Lending data
Who actually lends to trucking and transportation businesses in Iowa?
44 SBA 7(a) loans went to trucking and transportation businesses in Iowa recently, at a median of $101,350. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
44 SBA 7(a) loans went to trucking and transportation businesses in Iowa in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $101,350 over 10 years. The most active lender was U.S. Bank, with 9 loans.
What lending to trucking and transportation businesses in Iowa actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Transportation and trucking, Iowa | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 44 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $101,350 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $38,800 - $413,500 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.12% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 45.5% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 9.2% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to trucking and transportation businesses in Iowa. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 9 | $25,000 | 44% | 10.99% |
| Bank Iowa | 4 | $55,950 | 50% | 7.55% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 3 | $15,000 | 100% | 14.75% |
| Northeast Bank | 3 | $97,900 | 0% | 11.25% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 3 | $182,700 | 0% | 12.00% |
| First Security Bank & Trust Company | 2 | $288,100 | 50% | 11.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run smaller than average. The median of $101,350 is 32% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, so budget for a rate above the headline range.
- New businesses do well here. 46% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 36% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 9.2% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 45.5% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 4 | $25,000 | 44% | 10.99% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 3 | $15,000 | 100% | 14.75% |
| Bank Iowa | 2 | $55,950 | 50% | 7.55% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year. See choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator so you ask for a number the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Iowa: restaurants and hotels, construction, personal services, retail, healthcare, arts and recreation
- Trucking in comparable states: Kansas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, West Virginia, Delaware