What does FAK mean in shipping?

Freight all kinds: a pricing agreement that rates a mix of commodities at one class, instead of each at its own NMFC class. It simplifies pricing for shippers moving many different products.

Is FAK part of the NMFC?

No. NMFTA says FAKs are not addressed in the NMFC; they are exceptions agreed between a shipper and its carrier, usually in a pricing agreement.

Does FAK change the carrier's liability?

It can. FedEx Freight limits liability to the FAK class's maximum per pound — USD 7.50 a pound at class 70 against USD 25 at class 100 and above — with no excess cover available.

Term

Freight all kinds (FAK)

Freight all kinds (FAK) is a pricing agreement that rates a mix of commodities at one class instead of each item's NMFC class — FedEx Freight's own example is a class 125 item rated as FAK class 70. It is an exception the carrier agrees to, not part of the NMFC, and it can lower the carrier's liability too.

Also called FAK, FAK rate, FAK class, freight all kinds classApplies in USUpdated 13 October 2026

How FAK works

Old Dominion's tariff defines FAK as an exception to a commodity's NMFC class designation for rating purposes. A shipper moving many different products negotiates one class — or a few — for all of them, so it no longer prices each item separately. NMFTA, which publishes the NMFC, says FAKs are not addressed in the NMFC; their terms are between the shipper and the carrier.

Worked example: the liability side

Class rated	Maximum liability per lb
50	USD 1
70	USD 7.50
85	USD 15
100 and above	USD 25

FedEx Freight's maximum liability per pound per package for FAK or exception-class shipments (Item 421)

A 200 lb package of class 125 goods moving at FAK 70: 200 × USD 7.50 = USD 1,500 maximum, against 200 × USD 25 = USD 5,000 at its actual class

FedEx Freight's tariff offers no excess liability cover on FAK or exception-class pricing that refers to this item, so the gap stays with the shipper.

What the bill of lading must still say

FAK changes the price, not the paperwork. Old Dominion requires the shipper to identify the specific commodity on the bill of lading for all freight moving under FAK rates. A carrier that cannot tell what it is carrying cannot check the class, the hazard or the handling.

The mistake people make

Writing "FAK" as the description. Under Old Dominion's tariff, a bill of lading that describes the goods only as "Freight All Kinds" or "FAK" makes the shipment subject to a minimum charge based on the class 100 rate less the applicable discount — the saving the FAK was meant to give is gone.

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