Cash flow gets bumpy when you’re small: a breakdown here, a slow-pay there, and suddenly payroll and fuel feel tight. The goal isn’t just “more loads”—it’s smoother, more predictable cash coming in. Here are ten practical moves for new owners operating one to five trucks.
1) Standardize your invoice packet
Make a checklist (Rate Con, BOL, signed POD, lumper/TONU if any). Missing documents create avoidable delays. Create a single PDF per load.
2) Capture PODs the moment you get them
Use the Mobile App to snap clean, high-resolution images with auto-crop. Don’t leave the yard with a crumpled, shadowy photo.
3) Submit through the portal, not email
Email gets lost. The Client Portal validates page order, attaches everything, and gives you status visibility. If something’s missing, you’ll know in minutes, not days.
4) Check broker credit before you book
Avoid problem payers up front. A factor that provides credit checks keeps you out of slow-pay traps and minimizes buybacks on recourse plans.
5) Use fuel advances strategically
If a fuel advance gets you to the pickup and keeps you accepted on a higher-RPM load, it can pay for itself. Just don’t make it a habit on every load—use it to bridge tight weeks.
6) Move money instantly
ACH and wires are fine, but Digital Wallet puts funds in your hands 24/7 with the ability to push to your bank or use the card at the pump immediately. Nights and weekends stop being a cash-flow problem.
7) Leverage a fuel card like a CFO
The Fuel Card isn’t just discounts—it’s control. Set per-day and per-transaction limits, lock to fuel merchants, and get alerts for out-of-pattern use. Every dollar you don’t spill is a dollar you keep.
8) Track your aging weekly
Log in every Monday and review what’s approved, pending, rejected, and paid. A five-minute routine in the portal prevents 30-day headaches.
9) Know your lane RPM after discounts
A run can look good on the board and look ugly after fuel. Factor your discount network price, MPG, and deadhead before you say yes.
10) Build a small reserve
Even with factoring, build a 1–2 week operating reserve from savings. Reserves + fast funding turn “emergencies” into minor speed bumps.
A sample “smooth week” workflow
- Plan lanes with fuel stops that honor your discount.
- Run broker credit before you accept.
- Deliver, capture POD in the Mobile App.
- Submit the packet via the Client Portal.
- Choose Digital Wallet for immediate access and transfer what you need to the Fuel Card.
- Review aging Monday morning; rinse and repeat.
Bottom line: Smooth cash flow is a process, not luck. Standardize your docs, use the right tools, and pick a factoring partner built for small fleets.
Want help setting this up for your exact lanes and brokers? Get started with Trucking Partners. Explore the tools: Client Portal • Mobile App • Digital Wallet • Fuel Card.