Haulage Runs on Thin Margins. Your Finance Should Not Make Them Thinner.
You invoice on delivery. The client pays in 45 days. Fuel, driver wages, and DVSA compliance costs do not wait 45 days. We place transport and logistics businesses with lenders who treat the debtor book as the asset, not the bricks.
£124bn
UK logistics sector value
65,000+
HGV operators in the UK
The structural problem in haulage is that costs are daily and revenue is deferred. Fuel alone can run to 25 to 30% of turnover, and a single HGV off the road for a week through breakdown or a failed MOT can cost more than a month of finance repayments. We have placed invoice finance for owner-operators running three vehicles and for fleets past 40. The lender that says yes in this sector looks hard at the quality of your debtors, not just your own credit file, so if you invoice supermarkets, 3PLs, or other creditworthy businesses, that debtor book is fundable. On the vehicle side the real question is usually HP versus finance lease. HP puts the asset on your balance sheet, which matters if you are building the fleet and want to show the net worth; a lease keeps it off with a cleaner P&L, but you hand the vehicle back at the end. We will walk you through both and tell you which lenders are writing deals in your weight class right now. We broker the facility; we do not lend, and nothing here is a promise of funding.
Common Challenges in Transport & Logistics
The gap between delivery and payment
You have completed the run, burned the fuel, and paid the driver, but the client's terms say 30 to 60 days. Invoice factoring closes that gap by advancing up to 90% of the invoice value shortly after you raise it, and the factoring provider then collects from your debtor directly. The exact advance and fee depend on the lender and your debtor spread.
Buying the next vehicle without draining the yard
A used 18-tonne curtainsider can cost £40,000 to £80,000, and buying outright drains the working capital you need for fuel and wages. HP spreads that cost over 24 to 60 months with the vehicle as security. No broker can promise a rate; it turns on vehicle age, your trading history, and which lender is open when you apply.
Operating costs that cannot wait for the client
Fuel cards help control the spend, but the bill still lands weekly. A revolving credit facility gives you a pre-approved line you draw on when costs spike and repay when client payments clear. It is not free money, but it beats turning down a load because cash is tight.
O-licence pressure and roadworthiness
A prohibition notice or a failed operator compliance audit can ground vehicles and put your O-licence at risk, and lenders price that in. Asset finance built around your maintenance schedule, with terms that track vehicle working life, is more useful than a generic loan that leaves you exposed at year three.
Finance Solutions for Transport & Logistics
We work with specialist lenders to find the right product for your business.
Commercial Vehicle Finance
HP or finance lease for HGVs, curtainsiders, tippers, refrigerated units, and vans. We work out which structure suits your balance sheet and which lenders are writing at your fleet size.
Learn moreAsset Finance
Trailers, tail-lifts, forklifts, and yard equipment. The asset stands as security, which usually means better terms than unsecured borrowing and keeps your working capital intact.
Learn moreInvoice Finance
Release up to 90% of a haulage invoice value shortly after you raise it. Standard in the sector, and it works best where your debtors are large, creditworthy businesses.
Learn moreRevolving Credit
A pre-approved credit line for fuel, maintenance, and short-term operational gaps. Draw what you need, repay when client payments land.
Learn moreWork out your numbers
Free calculators for the products transport & logistics businesses use most.
Get a Free Transport & Logistics Finance Quote
Tell us what you need and we will match you with the best lenders for your business. No obligation, no credit check.
Get matched with the right lenders
Tell us a little about your business and we will match you across our UK lender panel. No fee to search, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I finance a single vehicle or do I need a fleet?
A single vehicle is fine. We have placed HP deals from one used van upward. The minimum deal size varies by lender, but most commercial vehicle finance providers will look at anything from around £10,000. Sole traders and limited companies are both eligible, though the documentation differs between them.
My business is less than two years old. Can I still get vehicle finance?
Some lenders will consider sub-two-year trading histories, particularly if you have a strong order book and can show the vehicle earns from day one. Expect to provide bank statements, evidence of contracts or regular customers, and in most cases a director's guarantee. No lender guarantees approval; each application is assessed on its own merits.
How does invoice finance actually work for a haulage business?
You raise an invoice to your client as normal and send a copy to the factoring provider. They advance up to 90% of the value, often within a day or two. When your client pays, the provider remits the balance minus their fee, which is typically a percentage of the invoice value plus a monthly service charge. The provider handles debtor collection, which takes that chasing off your plate.
What documents do lenders need for commercial vehicle finance?
At minimum: around six months of business bank statements, the vehicle details (make, model, year, mileage, asking price), confirmation of your O-licence where the vehicle requires one, and proof of identity for directors. Some lenders can turn a decision around inside a couple of days once they have everything, and delays are almost always missing paperwork rather than a slow lender.
Related Sectors
Ready to Get Funded?
Whether you need working capital, equipment finance, or property funding, we can connect you with the right lender in days, not weeks.