How a Local Delivery Business Broke Free from Rentals and Bought His First Truck

For three years, a local delivery operator had been doing everything right — steady work, repeat customers, and reliable service. The only problem? He didn’t own the truck he relied on every day.

Like a lot of small business owners starting out, he rented his equipment — in this case, a city straight truck used for local delivery and moving jobs. Every month, a big chunk of his revenue went to rental payments. And when the term ended, he had nothing to show for it. No equity. No ownership. Just another invoice.

Eventually, he realized what most entrepreneurs learn the hard way: renting can keep your business moving, but it doesn’t help you move forward.

When he found a 2019 International MV607 — a clean, well-kept unit with a 20-foot body and tailgate — he saw his chance to finally own something of his own. But the excitement didn’t last long. The captive finance company behind the truck didn’t want to approve him. They saw a “first-time buyer” and a “2019 model” — two things that don’t fit neatly into the risk box.

To them, it wasn’t worth the hassle.

But to us, it was.

When the dealer reached out to Northlend Equipment Finance, we looked beyond the checkbox answers. We saw a customer who had been successfully operating for years, with solid credit, consistent income, and a real plan to grow his business. He didn’t need a handout — he just needed someone willing to structure a deal that made sense.

We went to work and secured an approval for the exact truck he wanted: a 2019 International MV607. The deal required only a 15% down payment on a five-year term, bringing his payments well below what he’d been spending every month on rentals.

In September 2025, he took delivery of his first owned truck. That moment changed everything.

Instead of watching money disappear into rental fees, he was now investing in his own asset — building equity, reducing costs, and freeing up cash flow to grow his operation. The dealer was happy to move a unit that others couldn’t finance, and the client finally had the foundation to scale.

That’s what we love most about what we do at Northlend: helping small business owners transition from getting by to getting ahead.

Because ownership isn’t just about having a truck — it’s about control. Control over your payments, your future, and your bottom line.

If you’ve been renting for years because lenders keep saying no, you don’t need to settle. The right partner can help you move from renting someone else’s success to building your own.

At Northlend, that’s exactly what we’re here for.