The Freight Doctor

In an effort to help you find the best freight quote last week, I decided to pick 4 freight companies online and have them give a freight quote for the same item. Some companies I used their online instant freight quote. Others I phoned in an spoke with an agent.  Here were the parameters I used:

Boxed item rated as FAK Class 125 at 250 lbs.

Origin: San Diego, CA 92101 Commercial Location with Forklift and/or dock

Destination: Atlanta, GA 30303 Residential Location with Liftgate

I discarded any quote that didn’t offer freight insurance or was covered for less than $5/ lb.

Here are the numbers:

FreightShippingDirect.com - $313.88

FreightShippingCenter.com - $433.90

FreightCenter.com - $460.34

Freight101.com - $468.12

Once you’ve received your freight quote, you may see what are referred to as Accessorial Charges that are additional fees listed on the freight quote. In an effort to clarify your freight quote I will begin a series of posts that will explain what each of these fees mean and how they effect your delivery or pick up.

The Liftgate Charge is a fairly common accessorial fee. What is a liftgate? A liftgate is a hydraulic  accessorial device used to lower the pallet to from the end of the truck to the ground level.

Typically this is used for items leaving from or going to residential locations or those locations where there is no loading dock or there is no forklift available.

If you do not opt for a liftgate, the driver is only responsible for taking your shipment to the end of the truck and you must take care of gettig the pallet off of the truck.

You can expect to be charged anywhere from $50-$125 for the liftgate fee depending on your freight rate structure. If the liftgate accessorial charge is any higher than this, you shoud consider attempting to negotiate for a lower liftgate charge.

Looking for The Best Freight Quotes Online?
Check Out The FREIGHT QUOTE SHOOTOUT Here!

What does FAK stand for? FAK stands for Freight All Kinds. FAKs are determined by the NMFC or National Motor Freight Classification, which publishes a book annually, that lists every type of commodity that can be shipped. FAK or Freight All Kinds are arrived at in part by the weight, density, volume and material of the item.

Each commodity falls into a different class of FAK. The smaller and more dense the commodity is, the lower the FAK. The bigger and more airy it is, the higher the FAK is. For instance, smaller solid heavy metal plates and parts are rated at FAK Class 50 being that they’re small, dense and very heavy. Soft items such as pillows on the other hand may fall into FAK Class 300 or 400 because they’re big, and take up a lot of space in the truck and are light weight. That said, the best rates will always be for heavier items that take up less space on the truck.

Learn what the actual FAK of your commodities are. Watch out for any company that rates your FAK higher than it actually is. If anything, try to get a lower FAK than its actual class. Visit the NMFC and purchase the NMFC book HERE

In an industry where fuel surcharges are skyrocketing, the freight companies that are trying to offset the price increases by lowering your FAKs below their actual class for you are the companies you want to be doing business with. Your actual class and FAK will be based upon your volume of freight.

Here is a listing of all the FAK Classifications:
· 50
· 55
· 60
· 65
· 70
· 77.5
· 85
· 92.5
· 100
· 110
· 125
· 150
· 175
· 200
· 250
· 300
· 400
· 500

Looking for The Best Freight Quotes Online?
Check Out The FREIGHT QUOTE SHOOTOUT Here!