AICA Carrier Tools
90-Day Cash Flow Survival Calculator
See whether your operation can survive the payment gap — and what it costs to close it.
Free tool. No email required. No data stored.
Brokers pay on 30 to 45 day terms. Your truck payment, insurance, and fuel don't wait. This calculator projects your cash position week by week for your first 90 days of operation — with and without invoice factoring. Enter your numbers below to see where you stand.
Methodology based on AICA 2026 Independent Carrier Survey data and industry-standard payment terms.
Your Operation
Your average gross pay per load before any deductions
How many loads you expect to run per week
Lease or loan payment — enter $0 if you own outright
Commercial auto + cargo + general liability combined
Estimated weekly diesel cost based on your typical miles
All projections are estimates. Actual results depend on load consistency, payment timing, and individual circumstances.
$6,600/week
Weekly Revenue
Gross revenue based on your inputs
$1,778/week
Weekly Expenses
Fixed + variable operating costs
$1,607/load
Per-Load Profit
Before factoring fees — you ARE profitable
90-Day Cash Flow Timeline
-$10,666
Maximum Cash Deficit Without Factoring
$4,624
With Factoring, your cash position never drops below
The Bottom Line
$10,666
Cash You'd Need to Survive Without Factoring
This is how much cash or credit you need on hand to cover the gap before payments arrive
$2,574
Total Cost of Factoring Over 90 Days
The total you'd pay in factoring fees across 13 weeks at 3.0%
$8,092
You'd Save vs. Self-Funding
Capital you DON'T need to borrow, save, or put on credit cards
Factoring doesn't eliminate costs — it shifts when you get paid. For $85,800 in total revenue over 90 days, factoring costs you $2,574. Without factoring, you need $10,666 in cash reserves to cover the same period. Most new carriers don't have that kind of capital on hand — and borrowing it costs more than factoring does.
See What Rate You'd Actually Pay
This calculator uses an industry-average factoring rate. Your actual rate depends on your freight type, invoice volume, and the factoring company you work with. AICA's carrier assessment matches you with the factoring companies that rated highest among carriers with operations like yours — and shows you what rate to expect.
Get Your AICA Factoring Match
Based on our 2026 carrier survey — takes under 2 minutes
Take the AssessmentAICA does not sell your information. You will not receive unsolicited calls. Our recommendations are based on carrier survey data.
Why the Payment Gap Matters
68%
of new carriers reported a cash flow crisis in their first 90 days
Source: AICA 2026 Independent Carrier Survey
The payment gap isn't a sign that your business is failing — it's a structural feature of how the freight industry works. Brokers pay on terms. Your costs don't wait. The carriers who survive their first year aren't necessarily the ones running the most loads — they're the ones who planned for the cash flow timing. This calculator exists to help you see the gap before it becomes a crisis.