Your roadmap for all things OTR.
Specific to OTR Solutions, once your application is completed and all paperwork is submitted, you can set up an account and get funded within just a couple of hours.
Factoring companies generally require you to complete an application and sign a factoring agreement to get set up. Additional paperwork may also be needed, typically including a valid driver’s license, W-9, banking information, and Certificate of Insurance (COI).
You want to make sure that you pay special attention to contract terms. Some main things to pay special attention to include the contract termination process, length of the contract, chargeback terms, and any additional or “hidden” fees above your contract rate. All of these will have a significant impact on managing and growing your business.
This is up to the discretion of the factoring company, and an important question to make sure is answered before you sign a contract or even start the application process. OTR Solutions does not engage in credit checks of its clients.
Any company working with brokers or shippers who pay invoices in net terms, 15, 30, 45+ days, can use a factoring company.
Non-recourse programs are designed for new and existing carriers with 1 to 10 power units. Recourse programs are designed for larger carriers with more dynamic customer bases and operational needs.
Signing up with OTR Solutions is 100% free! However, that’s not the case with all factoring companies, so make sure to check before making a decision.
Any carrier who has begun applying for a DOT and/or Motor Carrier authority can set up and work with a factoring company.
A UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) is filed with the Secretary of State when a factoring company begins funding a client to give notice that the factoring company has a secured interest in the receivables. This is common practice across the industry, so a secured party knows there is an existing partnership since you can only have one factor at a time.
Recourse and non-recourse factoring refer to who is liable if the factoring company cannot collect payment on the factored invoice after a certain period of time. Under a recourse program, the carrier is ultimately liable to repurchase the invoice if the factor cannot collect payment after a certain period of time. Under a non-recourse program, the factoring company is responsible and is liable for any defaults of payment from the broker, assuming the carrier met all of the obligations of their contract.
The best factoring company is the one that puts your needs first. Look for a partner with fast, reliable payments, transparent pricing, and real human support. OTR Solutions offers True Non-Recourse Factoring, same-day funding (even on bank holidays), and a dedicated team that knows freight. Whether you're just getting started or scaling your operation, we’re built to keep your business moving forward.
Depending on the factor and program type, funding rates can be anywhere between 90% and 99% of the invoice amount. This is determined by your individual contract terms. Be sure to know exactly what your factoring rate is, any additional fees, or extra stipulations that may incur additional charges. The lowest rate is not usually the best, especially when you take into account hidden fees, terms affecting non-payment liability, and ability to receive customer support as you run your business.
Factoring companies generally offer either a flat factoring rate or a tiered rate. Flat factoring rates charge the same percentage on each invoice factored, regardless of how long it takes the broker to pay. Tiered rate programs increase the fee depending on the time it takes for a broker to pay, usually in 15-day increments.
Quick pay is an expedited funding option offered by some brokers, each with their own terms and rates. As you diversify your business and utilize multiple brokers, the management of all the different contracts, terms, and paperwork grows exponentially. The benefit of factoring is that you have an organized and centralized source for all back-office-related needs. Factoring companies handle the back-office burden while you focus on running your business.
Our Dedicated Operations Team manages invoicing, payment processing, and collections for your fleet. They handle most administrative tasks, freeing you to focus on growing your business.
OTR Solutions offers both recourse and non-recourse factoring. Larger fleets often prefer recourse for lower rates, while non-recourse protects you from non-paying brokers by transferring the risk to us.
No. We do not process credit checks for fleet owners or drivers.
We have found that many carriers operate on a month to month, week to week, or even day to day basis with their available funds. This makes waiting 30, 60, and even 90 days to get paid on invoices incredibly difficult. Cash is flowing in and out at different times, and many carriers need access to their earnings sooner than that to be able to pay bills, employees, or even pay themselves.
Factoring gives a reliable source of income, so you can maintain access to your payments in a timely manner while letting the factoring company handle your back-office.
We highly recommend all new authorities look for TRUE Non-Recourse factoring when they are first starting out. Most factoring programs will leave the collections process and liability to the carrier – meaning that you will need to handle the communications with the broker or shipper after you deliver the load to ensure the payment is sent. This can take a long time and can be risky – where if the broker for whatever reason cannot pay, then you’re pretty much out of luck.
However, for TRUE Non-Recourse clients, once you submit an invoice and get paid – that money is yours to keep and you can focus on your next load rather than the paperwork and collections for your previous work. The rest of the collections process and all risk of non-payment is put on the factoring company, not you.
No credit check is needed. We ask for documents such as proof of insurance, articles of ownership, and operating authority.
