Air-tow Trailers taps QuickFi for embedded lending

Air-tow Trailers has launched a digital captive finance program powered by fintech QuickFi’s embedded lending platform.  

Air-tow, which manufactures single-axle and tandem-axle drop-deck trailers, will use QuickFi’s AI-driven mobile platform to provide customers near-instant loan and lease options at the point of sale, according to an April 1 QuickFi release.  

Enhancing dealer ops 

Wapakoneta, Ohio-based Air-tow chose QuickFi because it accelerates credit decisions and streamlines dealer finance operations, Air-tow President Andrew Hannah told Equipment Finance News.  

“We’re providing service to the customer by essentially saying to them, ‘Hey, we’ll put the financing in your hands,’” he said.

“How can we make your transaction smoother if you need financing? And that’s where QuickFi comes in.”

— Andrew Hannah, president, Air-tow Trailers

Customers can complete applications through QuickFi’s mobile app, which then provides pre-approved financing options for the unit that they wish to purchase.

Prior to QuickFi, financing was “a black hole” for some Air-tow dealer sales representatives, Hannah said. 

“They would just have no idea where [financing] is at in the process,” he said. “And QuickFi has this product that allows us to track all these loans, and then we can set [key performance indicators] and just have better data that no one in our company has really thought about before.” 

Through its Fast Flex Financing program, Air-tow offers loan and lease terms from 24 to 60 months, some with no money down. QuickFi handles onboarding, underwriting, document preparation and delivery of the loan. 

Air-tow expects its dealers to be confident using the platform after the first transaction, Hannah said, noting that QuickFi representatives are always available to answer questions.  

Industry shift 

The partnership reflects growing demand for fast, frictionless financing driven by broader societal changes, QuickFi Senior Vice President of Marketing Joseph Vu told EFN.  

“Everyone expects things right away, and financing is no different,” he said. “It’s been a laggard in the equipment finance space for a while.” 

Platforms such as QuickFi also reflect the emergence of AI in the equipment finance industry.  

QuickFi uses agentic AI, providing end-to-end loan automation and insurance management, Vu said. The fintech also uses AI agents for marketing, sales and customer service. 

AI can transform equipment finance by synthesizing data “into something that’s comprehensible by dealers, OEMs and potentially even customers at some point,” Vu said. This data could “help inform new sales opportunities or marketing opportunities, as well as using any of that to build additional revenue capabilities.” 

“We’re just scratching the surface there, but we definitely see where it can go,” he said. 

The fourth annual Equipment Finance Connect, a crucial industry event for equipment lenders and dealers, takes place at the C. Baldwin Hotel in Houston May 18-19. Learn more about the event and register here by April 3 for early-bird savings.