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How does heavy equipment financing work?

Heavy equipment financing works like this: a lender pays for the excavator, dozer, crane, or truck, new or used, and the equipment itself serves as collateral while you repay over a fixed term, typically 24 to 84 months. Because the lender can repossess and resell the machine if things go wrong, approval standards are more forgiving than unsecured loans, and deals run from $5K to $5M+. For construction, logging, agriculture, and transport businesses, this is usually the most accessible way to put six-figure iron to work without draining operating cash.

This page is one option inside our broader guide to Alternative Financing. See how it stacks up against the other alternative-funding tools we track.

Last updated · Reviewed by Cody Dreis

50+ Lenders|Funding in as little as 24 hours

The mechanics, from quote to delivery

Step 1: get the equipment quote: Lenders finance against a specific machine: dealer invoice or private-party purchase agreement, including model, year, hours, and price.

Step 2: underwriting weighs the asset and the business: Because collateral does heavy lifting, lenders look at the equipment's resale value alongside your revenue, time in business, and credit. Strong, liquid collateral (a late-model excavator) can offset a weaker credit file; specialized or high-hour machines get more scrutiny.

Step 3: terms get set: Rates commonly run about 7%-20% depending on credit, the equipment, and term length. Terms of 24-84 months are typical, usually matched to the machine's useful life. Down payments vary: stronger files sometimes finance 100%; others put some money down.

Step 4: the lender funds the seller directly: You take delivery; the lender files a lien on the machine; you make fixed monthly payments. Once paid off, the lien releases and the equipment is fully yours.

Used heavy equipment is absolutely financeable: lenders simply price for age, hours, and resale demand.

Financing options for heavy iron

Equipment financing: $5K-$5M+, new and used, 24-84 month terms, equipment as collateral. Best for nearly every machine purchase.

SBA 504 loans: up to $5.5M for major fixed assets, with effective fixed rates typically in the 5-7% range (May 2026 debenture: 4.82%). Best for very large equipment packages when you can absorb a slower process.

Business lines of credit: $10K-$250K+ revolving. Best for attachments, repairs, and the working capital that keeps machines running.

Industry-specialty lenders: Quordx Capital's network includes lenders focused on construction and transportation who understand the assets and the seasonality.

How Quordx Capital Works

With the equipment quote in hand, you complete a 5-minute application and upload bank statements and ID. Quordx Capital's matching process matches your deal, machine, amount, credit profile, against 50+ lenders, including equipment specialists, and surfaces the 3-7 most likely approvals ranked by probability. Most decisions return within 24-48 hours, and funding typically completes in 3-7 business days.

What to Expect

Even with imperfect credit, the collateral often carries the deal: expect realistic approvals at honest rates rather than a flat no. Every offer's rate, term, and total cost is disclosed up front, and if a particular structure doesn't suit the machine or your cash flow, Quordx Capital will say so. The matching service costs you nothing and creates no obligation.

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No obligation · Initial inquiry doesn't impact credit · Takes about 10 minutes

Cody Dreis, Founder, Quordx Capital

Written by

Cody Dreis

Founder, Quordx Capital

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Important Disclosures

Quordx Capital is a business funding broker, not a lender. We facilitate introductions between U.S. small and medium-sized businesses and lenders or capital providers in our network. All credit decisions, funding amounts, rates, fees, repayment terms, and timelines are determined solely by individual lenders based on their own underwriting criteria.

Funding figures and timelines shown on this page are illustrative and represent ranges within our lender network, they are not guarantees and individual outcomes may vary based on business profile, industry, time in business, revenue, credit history, and lender availability. Not all applicants qualify for every product.

The initial inquiry does not impact your personal credit score. Some lenders may perform a hard credit pull during underwriting; Quordx only authorizes such checks with your specific consent for the lender presenting an offer. Applicants are protected under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because all or part of an applicant's income derives from any public-assistance program.

This Site is intended for commercial, business-purpose financing for U.S. businesses only. Not available for consumer loans, residential mortgages, or owner-occupied real estate. Quordx may receive compensation from lenders when applications result in funded transactions. This does not change the rate, fee, or terms offered to you. See our Advertiser Disclosure for details.

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