Truck Financing

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Ok, how does everyone go about financing trucks? Not talking to the cash buyers. DO you get a new/used truck loan? Do you get a business line of credit? Has anyone ever used owner financing? Looking for the pros and cons to everything. Thanks, layoutshooter
 

kwexpress

Veteran Expediter
KW Express
o/o till i die


I use owner finance but its not for the weak at heart and would not advise you doing this unless you drive the truck yourself and if the truck isnt paid for when you lease it make the payments to the lienholder yourself and know how much is owed on the truck.

The only reason your gonna find owner finance is cause the guy is in over his head and its his last ditch effort to save his credit or file bankruptcy.

Now thats as far as I see it if the guy is an indivdual with a truck thats fed up with the trucking industry and wants out today.

There are people who make a living just leasing trucks because they dont want to have to pay workmans comp or do alot of work under the table.

if you do it this way just remember if he fails you fail so keep in mind hes not gonna want to hear I couldnt make your payment this month becuse I only had 2 runs and I need to pay rent.cause chances are he wont have the money to cover the payment or you wouldnt have his truck
 

slfisher45

Expert Expediter
Kwexpress wrote:
"I use owner finance but its not for the weak at heart and would not advise you doing this unless you drive the truck yourself and if the truck isnt paid for when you lease it make the payments to the lienholder yourself and know how much is owed on the truck.

The only reason your gonna find owner finance is cause the guy is in over his head and its his last ditch effort to save his credit or file bankruptcy.

Now thats as far as I see it if the guy is an indivdual with a truck thats fed up with the trucking industry and wants out today.



There are people who make a living just leasing trucks because they dont want to have to pay workmans comp or do alot of work under the table.

if you do it this way just remember if he fails you fail so keep in mind hes not gonna want to hear I couldnt make your payment this month becuse I only had 2 runs and I need to pay rent.cause chances are he wont have the money to cover the payment or you wouldnt have his truck"


Kwexpress, if this is an opinion that is one thing, but it isn't very accurate factually.
One may drive for a fleet owner and decide he wants to own the truck. One may contract with a fleet owner (owner willing) to lease-purchase said truck and be on one's way.
This happens a lot. I've read it in these forums.
Truck dealerships arrange for financing also. One may google for finacing as well. The bottom line is to read the contract for lease-purchase or have an attorney explain it to you.
You do have to make all your payments on time, that's a given. Don't buy a truck unless you have capital set aside for emergencies. I wouldn't buy a truck in late fall or winter without money set aside.

There are scenarios as you described, but I would question the maintenance schedule on said truck. If money is tight or the owner is fed up, usually maintenance is the first to go..

One last thing, PLEASE, it is not gender specific, it is called Workers Compensation........
 

Streakn1

Veteran Expediter
To expand on KWExpress's thoughts on owner financing:

There are the fleet owners that are finanancially solvent such as the one we dealt with on our Lease/Purchase. He has seen a way to help 1st time buyers purchase a truck, and expand on his on investment at the same time. This is a win/win situation. Especially if a buyer can't get conventional financing. Be careful though with whom you enter a Lease/Purchase with!

Then there is another scenario such as our case. The (we) truck owner has paid off their truck and its getting some age on it according to the lenders. So they aren't willing to lend much on the truck, thus leaving the buyer a large cash amount to come up with for the difference. The seller has a well maintianed truck to sell worth the price he/she is asking, but the potentual buyer doesn't have the cash difference. That's when a Lease/Purchase with the right parties fits both well.;)
 

kwexpress

Veteran Expediter
KW Express
o/o till i die

ok that is my take on things.I did say there are some that lease/purchase for a living.

I myself have not had any dealings with that type of fleet owner. and Im just saying I have had several dealings with people wanting to get out of trucking but cant sell the truck they are in.this is usally the type of person I can deal with myself.

Im not saying this will be all thats available to you or anyone else.
the only problem I have with fleet owner financed trucks is that usally want you to stay with the carrier they have good luck with.
does not mean that carrier will be good luck for you and I feel there is to much control over if your able to complete the lease or not.

So with that being said there are a few things one of the other posters said that I would agree 100% with and thats dont lease a truck in the slow time of year.
 

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Thanks to everyone, this place is just like beef jerky, always something good to chew on. What about lines of credit? Anyone every go that route? Layoutshooter
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
We have a business account and a new vehicle loan with a credit union. They required at least 20% down on the truck, a written business plan, and a good credit rating. In return, they offered a fixed interest rate that no dealer, owner, bank, or other type of lending institution was able to beat. Also important to us was no penalty for paying off the loan early, which the credit union agreed to.
 

Broompilot

Veteran Expediter
Giving Phil Credit here, something I am accused of never doing. He is absolutly correct on having a business plan. As the original question never brought that into prospective.

I did find however that the dealer thru Pacar Financial even beat Credit Unions. But remember this, Phil had plenty of expierence in this industry AND IS THE EXCEPTION as to everything he posts AND NOT THE RULE... As to everything he POSTS.

If you do not have a business a plan, expierence in this industry your chances even with PERFECT CREDIT are NILL. With no expierence and perfect credit it improves with the business plan but no Guarantee.

Expierence, Business Plan, and Good Credit or Perfect Credit. Now your an official Business Owner that banks love to loan $ to. Anyone else, you know those signs at the end of the Exit Ramps, Homeless need Food. Kinda go hand in hand. But just to back up my writings there is always a execption to the rule, or sucker to the owner offering Owner Financing. Get A LAWYER before signing anything with a back yard salesman.... Sounds to good it will be.

So much for a finacial Moderator A......just for my Canadian
friend (s).
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Experience and a successful track record are the key. I am seeing current numbers in the 5.5 to 7.5 range.








Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Hey Dave, where are you seeing 5.5 to 7.5% Is that for new or used. The best I have found for used is 7.5 for model year 2006 sliding up to 10.5 for 2001 or older. I got approved at the local bank for a used truck loan. Now all I have to find a truck to buy. It has to be REALLY nice, HUGE sleeper, Ultra shift, BIG engine and EVERY bell and whistle you can get and I want to pay $28.00 for it. Why should I get such a deal?? Because I am SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL!!! That's why!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Layoutshooter
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Those rates are for new trucks. As mentioned, Paccar is 7.5 as of last month. Local bank will do 5.5 to 6.5 with 15 percent down and five year business history. I am sure that rate and other items will vary from institution to institution. SBA is at or near that rate as well if you can stand all their paperwork and red tape.
Probably should mention that banks that specialize in transportation or agriculture tend to give you a better deal. Or at least that has been my limited experience.
Paccar I believe requires a year or so for their decent rates. Not aware of any business plan requirement except maybe for the SBA loan.
I am also just refering to simple interest loans. Not front loaded interest ones.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
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