Asset Class · Construction Equipment

Private Capital Secured by
Construction Equipment

Excavators, cranes, wheel loaders, bulldozers, and heavy machinery from recognized manufacturers accepted as collateral. Hour meter verification, UCC lien searches, clear title required. 24-hour term sheets.

Unlocking Capital from Heavy Equipment Without Disrupting Operations

Construction companies, contractors, and equipment owners frequently hold significant capital in their machinery fleets, excavators, crawler cranes, loaders, and specialized equipment representing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in asset value. Yet that capital is typically inaccessible without selling equipment that is generating revenue, encumbering it through equipment finance arrangements that restrict use, or navigating the slow timelines of traditional commercial lending.

The Liquidity Network provides an alternative. Private capital arrangements secured by construction equipment allow contractors and equipment owners to access liquidity against the verified value of their machinery, without the delays, income documentation requirements, and personal financial scrutiny of traditional lending. We evaluate the equipment, verify its value, confirm clean title, and structure capital arrangements that reflect the asset's worth.

Our underwriting approach for construction equipment is methodical and specific to the asset class. We know that a low-hours Caterpillar 395 excavator has meaningfully different value than a comparable unit with twice the hours. We know that a Liebherr LTM crawler crane with documented maintenance history, current certifications, and a full rigging package is different from one missing its documentation. We apply this knowledge, not generic formulas, to determine the capital available against your equipment.

Equipment Categories We Review

The Liquidity Network reviews construction and heavy equipment across the full spectrum of the industry:

  • Excavators: Crawler excavators from Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo, Hitachi, Liebherr, and other recognized manufacturers. From compact 5-ton excavators to large mining-class units in the 100+ ton range. Machine condition, hours, and undercarriage status are primary value factors.
  • Crawler Cranes: Lattice-boom crawler cranes from Manitowoc, Liebherr, Link-Belt, Kobelco, and similar manufacturers. Jib configurations, boom lengths, and counterweight packages are evaluated as part of the complete crane package. Current annual inspection certifications are required.
  • Tower Cranes: Self-erecting and conventional tower cranes, evaluated on capacity, jib length, configuration, and current certification status. Recognized manufacturers include Liebherr, Potain, Terex, Wolffkran, and Comansa.
  • Wheel Loaders and Articulated Trucks: Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo, John Deere, and Case wheel loaders and articulated haul trucks, evaluated on hours, bucket/attachment configuration, and condition.
  • Bulldozers and Motor Graders: Track-type tractors from Caterpillar, Komatsu, and Liebherr, and motor graders from Caterpillar, Komatsu, and WIRTGEN group. Blade configurations and undercarriage condition are critical value factors.
  • Concrete Equipment: Truck-mounted and stationary concrete pumps, concrete mixers, and placing booms from Schwing, Putzmeister, Alliance, and similar recognized manufacturers.
  • Aerial Work Platforms: Telescoping boom lifts, scissor lifts, and manlift equipment from JLG, Genie, Skyjack, and Manitou, particularly late-model units with documented annual inspections.
  • Pile Driving Equipment: Hydraulic hammers, vibratory hammers, and associated pile driving rigs from APE, Dawson, BSP, and Banut, evaluated with full attachment inventories.
  • Drilling and Foundation Equipment: Rotary drilling rigs, soil mixing equipment, and foundation drilling machinery from Bauer, Soilmec, and Liebherr Foundation Equipment.

UCC Lien Searches: Why They're Non-Negotiable

Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code governs secured transactions in personal property throughout the United States. When a lender or financing company has a security interest in equipment, they perfect that interest by filing a UCC-1 financing statement with the appropriate state filing office. These public filings are searchable, and a thorough UCC search reveals whether any prior secured party has a claim on the equipment you wish to pledge as collateral.

Clear title, meaning no outstanding financing statements, no undisclosed liens, and no disputed ownership claims, is a prerequisite for TLN's collateral position. We conduct comprehensive UCC searches in all applicable jurisdictions as part of our due diligence process. Equipment subject to existing financing statements cannot serve as collateral unless those existing obligations are satisfied at or before closing.

We also conduct thorough review of any applicable state titling requirements for equipment that may carry certificates of title, review insurance documentation to confirm adequate coverage, and verify manufacturer serial number identification plates against equipment documentation.

Hour Meters and Depreciation: How We Value Equipment

In the construction equipment market, hour meter readings are the primary measure of usage, the equipment equivalent of odometer mileage. Lower hours relative to a machine's age generally indicate less wear and stronger residual value. However, hours alone do not tell the complete story. A well-maintained machine with 10,000 hours may be in better condition than a neglected machine with 4,000 hours. We look at the full picture:

  • Hour meter reading relative to age: Typical annual utilization for construction equipment varies by category; we apply category-specific utilization benchmarks to assess whether a machine's hours are high, normal, or low for its age.
  • Maintenance records: Documented oil changes, filter replacements, hydraulic fluid services, undercarriage inspections, and major component rebuilds, tied to specific hour intervals, provide evidence that the machine was maintained according to manufacturer recommendations.
  • Recent inspection report: An independent inspection by a qualified mechanic, noting the condition of major systems (engine, hydraulics, electrical, undercarriage, structural), is a key input to our valuation assessment.
  • Comparable market data: We reference current auction results from Ritchie Bros., IronPlanet, Purple Wave, and Machinery Trader to establish current market pricing for comparable units, then adjust for condition, hours, configuration, and documentation quality.

