Commercial Truck Financing Since 1991 — Built for Dealer Finance Desks

Your C Credit
Customers Deserve
a Yes.

Pelagic Capital is the lender for deals your primary sources decline. We specialize in Class 5–8 commercial truck financing for buyers with 500–650 FICO scores — structured as EFAs with terms to 60 months and decisions in 2–4 hours.

500–650
FICO Range We Serve
2–4 hrs
Credit Decision
24–60 mo.
EFA Term Options
Cl. 5–8
All Commercial Trucks
30+ yrs
Industry Experience
For Finance Managers

Built Around Your F&I Desk

You've been here before: a solid deal, a motivated buyer, a truck that sells itself — and every primary source declines because the FICO is 580. That's exactly when you call Pelagic. We are your C credit solution for Class 5–8 commercial trucks, and we operate like a partner, not a last resort.

2–4 Hour Decisions

Your customer is sitting in the chair. We don't make them wait a day. Submit the deal online and get a credit decision — approval or a structured counter — while the deal is still alive.

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A Direct Line, Not a Queue

No 800 number. No ticket system. You get a dedicated contact who knows your store, your inventory, and how to structure deals that fund. We speak finance manager.

📋

Clean Stip Packages

We tell you exactly what we need upfront. No moving goalposts after approval. Our stip packages are clear, reasonable, and designed to get you from approval to funded without drama.

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Structure That Pencils

20–30% down plus terms to 60 months on an EFA. We work with you to structure a payment the buyer can make and a deal the desk can book. We don't approve deals that set customers up to fail.

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The Deal You'd Have Lost

Every deal Pelagic funds is a unit you would have turned away. We don't compete with your primary sources — we catch what they miss. Adding Pelagic to your lender stack is pure upside.

Ready to Submit?

Click below to send us a deal. Takes under 5 minutes. You'll hear from us within hours.

Submit a Deal →
What You Need to Know

The Deals That Qualify

  • FICO 500–650 — the sweet spot we were built for
  • Class 5, 6, 7, and 8 trucks — new or used
  • 20–30% down payment required (reduces exposure, right-sizes payment)
  • Equipment Finance Agreement structure — customer on title at signing
  • Terms from 24 to 60 months — most C lenders stop at 48
  • Owner-operators, small fleets, vocational, and non-CDL investors
  • First-time commercial buyers welcome
What We'll Need from You

Standard Stip Package

  • Completed credit application with all three bureau pull
  • 2 years business and personal tax returns (if available)
  • 3 months bank statements
  • Copy of CDL or driver's license
  • Truck details: year, make, model, VIN, mileage, and dealer invoice or wholesale price
  • Proof of down payment (bank statement, cashier's check)
  • MC/DOT authority letter for OTR operators

The C Credit Gap

Most commercial truck buyers with credit scores between 500 and 650 fall into a no-man's-land: too risky for traditional A-paper lenders, and too strong to settle for predatory subprime terms. That gap — the C Credit Gap — is exactly where Pelagic Capital was built to operate.

  • FICO 500–650 accepted across all Class 5, 6, 7 and 8 equipment
  • 20–30% down payment structures reduce principal and right-size the payment
  • Terms from 24 to 60 months — while most C and D credit lenders cap at 48 months, Pelagic offers up to 60, giving customers a lower payment option that most competitors simply can't match
  • All C Credit Gap transactions structured as an Equipment Finance Agreement (EFA) — the customer owns the truck from day one, no balloon, no residual
  • No CDL required on qualifying non-driver investor purchases
  • First-time buyers and credit-challenged operators welcomed
  • Transparent terms — no hidden fees, no surprise rate hikes
  • Experienced underwriters who understand trucking, not just credit scores
A Credit (700+) Traditional banks
C Credit Gap (500–650) ← We're here
Deep Subprime (<500) High-risk specialty only
Why It Matters

Millions of working-class truck buyers are shut out of equipment ownership every year — not because they can't afford a truck, but because the system wasn't designed for them. We built a structured program that makes approvals possible, predictable, and fair.

How Every Deal is Structured

Equipment Finance Agreement

Every C Credit Gap transaction at Pelagic is structured as a true Equipment Finance Agreement — not a lease, not a rental purchase, not a conditional sales contract with a balloon. Here's what that means for your customer and your deal.

📄

What is an EFA?

An Equipment Finance Agreement is a fixed-rate, fixed-term installment contract. The customer takes title to the truck at signing, makes equal monthly payments over the term, and owns the equipment free and clear at payoff — no end-of-term options, no surprises.

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Ownership from Day One

Unlike a lease or TRAC agreement, the customer is on the title immediately. They can insure it, operate it, and build equity in it from the first payment. This matters deeply to owner-operators investing in their livelihood.

📅

Terms from 24 to 60 Months

Most C and D credit lenders cap out at 48 months. Pelagic goes to 60 — giving customers a meaningfully lower payment that competitors can't offer. The right term length is the difference between a deal that works and one that falls apart at the desk.

