Best Trucking Business Loans

Trucking business loans may be used to cover short-term gaps in cash flow or to fund larger expenses, like the purchase of a truck.

trucking business loans: More details

Fundbox: Best for High-revenue, early-stage trucking businesses icon

Fundbox: Best for High-revenue, early-stage trucking businesses

Fundbox offers lines of credit for businesses that have been operating for at least six months with at least $100,000 in annual revenue.

May fund quickly
Fundbox - Line of credit

Fundbox - Line of credit

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
600
Term length
3 to 6 months

Pros

  • Financing available within two business days after approval.
  • Simple application with minimal documentation required.
  • Low minimum credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
  • No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.

Cons

  • Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
  • Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).

Pros

  • Financing available within two business days after approval.
  • Simple application with minimal documentation required.
  • Low minimum credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
  • No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.

Cons

  • Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
  • Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Bank of America: Best for Trucking business bank loans icon

Bank of America: Best for Trucking business bank loans

Bank of America Business Advantage offers both credit lines and term loans for businesses that have operated for at least two years and had a minimum of $100,000 in revenue for the prior year.

Bank of America

Bank of America

Max loan amount
$5,000,000
Min. credit score
700
Term length
Undisclosed

Pros

  • Several types of business loans available.
  • Competitive interest rates.
  • Preferred Rewards program can offer interest rate discounts and other perks.
  • Offers specialized commercial real estate, equipment, and health care practice financing.
  • Fee discounts available for veteran-owned businesses.

Cons

  • Multiple years in business required to qualify.
  • May need to visit a Bank of America branch or schedule a phone appointment to apply.
  • Prepayment fees may apply to early repayments.
  • Limited information available online.

Pros

  • Several types of business loans available.
  • Competitive interest rates.
  • Preferred Rewards program can offer interest rate discounts and other perks.
  • Offers specialized commercial real estate, equipment, and health care practice financing.
  • Fee discounts available for veteran-owned businesses.

Cons

  • Multiple years in business required to qualify.
  • May need to visit a Bank of America branch or schedule a phone appointment to apply.
  • Prepayment fees may apply to early repayments.
  • Limited information available online.
U.S. Small Business Administration: Best for Trucking business SBA loans icon

U.S. Small Business Administration: Best for Trucking business SBA loans

SBA 7(a) loans can be used for a variety of purposes, including short- and long-term working capital and the purchase of equipment.

Low interest rate
SBA 7(a) loan

SBA 7(a) loan

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount
$5,000,000
Min. credit score
650
Term length
Up to 25 years

Pros

  • Large borrowing maximums.
  • Interest rates are capped.
  • Long repayment terms available.

Cons

  • Collateral is typically required.
  • Longer processing times than online lenders.

Pros

  • Large borrowing maximums.
  • Interest rates are capped.
  • Long repayment terms available.

Cons

  • Collateral is typically required.
  • Longer processing times than online lenders.

with Fundera by NerdWallet

National Funding: Best for Short-term business loans icon

National Funding: Best for Short-term business loans

National Funding offers unsecured loans to startups and borrowers facing credit challenges. It can provide funding in as little as 24 hours, making it an option for last-minute cash flow gaps.

National Funding - Online term loan

National Funding - Online term loan

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
600
Term length
4 to 24 months

Pros

  • Funding in as little as 24 hours.
  • Prepayment discounts available.
  • Offers loans to startups and borrowers with bad credit.
  • No collateral or down payment required.

Cons

  • Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
  • Short-term loans require daily or weekly repayment.
  • Requires higher annual revenue than other online lenders.
  • Misleading website marketing: National Funding offers only short-term loans and equipment financing/leasing.
  • Charges an origination fee.

Pros

  • Funding in as little as 24 hours.
  • Prepayment discounts available.
  • Offers loans to startups and borrowers with bad credit.
  • No collateral or down payment required.

Cons

  • Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
  • Short-term loans require daily or weekly repayment.
  • Requires higher annual revenue than other online lenders.
  • Misleading website marketing: National Funding offers only short-term loans and equipment financing/leasing.
  • Charges an origination fee.

with Fundera by NerdWallet

iBusiness Funding: Best for Long-term business loans icon

iBusiness Funding: Best for Long-term business loans

iBusiness Funding (formerly Funding Circle) offers small-business loans between $25,000 and $500,000 with terms between six months and seven years.

May fund quickly
iBusiness Funding - Online term loan

iBusiness Funding - Online term loan

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
660
Term length
6 months to 5 years

Pros

  • Cash can be available within two business days.
  • Competitive rates among online lenders.
  • Terms up to five years.
  • iBusiness Funding also offers SBA loans up to $5 million.

Cons

  • Charges an origination fee.
  • Must be in business for a minimum of 24 months.
  • Minimum credit score is higher than some other lenders.

Pros

  • Cash can be available within two business days.
  • Competitive rates among online lenders.
  • Terms up to five years.
  • iBusiness Funding also offers SBA loans up to $5 million.

Cons

  • Charges an origination fee.
  • Must be in business for a minimum of 24 months.
  • Minimum credit score is higher than some other lenders.