Not all factoring companies are created equal – and like many other things, there can be some companies who aren’t as transparent as others. Make sure to check online reviews and that the factor is an approved member of the International Factoring Associations (IFA) which creates the standards for best factoring practices. Before you sign agreements, always make sure to look out for:
- Contract length
- Factoring amount minimums
- Chargeback terms
- Collection terms
- Tiered rates
- Buyout possibilities
- Other tools that come with the factoring program
- Mobile app / web portal that you’ll be interacting with
- Funding methods
Not sure what exactly to look for? OTR will review anyone’s contract and explain the terms at no charge, whether you factor with us or not. We’re here to help you understand the terms of your agreement.
No – we do not have any minimums in our contracts. You can factor as many invoices as you want. You can factor some brokers and not factor others.
Once you fill out an inquiry form our team will reach out to you within 24 hours. The signup process only takes a few minutes and you can be factoring your first invoice that very same day.
Quick Pay vs. Freight Factoring is more a game of reliability and consistency than which is faster. OTR Solutions True Non-Recourse factoring program gets you paid in 24 hours or less. Quick Pay programs pay in 1-5 days, typically for higher rates and brokers can change your rate at any given time without notice.
Additionally, unlike factoring with OTR Solutions, Quick Pay does not give you the ability to track the broker’s receipt of the invoice, invoice approval, or status of your payment. Factoring with OTR gives you transparency in every step of the process without sudden changes in your rate or payment times. Working with a factor means you have one place to call to manage all of your freight payments.
Freight is the transportation of goods from the original destination to the target destination. Typically, a shipper (think big box stores needing to move goods from a warehouse to smaller distribution centers) will work with a freight broker to facilitate the transportation of their goods. Then, a freight broker will post specific loads on a load board so that carriers can find and sign up to carry that load from the origin to the destination.
The most common payment types factoring companies use to pay carriers are via ACH and Wire, which allows for same-day funding. OTR Solutions offers an instant, direct to debit funding option, called BOLT, to transfer your funds in seconds.
Payment can happen in as little as 2-3 hours, with most invoices funded within 24 hours. If the load was delivered without any issues, you would see the funds in your account quickly, but how long it takes will be dependent on the time of day the load is delivered and when the invoice is submitted.
No, you only need to invoice the factoring company. Once they receive your invoice and supporting documents, they take care of the rest so you can stay focused on booking and delivering loads.
Factoring companies should be monitoring credit scores for thousands of brokers so you have peace of mind when booking a load with a new customer. Factors can also check for a history of fraud or unethical business practices, so you don’t have the burden of underwriting the customers you want to work with.
Broker and shipper approvals can be checked 24/7 in our mobile app and online client portal. OTR Solutions is also integrated directly with the DAT Load Board, and approved brokers will show a blue check on their loads!
Once a load is complete and you have the proof of delivery (POD) in hand, log in to the OTR Solutions Mobile App or Client Portal to submit an invoice. Once logged in, all you need to do is fill out the load details to build an invoice, then upload all of the pages of the Rate Confirmation (Provided by the broker), POD, and any other accessorial you received for the load (Lumper receipts, scale tickets, etc.). The whole process can take less than a minute.
This can differ depending on your factoring program and the specific situation that has caused the issue. As all fees and claims are different, OTR Solutions supports our clients and works on their behalf to resolve any negative balances and address any incurred chargebacks/offsets.
Payment can happen in as little as 2-3 hours, with most invoices funded within 24 hours. If the load was delivered without any issues, you would see the funds in your account quickly, but how long it takes will be dependent on the time of day the load is delivered and when the invoice is submitted.
No, you only need to invoice the factoring company. Once they receive your invoice and supporting documents, they take care of the rest so you can stay focused on booking and delivering loads.
Factoring companies should be monitoring credit scores for thousands of brokers so you have peace of mind when booking a load with a new customer. Factors can also check for a history of fraud or unethical business practices, so you don’t have the burden of underwriting the customers you want to work with.
Broker and shipper approvals can be checked 24/7 in our mobile app and online client portal. OTR Solutions is also integrated directly with the DAT Load Board, and approved brokers will show a blue check on their loads!
Once a load is complete and you have the proof of delivery (POD) in hand, log in to the OTR Solutions Mobile App or Client Portal to submit an invoice. Once logged in, all you need to do is fill out the load details to build an invoice, then upload all of the pages of the Rate Confirmation (Provided by the broker), POD, and any other accessorial you received for the load (Lumper receipts, scale tickets, etc.). The whole process can take less than a minute.