💳

Builds Credit, Builds Equity

Every on-time EFA payment is reported and helps the customer rebuild their commercial credit profile. Customers who graduate their C Credit Gap deal often qualify for A-paper terms on their next truck.

Why Longer Terms Change the Equation

Here's how term length affects the monthly payment on a $55,000 financed amount — the same truck, the same rate, structured to fit different cash flow realities. Most C & D lenders stop at 48 months. We go to 60.

Term
Est. Monthly*
24 mo.
~$2,520
36 mo.
~$1,790
48 mo.
~$1,490
Competitors cap here
60 mo.
~$1,230
Pelagic Advantage

*Illustrative estimates based on $55,000 financed at representative C Credit rates. Actual payments vary by credit profile, equipment, and approved terms. Not a commitment to lend.

Financing Programs

Class 5–8 Programs

From medium-duty workhorses to heavy-haul sleepers, we have a structured program for every truck in your inventory.

New Program
Class 8 — Dealer Partner
Exclusive Dealer Network

A dedicated financing lane for our select dealer partners — featuring accelerated approvals, dedicated underwriting support, and priority funding on Class 8 sleeper and day cab transactions. Now competing head-to-head with Crossroads, Keystone, and Compass.

Access
Partner Only
Priority
Same-Day
Class 7 — Heavy Medium
Vocational & Specialty

Dump trucks, refuse vehicles, and specialized vocational Class 7 equipment. We understand how these trucks earn — and we structure terms accordingly.

FICO Range
500 – 650
Down Payment
20 – 30%
Terms
Up to 60 Mo. EFA
Class 6 — Medium Duty
Straight Trucks & Box

Box trucks, stake bodies, and medium-duty fleet additions. Ideal for small business owners building their first delivery or distribution operation.

FICO Range
500 – 650
Down Payment
20 – 25%
Terms
Up to 60 Mo. EFA
Class 5 — Light Medium
Work Trucks & Cab-Over

Financing for Class 5 platform trucks, cab-overs, and service vehicles. We help first-time commercial buyers get into their first truck without perfect credit.

FICO Range
500 – 650
Down Payment
20 – 25%
Terms
Up to 60 Mo. EFA

A New Option for
Class 8 Dealers

Our new dealer partnership program brings Pelagic's C Credit Gap expertise directly into the Class 8 sleeper and day cab market — giving your finance desk a powerful new tool alongside the established players.

  • Dedicated underwriter assigned to your dealership
  • Same-day preliminary decisions on qualified deals
  • All deals structured as EFAs — customer owns from day one, no balloon
  • Terms from 24 to 60 months — while competitors cap at 48, we go further to right-size every payment
  • Direct line access — no call centers, no ticket queues
  • Structured stip packages that close, not stall
  • Competitive rates for the 500–650 FICO tier
  • Industry veterans who speak finance manager language
Become a Dealer Partner →
Lender C Credit 2–4 Hr Class 8 EFA / 60 Mo.
Pelagic Capital
Crossroads Limited Varies
Keystone Varies
Compass Limited Varies Varies
Traditional Banks A Credit

Based on publicly available program information. Subject to change.

How It Works

From Deal to Funded

Our streamlined process is built for finance managers who need answers fast. No bureaucracy, no runaround.

01
Submit the Deal

Send us the customer's credit app, FICO, and truck details. Takes under 5 minutes.

02
Underwriting Review

A dedicated underwriter evaluates the full picture — not just the score.

03
Decision in 2–4 Hours

Approval or structured counter-offer with clear stip requirements. No surprises.

04
Fund & Deliver

Documents, funding, and keys. We move fast so your customer drives home today.

For Dealership Leadership

More Units. Same Inventory.

Every dealership has a segment of buyers who walk in qualified, motivated, and ready — but get turned away because their credit doesn't fit the primary lender box. Pelagic closes that gap. For general managers and sales managers, that means more units moved without adding a single truck to your lot.

🏢
General Manager

The Business Case

Adding Pelagic to your lender stack costs you nothing. There's no exclusivity, no volume commitment, and no disruption to your existing lender relationships. What you gain is an approval path for the 15–25% of your traffic that currently walks out the door unfunded.

  • Zero-cost lender addition — no contracts, no volume minimums
  • Complements your primary sources, never competes with them
  • Turns declined buyers into booked units — same inventory, more revenue
  • Pelagic pays a dealer reserve on every funded deal — your F&I desk earns additional income on every transaction we fund, on top of the unit sale
  • Dedicated support contact — your F&I manager has a name to call, not a number
  • EFA structure means clean docs, no lease complications on your books
  • 30+ years in commercial truck finance — we're not a startup learning the business
🚛
New & Used Truck Sales Managers

Stop Losing C Credit Deals

You know the customer: solid work history, real down payment, knows exactly which truck they want. Their credit score says 560 and your primary lender says no. Pelagic says yes. When your F&I desk has Pelagic in the mix, fewer deals die on the credit floor.

