Truck & Farm Transport Cashflow Map 2025: Use LOC, WCL & Invoice Finance Around Grain & Livestock Seasons

Cashflow map for truckies and farm transport operators – Switchboard Finance

Truckies · Farmers · Grain & Livestock

Truck & Farm Transport Cashflow Map 2025

One month you’re flat out on harvest and yard work, the next month the trucks are quiet but repayments, rego and tyres still want paying. That “rich then tight” feeling is just a timing problem.

This simple map shows you how to line up your Cashflow with grain and livestock seasons, using three tools – LOC, Working Capital Loans and Invoice Finance – instead of hoping the bank balance behaves.

🚛 For truckies and farmers running 1–5 rigs on grain or livestock.

🗓️ 12-month map that follows seasons, not just tax year dates.

🧰 Uses LOC, WCL & Invoice Finance as a system – not random one-offs.

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Step 1: Sketch your 12-month grain & livestock calendar

Start by mapping when work and costs actually land across the year – not just when bills show up. Keep it rough and honest: busy weeks, quiet weeks, and when big lumps usually hit.

Here’s a simple example for a southern states grain & livestock operator running two trucks and a stock crate.

Period	Grain Work	Livestock Work	Other Big Costs
Jan–Feb	Light clean-up carting	Some yard & sale runs	Insurance, rego renewals
Mar–May	Fertiliser & inputs	Store lamb / cattle moves	Tyres, servicing blocks
Jun–Aug	Quieter grain work	Feedlot & processor runs	Roadworthy / repairs
Sep–Dec	Main harvest & bulk haul	Saleyard peak periods	Extra fuel & overtime

Real example: A mixed farm near Horsham ran this exercise and realised 70% of their profit came in four harvest months, but most repairs and tyre money was being spent in the quiet winter quarter. Just seeing it on one page made it obvious they needed a separate buffer, not just one big account.

Step 2: Match each spike to the right funding tool

Once the seasons are on paper, you can decide which pressure belongs on your normal trading account – and which should sit on a small Business Line of Credit, a short Working Capital Loan or a simple Invoice Finance facility.

You’re not trying to borrow more – you’re putting structure around what you already spend so busy and quiet months feel more even.

Season	Main Pressure	Tool	Job
Harvest (Sep–Dec)	Fuel, casual drivers, breakdowns	LOC	Cover short, sharp spikes then repay after invoices land.
Winter repairs (Jun–Aug)	Engine, gearbox, major tyres	Working Capital Loan	Spread big repair bills over 6–18 months.
Slow payers (year round)	Invoices on 30–60+ day terms	Invoice Finance	Turn completed jobs into cash inside 1–2 days.

Real example: A SA contractor doing grain and sheep work set a small LOC purely for fuel and casual wages, then used a one-year Working Capital facility for a mid-life engine rebuild. Invoice Finance sat in the background for one big client that always paid 45 days late.

Step 3: Run a 3-bucket system for weekly, seasonal & tax money

With the seasons and tools clear, you can split your truck money into three simple buckets: weekly running, seasonal spikes and tax/BAS – each with its own target and product behind it.

The point isn’t perfection – it’s having rough “rails” so you know which bucket is allowed to stretch and which one is off-limits.

Weekly bucket

fuel, wages

Seasonal bucket

repairs, tyres

Tax & BAS bucket

ATO, GST

Your weekly bucket stays on the trading account. Seasonal jobs lean on a small LOC and WCL. Tax and BAS can sit in their own savings pot or a carefully sized facility with a clear Credit Limit that you don’t push past.

Real example: A north-east Victorian operator running farm and contract work used this setup to stop “borrowing from BAS money” every harvest. The seasonal bucket did the heavy lifting, and tax money stayed put.

How this cashflow map fits with your trucks & loans

This map sits alongside how you finance the trucks themselves. Your structure for repayments and balloons lives in guides like our staggered fleet replacement plan, farm haulage upgrade ladder and the fleet explainer What Is Fleet Finance?.

The cashflow map shows how to feed those loans safely through the year using LOC, Working Capital Loans and Invoice Finance. You can walk through each tool in our Business Line of Credit guide, Working Capital Loans explainer, Invoice Finance 101, and then see the full stack in the Business Cashflow System, the Truckie Cashflow System and hubs like our Business Loans, Truckie Hub and Business Owners Finance Hub.

Real example: A WA grain and livestock operator used this cashflow map alongside a fleet replacement plan to time a new prime mover approval around harvest, not just tax year dates – keeping repayments steady while still adding the gear they needed.

Common questions about truck & farm transport cashflow maps

Do I need all three products, or can I start with one? +

Most operators start small – often with a tight LOC or a short Short-Term Loan for known seasonal hits. As your map gets clearer and work grows, you can layer in Invoice Finance or a larger facility if it genuinely earns its keep.

How does this help when lenders assess me for increases or new trucks? +

A clean, simple map makes your numbers easier to explain and support. It shows you’re thinking ahead and helps when the bank or lender runs their Loan Servicing checks on your business, not just one truck in isolation.

What if I only run one truck part-time off the farm? +

The map still works – it just has fewer moving parts. You might only need one small Business Loan facility and a simple “busy vs quiet months” picture so you don’t over-commit when the phone rings with extra work.

Can I use this if my income is split between farm and outside freight contracts? +

Yes – just mark farm work and external freight in different colours or lines on your map. The key is seeing how both streams hit fuel, repairs and Working Capital so your buckets and facilities aren’t sized off only half the picture.

How often should I update the cashflow map? +

Once a year is the minimum – usually before the main season starts. Many operators also do a quick 15-minute check-in each quarter with their broker to tweak limits, renewals and Cash Flow Forecast assumptions so everything stays in sync.

General information only. For personalised advice on your farm, trucks and tax position, speak with your accountant, your broker and refer to official guidance at ato.gov.au.