The trucking and transportation industry represents a significant portion of the MCA market, and for good reason. Trucking companies need capital for fuel, maintenance, insurance, driver payroll, and equipment — all of which require consistent cash flow that does not always align with when clients pay their invoices.
What makes trucking files unique from an underwriting perspective is the combination of high revenue with high expenses. A trucking company might show $200,000 in monthly deposits, but after fuel costs ($40,000 to $80,000 per month for a small fleet), insurance ($5,000 to $15,000 monthly), and maintenance, the net available cash for MCA payments may be thin. Underwriters look at the average daily balance rather than total deposits to gauge actual ability to repay.
Fuel purchases create interesting patterns on bank statements. Regular, consistent fuel card charges are actually positive — they indicate active operations. What concerns underwriters is when fuel purchases suddenly drop off (the trucks are not running) or when fuel charges exceed what seems reasonable for the fleet size.
For owner-operators with a single truck, the MCA landscape is more limited but not impossible. Most funders want to see at least $15,000 in monthly revenue for an owner-operator. Advance amounts typically range from $10,000 to $30,000 with factor rates between 1.25 and 1.40. Larger fleets with consistent revenue can access $100,000 or more.
The insurance situation matters. Underwriters note whether commercial truck insurance payments are current and consistent. Lapsed insurance or insurance payment bounces signal serious trouble. If your insurance payment has bounced even once in the last 6 months, get that cleaned up before applying.
Factoring is common in trucking, and underwriters know this. If you use invoice factoring, the deposits from your factoring company are viewed slightly differently than direct customer payments. Some funders are uncomfortable with factored receivables because it means the revenue is already committed to another financial arrangement. Others are fine with it. Being upfront about your factoring relationship is important.
One underappreciated tip: timing matters enormously for trucking MCAs. Apply when your business is busy and your statements show strong, consistent deposits. The difference between a summer file with full loads and a winter file with reduced activity can mean 15 to 20 basis points on your factor rate. Some trucking companies are essentially seasonal — and funders know it.