This can differ depending on your factoring program and the specific situation that has caused the issue. As all fees and claims are different, OTR Solutions supports our clients and works on their behalf to resolve any negative balances and address any incurred chargebacks/offsets.
When starting a new company, carriers who do not factor must handle invoicing for payment, tracking their outstanding invoices, and collecting on payments when they are due, not to mention having enough cash on hand to sustain operations for the first month without income. Factoring provides carriers with the freedom to operate on their terms, without having to worry about tedious back-office tasks such as – submitting invoices to numerous different brokers, following up with them for payment status, handling disputes when issues arise, etc.
As your fleet grows, so do your back-office needs. Rather than dedicating time and resources to hiring your own operations and accounting personnel, a factoring company can take on the increased workload and allow you to maintain a successful and profitable operation. We have been doing this for years and are experts on this aspect of your business.
Yes. If a carrier decides to stop factoring, they can simply begin invoicing customers directly. Once the factoring company receives payment on all previously factored invoices, you have the option to request a release. This process typically takes between 30 and 60 days. Before you decide to stop factoring, always confirm the terms of your factoring contract.
It depends on the terms of your contract. With OTR Solutions, you do not have to factor all of your invoices. However, once an invoice is factored with a particular broker, payments from that broker are directed to your factoring provider, meaning all future loads with that broker need to be factored until a letter of release is provided.
Factoring companies themselves do not offer dispatching services. However, some factoring companies are partnered with load boards and dispatching services that can assist with finding and booking freight. OTR Solutions is proudly partnered with the DAT load board.
Quick pay processes are different for every broker, meaning the actual cost of relying on quick pays can vary, due to the challenge of tracking payments and personally handling paperwork issues. Factoring offers a centralized solution for all back-office needs, which makes it easier when dealing with issues, handling payments, and expecting consistent cash flow.
All factoring programs have contracts in place to legally invoice and collect payments on behalf of the carrier. The length of a factoring contract refers mostly to how often the carrier can decide to change factors. Contract lengths do not change how long the contract is in effect as it will remain in place until all open invoices are paid and a termination notice has been submitted.
In short, you can work with as many or as few brokers as you want. However, some factoring companies impose minimum monthly volume requirements or concentration limits that do not allow you to only factor one customer. If this is the case, you may open yourself up to additional fees which can severely limit the level of growth your business can achieve. You want to make sure that there are no restrictions or penalties regarding the number of brokers or loads you can run.
In short, no. This applies to all factoring companies and is mainly a result of broker’s inability to maintain multiple payment assignments. All factoring companies also file a UCC to secure collection rights on the invoice, and since first UCC holder is required, another factoring company will not factor if their filing is in second position.
Often referred to as a “buyout”, moving factoring companies involves the new factoring company purchasing the outstanding invoices from the previous factor to obtain a release. Requirements for changing factoring companies will be outlined in your contract and vary from one factoring company to another. You will want to make sure you are familiar with your exact contract terms, early termination fees, and renewal terms when looking to move to another factoring company.
When you decide that you do not want to factor anymore, you will need to speak with your factoring company about receiving a letter of release from your contract. This is typically accomplished once the factor has been made whole and your balance is zero. This is especially important if you have a contract that requires a minimum factoring amount so that you can avoid any additional fees.
Yes. Because the OTR Fuel Card has no contractual obligations, opening an account is risk-free and can be used even if you already have another card.
No – signing up for the OTR Fuel Card prepaid offering does not include a hard credit inquiry.
We offer a credit offering to established trucking authorities. Give us a call at (470) 900-3585 to get more information.
No – even if you are factoring with a different company or not factoring at all, you can still use OTR Fuel Card.
Rewards credit cards can work for everyday purchases, but they don’t come close to the savings truckers get with a fuel card. Fuel cards are built for diesel, with deeper discounts and tools designed for the road. Check out our blog post here for a full breakdown.
Rewards credit cards give you points or cashback later. Fuel discount cards like OTR’s take money off the pump price instantly — no waiting, no guesswork. Learn more here.
With OTR Solution’s Fuel Credit Program there are no credit checks required! This means you can access the program regardless of your credit score.
The OTR Fuel Credit Program provides carriers with a line of credit specifically for fuel purchases. This allows businesses to manage their fuel expenses more efficiently without the hassle of constantly reloading a fuel card.
Payments are managed on a weekly basis and are typically set up via auto draft from your bank account. This ensures timely and convenient payment processing.
If you’re interested in the OTR Fuel Credit Program, simply click here to inquire with our team. They will confirm your eligibility and answer any questions you may have.