Manufacturer Trademarks and Authorized Dealer Documentation

For equipment where manufacturer certification or dealer service records are relevant, particularly cranes requiring load charts, inspection certifications, and capacity documentation, we engage specialists familiar with those manufacturers' technical requirements. Crane manufacturers including Manitowoc, Liebherr, and Link-Belt issue load charts, rigging diagrams, and configuration-specific capacity data that are integral to the crane's operational value and therefore to our collateral assessment.

Authorized dealer service records (as opposed to third-party service records) carry additional weight in our documentation review, as they provide an independent, branded chain of custody for the machine's service history. For newer equipment still under manufacturer warranty, warranty documentation and transferability information are also relevant inputs.

The Process

Capital against your fleet in days.

01

Submit Equipment Details

Provide make, model, year, serial number, current hours, condition description, maintenance record summary, and ownership documentation. We assess and respond within hours.

02

Inspection, UCC Search & Terms

We conduct UCC lien searches, engage an independent inspector, and review maintenance records. Non-binding term sheet issued within 24 hours of complete documentation review.

03

Security Interest & Funding

Legal documentation establishing TLN's security interest is executed. Capital disbursed. Equipment remains in your custody unless otherwise agreed. At maturity, repay to release the lien.

Why TLN

Private capital built for equipment owners.

Equipment-Literate Underwriting

We understand hour meters, undercarriage wear, hydraulic system condition, and the difference between a well-documented machine and one with gaps in its service history. Our review reflects this knowledge.

Thorough UCC Due Diligence

Comprehensive UCC lien searches in all applicable jurisdictions. We verify clean title before structuring any capital arrangement, protecting both parties from undisclosed prior claims.

Auction-Data Valuations

We reference current Ritchie Bros., IronPlanet, and Purple Wave auction results for comparable units, plus dealer listings and appraisal data, to establish defensible, current market valuations.

No Personal Financial Statements

Our underwriting is asset-based, not borrower-based. No tax returns, no P&L statements, no balance sheets. We evaluate the equipment, not your business's credit history.

Common Questions

Construction equipment capital FAQ.

What types of construction equipment qualify as collateral?
Excavators, crawler cranes, tower cranes, wheel loaders, bulldozers, motor graders, pile drivers, concrete pumps, aerial work platforms, forklifts, compactors, and other heavy construction machinery from recognized manufacturers (Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo, Liebherr, Manitowoc, Terex, and similar) may qualify subject to individual review.
How do hour meters affect equipment valuation?
Hour meter readings are the primary measure of usage for construction equipment. Lower hours relative to age generally indicate a stronger collateral profile. We verify hour meter readings independently, review maintenance records, and apply depreciation models that account for actual usage versus manufacturer-recommended service intervals.
What is a UCC lien search and why is it required?
A UCC lien search confirms whether any existing security interests, from banks, equipment finance companies, or other lenders, have been filed against the equipment. Clear title and absence of prior security interests are prerequisites for TLN to establish its collateral position.
Does the equipment need to be in working condition?
Working condition is generally required. Equipment must be operable and in reasonable working order consistent with its age and hours. Current inspection reports and maintenance records are requested. Non-operational equipment may be considered in limited circumstances where repair costs are clearly defined and underlying asset value is well-established.
How are construction equipment loans structured?
Loan amounts are based on the equipment's current fair market value as determined by independent appraisal, current auction comparable data, and manufacturer trade-in values, with applicable LTV ratios. Terms are typically structured for 6 to 24 months.
What documentation is typically required?
Equipment serial number, ownership documentation, current hour meter reading, maintenance and service records, current inspection report, photographs of all major components, and results of UCC lien searches in all applicable jurisdictions are typically required.

Capital against your equipment. Fast. Private. Asset-based.

Submit equipment details today and receive a preliminary term sheet within 24 hours of complete documentation. No credit checks. No income verification. No balance sheets.

Important Disclosures All capital arrangements are subject to independent equipment appraisal, UCC lien searches, title verification, and TLN's underwriting approval. Loan-to-value ratios, rates, and terms are indicative and vary based on equipment condition, hours, documentation, and prevailing market conditions. Asset-backed loans use the borrower's collateral to secure the obligation; failure to repay may result in enforcement of TLN's security interest and potential loss of the pledged equipment. TLN LLC. All inquiries are confidential.