Industry: logistics

Invoice finance for logistics and haulage

Fuel and driver costs go out on delivery day. Client payment lands 30 to 60 days later. Invoice finance closes the gap.

Typical advance, logistics7588%0%25%50%75%100%Typical advance rate for logistics and haulage
Logistics and haulage carry one of the sharpest cash-flow mismatches of any UK sector: fuel, driver wages, tolls and vehicle costs are paid out as each load moves, while the invoice to the shipper or freight forwarder is typically settled on 30 to 60-day terms. Invoice finance advances against those completed-job invoices within a day or two, so the next load does not have to wait on the last one being paid.

The cash-flow pattern

Fuel is usually the single largest variable cost in haulage, often a third or more of revenue, and it is paid at the pump, not on terms. A haulier taking on extra volume from a growing client is, in effect, financing that client's payment terms out of its own working capital unless it funds the invoices as they are raised.

Who it helps, who it does not

Ideal fit
  • Hauliers running fuel cards and driver payroll against 30–60 day shipper or freight-forwarder terms
  • Fleets scaling up loads for a growing client faster than that client's terms allow
  • Operators with one or two large shippers, a concentration most partners are comfortable with
Poor fit
  • Local same-day or cash-on-delivery work paid immediately, there is no invoice gap to fund
  • Spot-market loads paid by card at point of delivery rather than invoiced on terms
  • Operators invoicing consumers directly rather than corporate shippers

Eligibility notes

  • Active UK limited company, LLP or plc, verified against Companies House
  • Invoicing shippers, freight forwarders or other businesses on payment terms
  • Owner-operators and small fleets qualify alongside larger operators
  • Concentrated books (one or two large shippers) are common and accepted by our partners

Worked example

A small haulage operator invoicing £60,000 a month to two main shippers on 45-day terms:

Illustrative, based on typical UK market ranges
Monthly invoicing£60,000
Advance rate82%
Advanced within 24–48 hours£49,200
Held back until customer pays£10,800
Service fee (1.75% of turnover)–£1,050
Discount fee (base + 2.5%, ~45 days on drawn funds)–£485
Net released after customer pays£9,265

Frequently asked questions

Why is cash flow so tight in logistics specifically?

Fuel, driver wages and vehicle costs are paid out immediately, job by job, but the client invoice for that job typically settles 30 to 60 days later. Fuel alone can be a third of a haulage firm's costs, paid weeks before the matching revenue arrives.

Can a single-vehicle or small fleet operator qualify?

Yes. Eligibility is based on your invoice book and customer quality rather than fleet size, so owner-operators and small fleets with B2B clients on payment terms can qualify alongside larger operators.

Does a large single client concentration cause problems?

It is common in logistics for one or two large shippers to dominate a haulier's invoicing. We match you with funding partners who are comfortable with that concentration rather than penalising it.

Can I fund fuel costs specifically, or only completed loads?

Invoice finance funds against invoices you have raised for completed work, not against future fuel spend directly. The cash released covers whatever costs you choose, fuel and driver pay included.

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Last reviewed: August 2026

See how much you could release.

Two minutes, soft checks only, no impact on your credit score.

See how much you could release