Eligibility for the OTR Fuel Credit Program is determined by your factoring volume with OTR Solutions. To access a line of credit with the OTR Fuel Card, you must be an OTR Solutions factoring client.
Epay Manager is a back-office automation and payments platform that increases invoicing efficiency, minimizes manual audit processes, automates payments, and improves working capital for freight brokers.
Epay Manager’s widely adopted invoicing platform is designed to virtually eliminate operational reliance on email-based invoicing workflows and streamline mundane tasks, creating a more efficient AP/AR process for brokers and carriers alike.
Capture efficiency gains such as:
- Elimination of email inbox management and the mess that comes with it (Duplicative or piecemealed invoice submissions, random email inquiries, etc.)
- Automated load doc classification, document audit, and exception spotting.
- Fraud mitigation by preventing bad actors from invoicing your team
- 100% accurate carrier invoicing submissions and customer billing
Carriers and factors manage one unique login to access Epay Manager’s Self-Service portal for all of their brokerage partners, which allows for automated invoicing and real-time visibility into their open invoices.
In addition, this streamlines and secures the invoicing workflow by facilitating an in-platform process where users are fully confident that the correct party is being reached to upload documents, manage disputes, and facilitate payments.
By increasing the speed and accuracy of the carrier/factor invoicing process, your customers benefit from receiving timely, organized, and accurate invoices from their broker partners.
Epay Manager consists of four configurable modules for brokers to choose from: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, AI-Audit Document Insights, and Working Capital.
The basis for all users is the Accounts Payable module, which facilitates the industry’s only proactive invoicing workflow. The key to this proactive workflow is Epay’s integration with many of the industry’s leading broker TMS platforms.
When a load is delivered in the broker’s TMS, a carrier invoice is automatically generated in Epay using the most up-to-date data from the TMS.
- The carrier, or factor, will then receive a notification prompting them to upload their POD to the transaction your TMS generated, and either accept or dispute the invoice amount.
- Brokers can then review supporting documents, resolve any disputes, and approve the invoice for payment.
- This workflow provides the foundational structure and level of automation that cannot be achieved by email-based audit and payment providers.
The Accounts Receivable module allows brokers to leverage customer-specific logic within Epay to automate rate adjustments, document indexing, and customer billing processes. The AR Module is driven by Epay’s unique ability to tether the AP and AR records together.
- Epay automatically packages the appropriate documents submitted by the carrier/factor, that should be delivered to your customer.
- Epay generates an invoice with the customer specific data from the broker’s TMS
- The customer billing packet is then delivered via either single shipment email, batch billing, portal upload, EDI 210, or returned to your TMS for processing.
The AI-Audit Document Insights module utilizes OTR Solutions’ AI-driven NLP engine to accurately classify delivery documents and flag any discrepancies based on business rules customized to your brokerage. This unlocks the possibility of a “no-look” document audit, lessening the burden of manual document collection and review for brokerage back-office teams.
And finally, the Working Capital module allows for flexible funding where brokers are able to leverage OTR Solutions’ industry leading working capital solutions to increase liquidity and free up their balance sheet. Brokers can select from (1) Standard Carrier Pay Facilitation, (2) AP Financing, (3) QuickPay Facilitation and Financing, and (4) AR factoring.
The foundation of Epay Manager’s proactive invoicing workflow relies on Epay’s integration with a broker TMS. The data within the TMS are the foundation for Epay’s in-platform invoicing process. Once invoicing and payment have been facilitated within Epay, all updates are then pushed back to the TMS for easy record keeping.
Over the last two decades, Epay Manager has built powerful integrations with many of the leading broker TMS – such as McLeod, Descartes’ Aljex, Revenova, Turvo, and others. Epay also has developed a modern API infrastructure allowing for seamless integration with proprietary TMS platforms.
In 2024 OTR Solutions acquired Epay Manager. Prior to the acquisition, Epay Manager was refined for over 20 years, managing $6B+ in carrier payables and processing 5MM+ invoices annually. Now backed by the power of OTR Solutions, Epay Manager grants brokers access to an industry leading AI-Audit NLP engine and robust working capital solutions.
Schedule a demo with the Epay team: https://www.epaymanager.com/about/#demo
In this 30 minute meeting one of the members of the Epay Manager team will walk you through the platform and determine how we can best benefit your brokerage.
Reach out to epay@otrsolutions.com with any questions you may have about Epay Manager.
A smart move in the right direction.
New to the business or expanding your fleet, we only succeed when you do. We’ll bring the tools and support. You bring the hustle. Let’s move forward together.