Forestry equipment financing

Harvesters, skidders, processors and log-haul equipment.

Estimate your paymentExample rate 9%

Equipment cost

$1,967/month over 48 months

CBL funds up to $1,000,000

Example only, not a quote. The lease example includes a 10% buyout at the end of the term. Your rate depends on credit, time in business and the equipment.

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The short answer

CBL arranges financing for feller bunchers, harvesters, skidders, forwarders, processors and log trucks, including high-hour used units. It suits contract loggers and forestry operators who need a lender that is comfortable with forestry. We place your deal with credit teams that know the business, and machines and trucks can be financed together as one file.

At a glance

CBL Financial is an equipment financing brokerage in Calgary, Alberta, that arranges forestry equipment financing for businesses across Canada. Funding goes up to $1,000,000, terms run 24 to 72 months, and approvals can come the same day for straightforward files.

Forestry financing at a glance
What it is	Forestry equipment financing, arranged through a lender network
Funding	Up to $1,000,000
Terms	24 to 72 months
Approval time	Same day possible for straightforward files
Where	Businesses across Canada, from a head office in Calgary, AB
Equipment	Feller bunchers & harvesters, Skidders & forwarders, Processors & delimbers, Log trucks & trailers, Chippers & grinders
Sellers	New or used, from a dealer, auction or private seller
Rate and down payment	Set by the lender for each file, based on credit, the asset and its age

Forestry equipment is expensive, works in remote places and gets used hard, and that combination makes generalist lenders nervous. We place forestry files with credit desks that understand contract logging, quota cycles and the real resale market for bush iron, including high-hour used units.

Logging and tree equipment financing

We arrange forestry equipment leasing and loans for feller bunchers and harvesters, skidders and forwarders, processors and delimbers, and the log trucks and trailers that haul the wood. Chippers and grinders used for tree work are financed the same way. Equipment can be new or used, from a dealer, an auction or a private seller, and machines and trucks can go to the lender together as one file.

Logging equipment leasing or a loan

When you lease logging equipment, you make a fixed monthly payment and keep cash free for payroll and running costs. At the end of the term you can buy the machine for a pre-set amount, upgrade to a newer one or return it. See equipment leasing for how it works. An equipment loan makes the machine yours from day one, and you build equity with every payment. Either way, terms run 24 to 72 months, and payments can be matched to quota and contract seasons where the lender offers it.

What lenders look at on a forestry file

The machine: make, model, year, hours and condition. On high-hour units, the lenders we work with look at maintenance history before making a call.
Contracts and revenue: logging contracts and consistent bank deposits show where the payments will come from.
Time in business and credit: a longer operating history and cleaner credit widen your options.
Down payment: equipment with strong resale value can help reduce what you put down.

Startup forestry equipment loans

New logging contractors are considered, usually with the equipment as security. Lenders look at the owner’s personal credit, the type and value of the machine, and any down payment offered. A signed contract or purchase order helps, because it shows the lender where the payments will come from. Equipment leasing can also work for a new operation, since the lease is tied to the machine rather than to a long track record.

Logging equipment financing with bad credit

Challenged credit is considered. It usually changes the structure of the deal, for example a larger first payment or additional security, and as a broker we can take your file to other lenders when one says no. Our guide to equipment financing with bad credit in Canada covers what lenders evaluate and how to strengthen an application.

Common equipment we finance

Feller bunchers & harvesters
Skidders & forwarders
Processors & delimbers
Log trucks & trailers
Chippers & grinders

Built for your industry

How forestry financing works

High-hour used placed
The lenders we work with look at maintenance history on high-hour units before making a call.
Contract-cycle structures
Payments matched to quota and contract seasons, where the lender offers them.
Truck + machine bundles
Machines and trucks can be financed together as a single file.

FAQ

Questions owners ask

Can I finance a used or high-hour skidder or feller buncher?

Yes. Used logging equipment, including high-hour machines, can be financed when the serial number can be verified and the machine has reasonable remaining life. The lenders we work with look at maintenance history on high-hour units before making a call, so keep your service records handy. Dealer, auction and private-sale machines are all considered.

Can I finance a log truck and a machine in one deal?

Yes. Machines and trucks can be financed together as a single file, so a processor and the log truck that hauls for it can go to one lender on one application. Terms run 24 to 72 months, and payments can follow quota and contract seasons where the lender offers that structure.

Is there an age limit on used equipment?

There is no single cutoff, but many lenders prefer that the equipment’s age plus the financing term stay within a set limit. Exceptions are common for well-maintained equipment with service records. Send us the details before ruling anything out.

What if my credit is less than perfect?

You may still qualify, though challenged credit usually changes the structure of the deal, for example a larger first payment or additional security. As a broker, we can take your file to other lenders when one says no.