  • Works on both new and used Class 5–8 inventory
  • 20–30% down payment means real skin in the game from the buyer
  • 60-month terms available — keeps payments in the buyer's range
  • 2–4 hour turnaround — decision comes while the customer is still engaged
  • Owner-operators, small fleets, first-time buyers — we know this customer
  • Straightforward structure: EFA, customer owns from day one, no lease headaches
  • Dealer reserve paid on every funded deal — your dealership earns additional income on every Pelagic transaction, making each C credit close more profitable than a straight decline
What Pelagic adds to a dealership that currently sends C credit customers away:
15–25%
of traffic currently lost
$0
cost to add Pelagic
Reserve
paid on every funded deal
Same Day
deal decisions
Set Up Your Dealership →
For Truck Buyers

Been Told No Before?
We Built This For You.

If you found this page on your own — maybe after a bank said no, or a dealership couldn't get you financed — you're in the right place. Pelagic Capital works with buyers who have real credit challenges and real reasons to own a truck. Here's what you should know.

💵
Know Someone Who Needs a Truck?

We Pay a $250 Referral Fee for Every Funded Deal

If you refer a friend, family member, or fellow owner-operator to Pelagic and their deal funds, we'll send you $250 — no strings, no fine print. Just connect them with a Pelagic dealer partner or have them mention your name when they apply.

Send a Referral

Who Can Qualify

You don't need perfect credit to own a commercial truck. Pelagic works with buyers who have credit scores between 500 and 650 — including first-time buyers, owner-operators, and people rebuilding after a financial setback.

  • FICO scores from 500 to 650 considered
  • First-time commercial truck buyers welcome
  • Past bankruptcy, medical debt, or credit events considered on full context
  • Owner-operators, small business owners, and investors
  • Non-CDL buyers eligible on qualifying programs
  • New and used Class 5–8 trucks: day cabs, sleepers, box trucks, vocational equipment

What to Expect

We're straightforward about how our program works. No bait-and-switch, no buried fees. Here's what a typical Pelagic deal looks like so you can decide if it's right for you.

  • Down payment: 20–30% — a meaningful down payment reduces your monthly payment and shows the lender you're committed
  • Terms: 24 to 60 months — longer terms mean lower payments; we structure what works for your cash flow
  • EFA structure — you own the truck from day one, title in your name at signing
  • Fixed monthly payment — no surprises, no balloon at the end
  • On-time payments reported, helping you rebuild your credit profile
  • Decision in 2–4 hours once your application is submitted at a partner dealership
Honest Answers to Common Questions
Can I apply directly through Pelagic?

Pelagic works through our network of commercial truck dealerships. If you've found a truck you want to buy, ask the dealer's finance manager to submit your deal to us. If you need help finding a dealer partner, contact us and we'll point you in the right direction.

Is my FICO score the only thing that matters?

No. We look at the full picture — your business history, income, the truck you're buying, and your ability to make the payment. A 580 FICO with solid cash flow and a strong down payment is a deal we want to do.

Do I need a CDL?

Not always. Non-CDL investors can qualify on certain programs, particularly for trucks being operated by an employee driver or leased to a carrier. Ask your finance manager about non-CDL options.

What's an EFA and why does it matter to me?

An Equipment Finance Agreement means you own the truck — not the bank, not the dealer. Your name goes on the title at signing. You make fixed monthly payments over the term and the truck is fully yours at payoff. There's no end-of-lease return, no residual payment, and no surprises.

Can I earn money by referring someone to Pelagic?

Yes. If you refer someone who gets funded through Pelagic, we'll pay you $250 — no forms, no hoops. Just make sure they mention your name or contact us directly with the referral. It's our way of saying thanks for spreading the word.

Get Your
Dealership Set Up

Ready to add Pelagic to your lender stack? Fill out the form and someone from our team will reach out within one business day to get your dealership enrolled. No contracts, no volume commitments — just a new approval path for your C credit customers.

1
Submit the form

Takes about 60 seconds. Tell us who you are and where you're located.

2
We reach out within one business day

A Pelagic team member contacts you to walk through the program and answer your questions.

3
Start submitting deals

Once enrolled, your F&I desk can submit C credit deals immediately. Dealer reserve paid on every funded transaction.

Dealership Enrollment Request

All fields required. We'll never share your information.

You're on our list.

Thanks for reaching out. A Pelagic team member will contact you at the email and phone number you provided within one business day.

In the meantime, if you have a deal ready to go, you can submit it now:

Submit a Deal Now →

Your Next Declined Deal
Doesn't Have to Walk Out.

Submit a deal to Pelagic in under 5 minutes. Decision in 2–4 hours. We're your C credit solution for Class 5–8 commercial trucks.

Submit a Deal Now Contact Our Team