chase late invoice truck driver
How to chase a late invoice (without burning the customer)
A short playbook for owner-drivers when payment is overdue: what to say, when to escalate, and how to keep records clean.
Not tax or legal advice. Talk to your accountant for your situation.
Don’t wait until you’re angry
The day after the due date is the right time for a polite nudge, not three weeks later when you’re short on fuel money. Early reminders feel professional; late ones feel desperate.
What to say (keep it short)
Lead with the invoice number, amount, and original due date. Ask if anything’s blocking payment. Offer to resend the PDF. Skip essays and threats on the first chase.
- Invoice number and total
- Due date that passed
- Happy to resend if it went missing
- Ask for a payment date if they need more time
Second chase and when to stop hauling for free
If there’s no reply in a few business days, send a firmer note: payment is overdue, you need a date, and new work is on hold until it’s sorted. Put it in writing.
For repeat late payers, shorter terms or a deposit on the next booking beats hoping the next invoice will be different.
How OwnerHaul helps
Overdue invoices show up on Today under Needs doing. Open the invoice and tap chase. OwnerHaul emails a short reminder from your business name so you’re not rewriting the same note every week.