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Triton Capital: Best for Trucking business equipment loans icon

Triton Capital: Best for Trucking business equipment loans

Triton Capital offers fast funding for equipment loans up to $250,000. Rates start at 5.99% and terms can range between one and five years.

Triton Capital - Equipment financing

Triton Capital - Equipment financing

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
580
Term length
12 months to 5 years

Pros

  • Can fund within one to two business days.
  • No prepayment penalty.
  • Flexible repayment options: monthly, quarterly, annually or semiannually.

Cons

  • Charges an origination fee.

Pros

  • Can fund within one to two business days.
  • No prepayment penalty.
  • Flexible repayment options: monthly, quarterly, annually or semiannually.

Cons

  • Charges an origination fee.

with Fundera by NerdWallet

OnDeck: Best for Fast funding icon

OnDeck: Best for Fast funding

OnDeck offers short-term loans and lines of credit that range between $5,000 and $250,000. The online application can be completed in as little as 10 minutes, and if approved, you may be able to get same-day funding.

May fund quickly
OnDeck - Online term loan

OnDeck - Online term loan

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
625
Term length
18 to 24 months

Pros

  • Cash can be available within the same business day (does not apply in California or Vermont).
  • Accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 625.
  • Streamlined application process with minimal documentation required.
  • Can be used to build business credit.

Cons

  • Cannot fund North Dakota-based businesses.
  • Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
  • Interest rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
  • Charges origination fee.

Pros

  • Cash can be available within the same business day (does not apply in California or Vermont).
  • Accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 625.
  • Streamlined application process with minimal documentation required.
  • Can be used to build business credit.

Cons

  • Cannot fund North Dakota-based businesses.
  • Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
  • Interest rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
  • Charges origination fee.

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Alternative trucking business lenders

Alternative lenders like community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and credit unions can also be good places to find trucking business loans. For example, TruFund Financial Services, a New York-based CDFI, offers equipment loans between $25,000 and $250,000 for minority- and women-owned businesses, or businesses that are located in a low-to-moderate income area. Greater Texas Credit Union also offers lines of credit and equipment loans for Texas-based businesses.

Alternatives to trucking business loans

Freight factoring

Freight factoring is an alternative type of financing similar to invoice factoring, where you sell your invoices to a third-party company. Doing so allows you to access upfront cash instead of waiting for invoices to be paid by your client. Freight factoring companies will take a percentage, usually between 1% and 5% of your invoice, as a payment for their service.

Trucking business grants

Small-business grants are another alternative to trucking business loans. The National Association for the Self Employed (NASE), for example, offers grants up to $4,000 for business needs like marketing or hiring. There may also be local or state grants available. Texas, for example, offers several grants to update or replace diesel-heavy vehicles to make them cleaner or more fuel efficient.

How much money do you need for a trucking business loan?

Ultimately, the amount you need will depend on your business and what stage you’re in, but if you’re thinking about starting a trucking business, there are a few costs to consider:
  • Semi truck and semi trailer : Semi trucks and trailers are usually purchased separately. A truck can cost from $35,000 to $200,000, depending on if it’s new or used, and what type of truck it is. On top of that, the trailer may cost between $15,000 and $77,000. 
  • Commercial driver’s license : Getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is similar to getting a regular driver’s license, where you have to get a learner’s permit, go to driving school, take written exams and a road test, among other things. Altogether, it can end up costing between $3,000 and $10,000. 
  • Insurance : Depending on your business and the type of cargo you’re transporting, trucking business insurance can range between $650 and $1,000 per month. 
  • Fuel : Fuel is an upfront cost of doing business for trucking businesses, making it important to factor into your total costs. The average national price of diesel retailed at about $4.38 per gallon in August 2023. Assuming the average semi truck gets about 6.5 miles per gallon, and the average owner-operator trucking business drives between 8,000-10,000 miles per month, your monthly fuel costs could total between $5,391 and $6,738. 
Last updated on March 15, 2024
Fundera by nerdwallet logo

How Fundera by NerdWallet works

Getting a business loan can be challenging, and several factors — cost, speed, repayment schedule — can play a role in deciding which product is right for you. Let us help you through the process.
Get started
A hand holding a paper with check list

Fill out one simple application

Answer a 3-minute questionnaire about your business to get personalized lending options. It’s free and won’t impact your credit score.

A woman sitting using a computer

See your business loan options

Compare interest rates and repayment terms to choose the best product for your needs.

Some dollar bill and coins

Get your loan

If the lender approves you, you’ll sign closing documents in order to receive funds. Some lenders can approve and fund loans within one business day.

Testimonials

"I was on the market for small business funding to help expand my business and they were able to get me funded in record time, with a great amount and better rates than I was getting with other companies."
Osamede Osa Imasuen
See all reviews on

Methodology

NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates small-business loan products from traditional banks and online lenders. We collect over 30 data points on each lender using company websites and public documents. We may also go through a lender’s initial application flow and reach out to company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer small-business friendly features, including: transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to business credit bureaus and responsible lending practices. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to small-business owners and how meaningfully they impact borrowers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodology for small-business loans and our editorial guidelines.