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If you’re a new trucker, you’ll definitely want to be in-the-know when it comes to all things related to freight factoring. Factoring your loads is a process that can be convenient in many ways for both established trucking businesses and truckers just getting started on their own trucking company.

Specifically, it’s a way to handle invoicing that can be especially beneficial for drivers working as owner-operators. Keep reading to get a better understanding of the basics on freight factoring for new truck drivers with this handy factoring guide. However, if you are an experienced trucker or trucking company that wants an in-depth guide on freight factoring do well to check out our article on Freight Factoring for Trucking Companies and Owner-Operators.

What is Trucking Freight Factoring?

What’s also called freight or invoice factoring is a process that involves selling invoices to a company that specializes in factoring. Once the factoring company buys the invoices, the owner-operator or trucking company will receive immediate cash. The factoring company will then work with various clients linked to the purchased invoices to collect what’s due.

What Does the Freight Factoring Company Get Out of It?

The factoring company typically charges a reasonable fee to clients. A reputable company will be upfront about fees. Normally, the fee is a minimal percentage of the value of each invoice. Application or collection fees may apply as well. Again, a reputable factoring company will be upfront about any related fees.

Just How Does Freight Factoring for Drivers Work?

If you’re an owner-operator working as a driver and also handling the books, let’s take a closer look at how factoring works. While each factoring company may operate differently to some extent, the process typically involves:

• Meeting with a factoring specialist to discuss the service options that will best meet your needs
• Presenting certain documents – e.g., proof of delivery, bills of lading, rate sheets, etc.
• Filling out the application
• Reviewing your clients’ credit histories to determine how reliable they are in terms of making payments on invoices
• Determining the best way to send funds – which is usually via direct deposit, although some factoring companies put funds onto drivers’ fuel cards

Why Does Freight Factoring Matter?

Maintaining steady cash flow is important for anyone in the trucking business. If you’re an owner-operator, this means you’ll need to be mindful of both the requirements that go along with driving and the back-end “stuff” involving payments. But payments being received don’t always come in on a consistent and regular basis. In fact, it’s not unusual to wait for weeks or even months to receive some payments after everything has been delivered as agreed upon.

Having to put up with this pacing can be cost-prohibitive for some owner-operators and trucking companies. It can also slow growth or contribute to other financial strains and stresses. If you’re a new truck driver working as an owner-operator, you’ll also be able to spend less time contacting clients and keeping track of payments received with factoring and more time cultivating new clients and delivering loads.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Freight Factoring?

As with anything, factoring too has pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• Boosting cash flow
• Giving a trucking company the ability to expand and owner-operators the ability to grow their operations from one or two trucks to more
• Using invoices as collateral
  Offsetting fuel and basic operating costs in a way that allows new truckers to receive fair earnings
• Minimizing the need to take on additional debt with high-interest rates to cover expenses

Cons

• It’s not free (in this life few things are)
• The possibility of hidden fees, although this is rarely an issue with a reputable factoring company
• Possibility of being locked into a contract that is hard to get out of. Some factoring companies are less than honest and trap their clients into a contract. Read the reviews before you sign on with a factoring company. Do your homework.

How Do All Truckers Benefit from Invoice Freight Factoring?

Freight factoring can be beneficial to both owner-operators and established trucking companies. This is because trucking factoring allows a trucking company to maintain a consistent pay schedule for its employees. This is ultimately good for truck drivers looking to make a decent living without having to be overly concerned about payment delays or imbalances. And it’s good for the trucking company because it eliminates worry and helps with driver retention.

We hope that with this guide you have gained a better understanding of how freight factoring works and what it can mean to you. Feel free to pass this factoring guide along to anyone considering becoming a new trucker or owner-operator. Also, check out this page to see reasons to factor with us and why many many truck drivers and trucking companies have trusted us over the years. Click here to fill a simple form and sign up with us today.