Freight All Kinds (FAK)

Freight All Kinds – FAK – is a negotiated LTL pricing arrangement where a shipper and carrier agree to rate all or most commodities at a single freight class, regardless of the actual NMFC classification. Instead of pricing each shipment based on the specific freight class of every item on the pallet, everything gets rated at the FAK class – typically a lower class that reduces the average per-hundredweight cost for the shipper.

FAK agreements are particularly valuable for shippers who move a diverse mix of products with widely varying freight classes. Without an FAK, a pallet with class 70 and class 150 items gets rated at the higher class (or individually per item), driving up cost. With an FAK agreement – say, everything rated at class 85 – the shipper gets predictable, simplified pricing regardless of the product mix. This also streamlines BOL preparation and reduces the risk of reclassification disputes, since the carrier has agreed to accept the blended class.

Carriers agree to FAK arrangements when the shipper's average freight density supports it – meaning the actual freight, on average, is dense enough to justify the blended class. A shipper whose freight averages class 100 density asking for a class 70 FAK is unlikely to get it. The negotiation depends on volume commitment, lane consistency, and the shipper's ability to provide accurate density data that demonstrates the FAK class is reasonable for the carrier's operations.

FAK agreements should be reviewed periodically. If your product mix shifts – say you add a lighter, bulkier product line – the original FAK class may no longer align with your actual density profile, and the carrier may push to renegotiate or begin inspecting shipments more aggressively.