True flat rate freight shipping, one fixed price per pallet no matter the distance or weight, is rare in LTL, because carriers price each shipment by lane, freight class, weight and services. What shippers usually mean by flat rate freight is one of four fixed-price arrangements: a freight-all-kinds (FAK) class agreement, space-based volume or partial truckload pricing, a full truckload price for the whole trailer, or, for heavy boxes under parcel limits, USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate and UPS Simple Rate.
This guide explains what each option actually fixes, what still varies, and which shipments each one fits. It doesn’t list prices, because freight pricing depends on the lane and changes during the year. For a live price on a pallet, use the PalletPath freight quote calculator.
Why isn’t LTL freight priced at a flat rate?
An LTL shipment shares a trailer with freight from other shippers and passes through several terminals, so its cost to the carrier depends on how far it travels, how much space and weight it takes and how hard it is to handle. Carriers capture that with a tariff rate for the lane, class and weight bracket, plus a fuel surcharge and charges for services such as liftgate delivery. A single flat price would overcharge short, dense shipments and undercharge long, bulky ones.
Freight class is set by the National Motor Freight Classification. Since NMFTA Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025, many commodities are classed by density on a 13-bracket scale from class 400 to class 50. Our freight class calculator guide shows how to find yours, and the LTL freight rates guide explains how carriers build a price from those inputs.
What flat rate freight shipping options actually exist?
Each of these arrangements fixes part of the price. None of them fixes everything.
| Option | What’s fixed | What still varies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAK (freight all kinds) agreement | A range of freight classes bills as one class | Lane, weight, fuel, accessorials | Shippers with mixed products and steady volume |
| Volume LTL or partial truckload quote | Price for a set amount of trailer space on a lane | Lane and carrier capacity that day | Larger shipments, often six pallets or more |
| Full truckload quote | One price for the whole trailer on a lane | Lane, mileage, equipment, market conditions | Enough freight to fill most of a trailer |
| Contract lane pricing | Negotiated rates for set lanes over a period | Fuel and accessorials; renewals | Recurring shipments on the same lanes |
| USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate | One price per box anywhere in the U.S. | Box size only | Dense items up to 70 lb that fit a USPS box |
| UPS Simple Rate | Price by box size tier instead of weight | Size tier, service and distance | Items up to 50 lb in boxes up to 1,728 cubic inches |
How does a freight-all-kinds (FAK) agreement work?
An FAK provision in a carrier contract rates a range of freight classes as a single class. For example, a contract might bill everything from class 70 through class 100 as class 85. The shipper no longer has to classify each product precisely within that range, and invoices become more predictable.
FAK fixes the class, not the price. Lane, weight, fuel and accessorials still change the total, and freight outside the agreed class range is billed at its actual class. FAK provisions are negotiated, so they usually require regular, predictable volume with a carrier.
How do volume LTL, partial truckload and full truckload quotes fix the price?
Volume LTL and partial truckload quotes price the shipment by the trailer space it occupies on a lane, rather than by class and weight bracket. They’re typically used for larger shipments, often six pallets or more, and can come in below standard LTL pricing when carriers have room on the lane. Because the price depends on capacity that day, these quotes are short-lived.
A full truckload quote is the closest thing to a true flat rate in freight: you pay one price for the trailer on that lane, whether you load it half full or completely, within the equipment’s weight and size limits. Our LTL vs FTL guide explains when a dedicated truck makes more sense, and the LTL freight and logistics guide explains how shared LTL trailers move through terminals.
When does a parcel flat rate beat freight?
For heavy items that fit in a box, a parcel flat rate often costs less than putting a single carton on a pallet. Two carrier programs fix the price by box rather than by weight:
- USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate ships packages up to 70 pounds for one price to anywhere in the U.S., in free USPS boxes and envelopes. USPS lists Priority Mail delivery at 2 to 3 days, with tracking and up to $100 of insurance coverage included for most shipments.
- UPS Simple Rate uses your own box and prices it by size tier, from Extra Small (up to 100 cubic inches) to Extra Large (1,051 to 1,728 cubic inches), for packages up to 50 pounds.
Flat rate pays off when the item is heavy for its size. A light item in a large box usually ships cheaper on regular weight-based pricing. Our flat rate shipping guide lists every USPS Flat Rate box with its dimensions, and if a box has to arrive overnight, the USPS overnight shipping guide covers Priority Mail Express.
To compare flat rate against weight-based pricing for your box, check live UPS and USPS prices in the ParcelPath rate calculator. ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, with no subscription or per-label fee, and our small business shipping guide covers how to set up regular parcel shipping.
How do you get the most predictable price on a pallet?
If your shipment is too big for parcel and too small for a truckload, you can’t get a true flat rate, but you can make the LTL price predictable:
- Measure and weigh the loaded pallet, including the pallet itself, so the carrier doesn’t reweigh or reclass it.
- Use the correct NMFC class, recalculated for density if you last classed the product before July 2025.
- Declare every service at quote time, such as liftgate, residential or appointment delivery.
- Put the quote number on the bill of lading so the carrier bills the quoted price.
- Compare several carriers on the same details, because LTL carriers price the same lane differently.
Our freight shipping quote checklist lists every detail to enter, and the freight quote guide explains how long a quote stays valid. The freight calculator guide covers estimating any freight move, and our roundup of freight shipping companies compares the carriers themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there flat rate freight shipping for a single pallet?
Standard LTL carriers rarely offer flat rate freight shipping for a single pallet, because they price each shipment by lane, freight class, weight and services. The most predictable option is an accurate LTL quote with the correct class and every service declared. Shippers with steady volume can negotiate an FAK agreement that bills a range of classes as one class.
What is the closest thing to flat rate freight shipping?
A full truckload quote is the closest thing to flat rate freight shipping. You pay one price for the whole trailer on a lane, whether you fill it or not, within the equipment’s weight and size limits. Volume LTL and partial truckload quotes are similar for larger shipments, pricing the trailer space used rather than class and weight.
What is the weight limit for flat rate shipping?
For parcels, USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate accepts packages up to 70 pounds, and UPS Simple Rate accepts packages up to 50 pounds in boxes up to 1,728 cubic inches. Anything heavier, or palletized, ships as freight, where there’s no standard flat rate and LTL carriers price by lane, class, weight and services instead.
Does a FAK agreement give me a flat rate?
No. A freight-all-kinds (FAK) agreement fixes the freight class, not the price. It bills a range of classes, such as 70 through 100, as one class, which makes invoices more predictable. The total still changes with the lane, shipment weight, fuel surcharge and accessorial services, and freight outside the agreed range bills at its actual class.
Sources
- USPS: Priority Mail (Flat Rate weight limit, delivery, box sizes)
- UPS: Package dimensions and weight
- UPS: Simple Rate (ups.com)
- NMFTA: Disposition Bulletin 1371, Docket 2025-1 (effective July 19, 2025)
Part of our Freight Quote guide. Related: Freight Shipping Quote, Freight Calculator, How to Get Accurate Freight Shipping Quotes.
