What TBS does and does not publish
TBS Factoring offers both recourse and non-recourse factoring. Its description of non-recourse is clear: if a customer cannot pay because of its own credit or funding problems, TBS absorbs the loss. Recourse comes with lower fees, but you repay the invoice if the customer does not pay (TBS Factoring).
What TBS does publish (TBS — Freight factoring, TBS — Competitive rates):
- Same-day processing, with payment within hours of receiving completed paperwork.
- No volume minimum on either recourse or non-recourse, and no monthly minimums or transfer fees.
- No long-term commitment on non-recourse, and no sign-up fees.
- "Low, fixed rates," with no percentage given.
What it does not publish: a factoring rate, an advance percentage, or the contract term for recourse factoring. That is common in this industry, but it means you cannot compare TBS to anyone until you have a written quote that covers all three.
The draw is the bundle. TBS lists free authority processing, first-time permits and permit renewals for new trucking businesses, trucker bookkeeping, fuel advances, discount fuel cards with no credit check required, free broker credit checks and a mobile app for submitting paperwork (TBS Factoring).
Alternatives that publish their terms
| Company | Rate | Advance | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobtail | Usually 1.5%–3.5% | No reserve held | 90-day trial, then long-term contract |
| BasicBlock | 2.5% | Not published | No contracts, no minimums |
| 5 Star Freight Factoring | As low as 1%, based on volume | Not published | Month to month available |
| Porter Freight Funding | 1.5% intro, first 60 days | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Riviera Finance | Not published | 95% | Not published; no monthly minimums |
Sources: each company's own pages, as linked below and listed under Sources, checked November 2026. Rates and terms change and are often negotiated per customer.
Bobtail: a published rate range and no reserve
Bobtail's FAQ says its fee is usually 1.5% to 3.5% per invoice, varies with volume and credit risk, carries no reserve requirement and no add-on fees for processing, ACH or invoices. Invoices submitted before 11 AM EST on a weekday are funded the same day (Bobtail factoring FAQ). The same FAQ says customers move into a long-term contract after a 90-day trial, and it offers a fleet card rather than fuel advances. Bobtail is also recourse, by its own description (Bobtail — Recourse vs. non-recourse), so it is not a like-for-like swap for TBS's non-recourse option. More in our Bobtail alternatives guide.
BasicBlock: if it is the contract you want to avoid
BasicBlock lists a 2.5% rate, no contracts, no minimums, non-recourse coverage and payment in 24 hours or less, with an instant pay option it says pays within an hour (BasicBlock). It does not publish an advance percentage, which is the number to get in writing.
5 Star Freight Factoring: if you want both structures
5 Star advertises rates "as low as 1% based on your volume," month-to-month options you can end at any time, a $0 monthly minimum program, both recourse and non-recourse factoring, and fuel advances (5 Star Freight Factoring). "As low as 1%" is a floor for high-volume accounts, not a typical quote, and the page does not say the $0 minimum applies to every client.
Porter Freight Funding: an introductory rate
Porter advertises 1.5% for the first 60 days (Porter Freight Funding — Intro factoring rate). Porter's site blocked our automated checks, so we could not confirm the advance, contract length or recourse terms that come with that offer. Ask what the rate becomes after the intro period and how long you are committing for.
Riviera Finance: the highest-rated option
Riviera rates highest of the freight factors in our ratings. It does not publish a rate, but its freight page lists a 95% advance, funding within 24 hours of verification and no monthly minimums (Riviera Finance — Freight factoring). Its home page describes its factoring as non-recourse (Riviera Finance), which makes it the closer match if TBS's non-recourse option is what you value.
If the service bundle is why you are with TBS
Be honest about which parts you actually use. Authority processing, permits and bookkeeping are genuinely valuable to a newer owner-operator and can be worth a slightly higher rate. If you already have your authority and a bookkeeper, you are paying for services you will not touch, and the rate becomes the thing that matters. Our guide to factoring with a new authority covers what a new carrier should expect from a factor.
If fuel advances are the part you rely on, Thunder Funding, 5 Star Freight Factoring and TBS all publish fuel advance programs (Thunder Funding). Compare them in our fuel card and fuel advance guide.
What to get in writing before you move
- The rate at your actual monthly volume, for the structure you want.
- The advance percentage and when the reserve releases.
- The contract term, the notice period and any termination fee.
- Whether any monthly minimum applies at your rate tier.
- Under non-recourse, what counts as a covered credit event.
Then read our guide to hidden factoring fees before you compare two quotes, because wire fees and monthly minimums can turn a lower advertised rate into a higher real one. The factoring calculator lets you run your own invoices through each quote.
How to switch
The incoming factor buys out your open invoices with TBS, TBS releases its lien by filing a termination statement under UCC 9-513, and your brokers get new payment instructions. You will also have to give whatever written notice your agreement requires. Full mechanics are in how to switch factoring companies.
Frequently asked questions
What does TBS Factoring charge?
TBS does not publish a factoring rate. It describes its rates as low and fixed, with no hidden fees, monthly minimums or transfer fees. Ask for the rate and the advance percentage in the same written quote.
What is the best alternative to TBS?
If published terms matter most, Bobtail, BasicBlock and 5 Star each publish a rate or rate range. If avoiding a contract matters most, BasicBlock and 5 Star both advertise no long-term commitment. If non-recourse coverage matters most, Riviera Finance and BasicBlock both describe their factoring as non-recourse.
Does any factor match TBS on back-office services?
Few publish a bundle as broad. Authority processing, permits and bookkeeping are less common add-ons; fuel cards, fuel advances and broker credit checks are widely offered. Decide which services you actually use before paying for a bundle.
Is TBS non-recourse?
TBS offers both. Its non-recourse description covers a customer failing to pay for credit or funding reasons, which is the standard boundary. Disputes, short pays and paperwork problems typically remain yours; see our recourse vs. non-recourse guide.
Have you rated TBS?
Not yet. TBS is not currently in our freight ratings.