For episode two of the 2026 Truck Buyer’s Guide finance series, TAFS Director Colin Evans travelled to Midcoast Trucks to inspect the new Isuzu F Series and discuss how lenders assess medium-duty truck finance applications.
Colin was joined by Brad Southan from Midcoast Trucks, who provided a walkthrough of the Isuzu FVD 170-300 in a medium rigid configuration.
The episode also covers some of the most common questions business owners have about credit scores, bank statements, completed financials and borrowing capacity.
The featured truck is an Isuzu FVD 170-300 with a 17-tonne GVM and 300 horsepower.
It is well suited to operators who need one vehicle to perform several roles throughout the working day.
A typical earthmoving or civil contractor could use the truck to:
This gives the operator the ability to complete the work using one purpose-built unit rather than coordinating several vehicles.
The updated Isuzu F Series includes improvements across safety, comfort and carrying capacity.
Features discussed during the episode include forward collision warning technology across the medium rigid range, heated and cooled seating and an upgraded front axle.
The seven-tonne front axle provides an additional 500 kilograms of front axle capacity, giving operators more flexibility when designing and loading the truck body.
Comfort is also becoming increasingly important for operators and drivers who spend long days inside the cab.
Features such as heated and ventilated seats help make the vehicle more suitable for extended working hours and changing Australian conditions.
Midcoast Trucks can coordinate custom truck bodies through its in-house operation in Macksville.
Its internal capabilities include:
This allows customers to organise the truck and body through one supplier rather than purchasing a cab chassis and separately coordinating multiple contractors.
For businesses that need a truck built for a particular job, the body design is often just as important as the vehicle itself.
A lower credit score will not automatically prevent a business from obtaining truck finance.
Lenders will review the credit file, but they will also look at how the applicant has managed existing commitments.
Strong repayment conduct across current vehicle loans, equipment loans or a mortgage can help demonstrate that the business is capable of managing another facility.
A minor issue on a credit report can sometimes be explained or overcome where the broader application is strong.
Even previous late payments will not always end an application. The lender will generally consider how recently the issue occurred, how serious it was and whether the applicant’s conduct has improved.
Several commercial lenders do not rely on a strict minimum credit score where the applicant has a proven repayment history and an established business.
Full financial statements are not required for every commercial vehicle application.
Depending on the customer, lender and amount being borrowed, an application can sometimes be assessed using:
The appropriate process will depend on whether the applicant is a homeowner, the amount required and the strength of the overall application.
A non-homeowner with suitable asset finance repayment history could potentially access up to $70,000 without supplying bank statements or paying a deposit.
Where the applicant can supply business bank statements showing sufficient income and satisfactory account conduct, borrowing capacity could potentially increase to approximately $150,000 without a deposit.
These figures remain subject to lender policy, the vehicle being purchased, the business profile and the customer’s ability to service the loan.
Homeowners can sometimes access significantly higher borrowing limits without providing completed financial statements.
Where the business bank statements demonstrate sufficient serviceability and satisfactory conduct, a lender could potentially consider an application of up to $500,000 using bank statements and identification.
This can help established businesses continue purchasing vehicles or equipment when their financial statements have not yet been finalised by their accountant.
Lenders will generally be more likely to request full financial statements when the total borrowing requirement exceeds $500,000.
However, where a business is purchasing several separate assets, it can sometimes be possible to distribute the transactions across multiple lenders.
For example, a business purchasing three trucks valued at $500,000 each could potentially place each truck with a different lender.
This could provide a total of $1.5 million in finance without one lender carrying the entire exposure.
This type of structure will depend on:
The application still needs to demonstrate that the business can comfortably service the combined repayments.
Where bank statements are required, lenders will look beyond the current account balance.
They will generally review:
Consistent account conduct will normally provide the lender with more confidence than large but irregular deposits.
ATO debt will not automatically prevent a business from obtaining truck finance.
Many established businesses carry an ATO balance or have an active payment arrangement.
Lenders will generally want to see that the debt is being managed and that agreed repayments are being made on time.
Where the business is meeting its tax obligations and has sufficient cash flow to support the proposed truck loan, finance options can still be available.
Some lenders can also assess applications without bank statements where the business has been GST-registered for at least two years and can demonstrate satisfactory loan repayment history.
Depending on the circumstances, mortgage repayment conduct could potentially be used where the applicant does not currently have an asset finance facility.
Many business owners assume they will not qualify for finance because their latest financial statements are incomplete or their credit score is not perfect.
The actual position can be very different once the complete application is reviewed.
TAFS completes an initial fact-find and can conduct a soft-touch credit enquiry to help customers understand:
This allows the application to be directed toward a suitable lender rather than being submitted broadly and creating unnecessary enquiries.
Episode two explores the Isuzu medium-duty range while providing practical information about lender requirements, borrowing capacity and alternative-document finance.
Watch Episode 2 of the 2026 Truck Buyer’s Guide on YouTube
You can also read the original trucksales article for more information about the medium-duty trucks featured in the guide.
Read the 2026 Medium-Duty Truck Buyer’s Guide on Trucksales
Further episodes of the Truck Buyer’s Guide finance series will cover more vehicles, dealerships and truck finance strategies.
For help financing a new or used truck, contact The Asset Finance Shop at colin@tafs.com.au or visit www.tafs.com.au.
The borrowing amounts discussed are examples only and are not guaranteed approval limits. Finance is subject to lender approval, applicable lending criteria, serviceability, the asset being purchased and the applicant’s circumstances.