credit lines and loans vital to expanding their businesses with the lowest possible rates and payments.
There are several options for financing, from conventional bank/SBA financing to alternative financing, which includes products such as bridge funding, credit line hybrids, and invoice factoring. Companies can get funding regardless of credit or amount of time in business. Obtaining financing without a personal credit check is possible, even when the business is considered high risk, as trucking/transportation is.

Business owners can begin by applying with starter vendors such as U-Line, Quill, and Grainger. Starter vendors report to business credit reporting agencies. After opening about five such accounts and paying on time or early, the company will have built some business credit in a relatively short time.

The next step is to move to retail credit vendors such as Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, Costco, Staples, Office Depot, Amazon, and Walmart. Again, be sure to pay on time or early. This will strengthen business credit.

Once about eight accounts are on the business credit report, apply for Fleet credit at Citgo, BP, Chevron, Wawa, and others. Fleet credit normally requires one or more of the following: a personal guarantee; credit check; collateral; or cash flow. However, because the company has already built business credit via the aforementioned vendors, it can get approved for fleet credit without these.
Finally, with at least fourteen accounts on the business credit report, the company can easily qualify for business VISA, Mastercard, auto/vehicle financing, computer leasing, etc. just for having built and maintained solid business credit.

If the company has established good, solid business credit and the business owner has a good personal credit score, the company may able to get business lines of credit, equipment/vehicle loans, etc. via conventional lenders such as banks and SBAs with lower rates and longer loan terms, which equates to lower payments. It’s important to know, however, that conventional lenders often deny business applications in to trucking/transportation companies because they have stricter underwriting guidelines due to the risk associated with them. In addition, – the three Cs — cash flow, credit, and collateral – are underwriting requirements for traditional lenders. Companies and business owners who possess all three CS, will get the best loan term and lowest rate/payment.

For owners of start-up trucking/transportation businesses and those with little or lackluster business credit and/or low personal credit scores, limited cash flow or revenue, and little/no collateral, there are several alternatives to conventional bank/SBA funding. Although companies may not get the best rate or longest term by going this route, it is much easier to get approved when applying with these lenders. This can be a great help to those businesses which are lacking in one or more of the aforementioned areas. Some require no collateral and even offer bridge funding if the business is short on revenue. Suppliers and vendors may offer net 30, 45, 55, or 60 terms – business owners just need to inquire.

Some alternative financing companies offer a product called a credit line hybrid, which helps start-up trucking and transportation businesses by financing up to $150,000 business lines of credit at a 0% rate for 6, 12, or 18 months. A lot of these lenders report to business credit reporting agencies so the company can build credit while building the business at the same time. Companies can get approved for an unsecured LOC with no cash flow and no collateral. A good personal credit score (> 680 FICO) is required, or they will accept a guarantor if the personal credit score is poor.

There is also a product called invoice factoring or invoice financing, which gives a business the opportunity to get 90% of the funding up front as it waits for its
customers to pay on invoices, up to 90 days. The lender will collect invoiced amounts from the business’s customers and within 90 days the company receives the balance of the financed amount. This enables businesses to continue to grow even if they have outstanding receivables.

When working with a lender to secure funding for a trucking or transportation business, negotiating a longer term will enable the business owner to get the lowest possible payment. Companies have the option of paying extra without incurring a prepayment penalty if there is additional revenue. Business owners can prove the company’s creditworthiness by paying half of a loan before applying for another, thereby earning a means of negotiation for a better rate and/or term with the next application.