Akru vs. factoring for detention pay
Pick Akru if detention is slipping through unbilled — it audits your ELD, builds the evidence-backed invoice you send, for a flat $39/mo while you keep 100% of what you recover.
Stick with (or add) factoring if your real need is fast cash on every load — a factor advances funds on invoices you’ve already created, which Akru does not do.
Why: They solve different problems: factoring is a cash-advance fee on invoices you already raised, while Akru finds and invoices detention you never billed (flat $39/mo, you keep 100%) — most carriers benefit from running both.
Akru vs. the alternative, line by line
| Feature | Akru | Freight factoring |
|---|---|---|
| What it actually does | Detects detention from your ELD and builds the invoice | Advances cash on invoices you submit |
| Finds unbilled detention from your ELD | Yes | No |
| Builds the detention invoice for you | Yes — GPS-verified evidence | No — you invoice, they fund it |
| Fee basis | Flat $39/mo subscription | Percentage of every factored invoice |
| Typical fee | $39/mo — keep 100% of recoveries | ~1.75%–3.25% per invoice (Bobtail; varies by provider) |
| Upfront cost | $0 — 14-day free trial | $0 setup at Bobtail; varies by factor |
| ELD integration (Samsara, Motive) | Yes | No |
| Advances cash before the shipper pays | No | Yes — typically within ~24 hours |
| Who collects from the shipper | You — Akru builds the invoice + payment link | The factor, on factored invoices |
| Works alongside the other | Yes — runs next to your factor | Yes — keep factoring your freight |
What each one actually costs
Flat subscription — keep 100% of recovered detention
- $39/month or $390/year, 14-day free trial
- No per-recovery cut — every detention dollar you recover is yours
- A fixed monthly cost, separate from your freight invoices
Discount on each factored invoice (a cash-advance fee)
- Example: Bobtail ~1.75%–3.25% per invoice by volume, 100% advance, no reserve
- Bobtail: no setup, ACH, or termination fees; month-to-month (optional $18 wire)
- Applies to the WHOLE invoice for early payment — not a detention-recovery service
- Across the market, factoring runs ~1–5% per invoice (effective all-in ≈2.6% on a $10k invoice held ~28 days), varying by advance rate and recourse vs. non-recourse
These are different fee types: Akru is a flat $39/mo subscription and you keep 100% of detention you recover; a factoring rate is a percentage discount on every invoice you factor for early cash. Bobtail figures are from third-party reviews (June 2026); confirm current terms with any factor before relying on them.
Who each one is honestly right for
You need cash on every load within ~24 hours
That is exactly what factoring is for; Akru does not advance funds.
Detention you’re entitled to keeps going unbilled
Akru catches it from ELD and builds the invoice — money a factor never sees because no invoice was ever raised.
You already factor but detention still slips through
Run both: factor your freight for cash flow, let Akru recover the detention on top.
You want one vendor for back-office, fuel cards, and funding
Many factors bundle fuel cards, load boards, and credit checks — back-office services Akru does not offer. Confirm the exact bundle with your factor.
Where factoring genuinely wins
- Immediate cash — a factor advances funds on your invoices in about a day, versus waiting on the shipper.
- Covers all your freight invoices, not just detention.
- Non-recourse options can protect you from a shipper that never pays at all.
- Many factors bundle extras Akru doesn’t — fuel cards, load boards, credit checks, and back-office support.
- If cash flow — not detention — is your bottleneck, factoring is the right tool and Akru is not a replacement.
How hard is it to move?
There’s nothing to switch. Keep your factor; Akru runs alongside it and only reads your ELD. Detention is typically separate from factored receivables, so the two rarely overlap — and Akru flags any load you’ve marked as factored.
- 01
Keep factoring as-is
Your factoring relationship and cash advances are untouched.
- 02
Connect your ELD to Akru
Link Samsara or Motive read-only; Akru begins reading stop timestamps.
- 03
Mark factored loads
Flag factored loads so Akru keeps detention recovery separate from receivables already sold to your factor.
- 04
Invoice the detention on top
Akru builds the detention invoice from loads you weren’t billing; you send it and keep 100%, paid by ACH after the shipper pays.
Common questions
Doesn’t my factoring company already collect detention for me?
Generally no. A factor advances cash on invoices you create and submit; it does not audit your ELD to find unbilled detention or pursue a detention-specific claim. If you never raised the detention invoice, your factor never sees that money.
Can I use Akru and a factoring company at the same time?
Yes. They do different jobs — factoring funds your freight invoices for cash flow, Akru recovers detention. Akru lets you flag factored loads so the two stay separate.
How is Akru’s fee different from a factoring rate?
Akru is a flat $39/mo subscription regardless of volume, and you keep 100% of recovered detention. A factoring rate is a percentage discount taken on every invoice you factor for early payment, whether or not detention is involved.
Does Akru advance me cash before the shipper pays?
No. Akru isn’t a lender — you invoice the detention and the shipper pays you directly, with funds typically reaching your bank by ACH 2–3 business days after they pay. If you need cash up front, that’s what a factor is for.
What does factoring typically cost?
Freight factoring typically costs ~1–5% per invoice (FreightWaves), with an effective all-in cost around 2.6% on a $10k invoice held ~28 days. Rates vary by provider, advance rate, and recourse vs. non-recourse — and may carry setup, wire, or termination fees. Confirm current terms with any factor.