DAT Outgo Factoring
The Honest 2026 Guide
New owner-op trying to figure out factoring? Real explanation of how it works, what it costs, and why we recommend it in our post-graduation curriculum. No fluff, no hype.
Most new owner-operators run out of cash within their first 90 days on the road — not because they’re not earning, but because brokers pay on net-30 to net-60 terms. You haul a load Monday. You don’t see the money for 30 to 60 days. Meanwhile, fuel, insurance, truck payment, and food don’t wait.
This is the cash flow trap that ends more new trucking businesses than bad freight, bad lanes, or bad luck combined.
Factoring solves it. You haul a load, send the invoice to your factoring company, and they pay you within 24 hours. They wait to get paid by the broker — not you.
We’ve trained thousands of new CDL drivers across 49 states. Once they hit the road as owner-ops, the question that comes up most isn’t “how do I find loads?” — it’s “how do I survive the wait between loads?”
Our answer: DAT Outgo. Here’s why, what it actually costs, and how to get started.
Quick note before we get into it: searches for invoice factoring reviews are up nearly 2,000% in the past year. Factoring company reviews and invoice factoring fees are both up over 600%. More owner-ops than ever are doing their homework before signing with a factoring company — and they should be. Factoring fees compound on every invoice, and the wrong company can lock you into a contract you can’t escape.
This page answers the questions actually being searched: real fees, real rates, honest comparison to Apex, RTS, and TBS, and exactly when factoring is worth it versus when it’s not.
The freight market is tighter than it’s been in years. Brokers are slower to pay. Operating costs are higher. New owner-ops are entering the market faster than ever.
Brokers are stretching payment timelines to manage their own cash flow. That hits new owner-ops hardest.
Searches for “owner operator insurance cost” are up 20% YoY. The cost stack on every load is getting heavier.
When you can pay your bills on time, refuel without stress, and take the next load opportunity, you build a business. When you can’t, you fold.
Factoring isn’t a luxury for most new owner-ops. It’s the difference between making it past year one and not.
Factoring is when a company pays you for your invoice up front, then they collect from your broker later.
You complete the delivery as normal.
Submit invoice to DAT Outgo through the platform.
Usually 95–97% of invoice amount hits your account.
Typically 1–3% of the invoice as the factoring fee.
Outgo waits the 30–60 days. You already have your money.
You get cash now. They take on the wait. That’s it.
Most invoices funded within 24 hours of submission. Often same-day.
If you’re already on the DAT load board, Outgo works inside the same platform. No double login, no double paperwork.
Many factoring companies lock you in for 12–24 months. DAT Outgo doesn’t.
Some factors require weekly invoice minimums or you pay a penalty. Outgo doesn’t.
Includes invoicing, expense tracking, and access to discounted fuel. Back-office tools new owner-ops usually piece together separately.
Before you haul, Outgo can flag brokers with bad payment history. Protects you from doing the work and not getting paid.
Factoring fees vary by industry, but DAT Outgo runs in the standard range:
Roughly 1–3% per invoice. You’re on the hook if the broker doesn’t pay. Most new owner-ops start here because the fees are lower and Outgo’s broker credit checks reduce the risk.
Higher fee, but the factoring company takes the credit risk. Worth it if you’re working with new brokers you can’t fully vet.
For most new owner-ops on the DAT network running standard freight, expect 1.5–2.5% as a starting range. On a $2,000 load, that’s $30–$50 in factoring fees. You get $1,950–$1,970 within 24 hours instead of waiting 30–60 days for the full $2,000.
The cash flow value of having the money now is worth far more than the fee for most owner-ops.
You haul three loads in a week at $2,000 each = $6,000 in invoices.
Without Factoring
Week 1: Invoices submitted
Weeks 2–6: Waiting for broker payment
Week 4–8: Money finally hits — IF the broker pays on time
You’re floating fuel, insurance, truck payment, and personal bills on your own money or credit.
With DAT Outgo
Week 1: Invoices submitted
Within 24 hours: $5,820–$5,910 in your account
Same week: You refuel, pay your truck payment, take your kids out
The factoring company waits for the broker — not you.
Cost of factoring in this example: $90–$180. Cost of running out of cash and parking the truck for a week: thousands.
We’re not going to pretend Outgo is the only option. Here’s the honest picture:
DAT Outgo vs. Apex Capital
Apex is one of the biggest names in trucking factoring with decades in the business. Their rates are competitive, customer service is generally strong, and they have a fuel card program. Outgo’s advantage is the DAT integration — if you’re already using the load board, factoring inside the same platform reduces paperwork. If you’re not on DAT, Apex is worth comparing.
DAT Outgo vs. RTS Financial
RTS is another major factor with a long track record and integrated fuel card. Similar rate range. The main difference is platform — RTS is its own ecosystem, Outgo lives inside DAT.
DAT Outgo vs. TBS Factoring
TBS targets owner-ops specifically and has strong fuel card discounts. Comparable rates. Their customer service skews toward small operators.
DAT Outgo vs. Broker Quick Pay
Many brokers offer their own “quick pay” for 2–3% off the invoice — sometimes higher. Two problems: it’s only on their loads, and the fee is often higher than dedicated factoring. Factoring covers every load, every broker.
The honest take: for a brand-new owner-op already on DAT One, Outgo is the easiest entry point — same platform, no extra logins, integrated workflow. If you’re not on DAT and you’re shopping factoring on its own, get quotes from Apex and RTS too. The differences between major factors at this scale are small.
The first 90 days as a new owner-operator are when the cash flow problem hits hardest. You’ve spent money to get your authority, register with FMCSA, pay for insurance, fuel up the first time, and start running.
You don’t have a financial cushion. You don’t have established broker relationships. You don’t have rate data to know which loads are actually paying. Every dollar matters.
Factoring during that period isn’t optional for most drivers — it’s how you survive long enough to build the business.
This is why we recommend Outgo in our post-graduation curriculum. Not because they pay us a commission — though they do, and that’s disclosed below. Because the alternative is watching new owner-ops fold before they ever hit profitability.
Your Biggest Risk Is Cash Flow
Factoring eliminates that risk. Get paid in 24 hours instead of 60 days.
Get Started With DAT Outgo →DLA Academy is an FMCSA-registered ELDT and Hazmat training provider with 49-state coverage. We graduate new CDL drivers every month, and we recommend DAT Outgo in our post-graduation curriculum because the cash flow problem is what kills more new trucking businesses than any other single factor.
Disclosure: DLA Academy is a DAT Outgo affiliate partner. We earn a commission when you sign up through our link, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend tools we’d use ourselves.