Freight Class

Freight class is the classification system that determines how LTL shipments are priced. Maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), the system assigns every commodity an NMFC code that maps to one of 18 freight classes, ranging from class 50 (the cheapest, densest, easiest-to-handle freight) to class 500 (the most expensive, lightest, most difficult freight). The class directly drives the per-hundredweight rate a carrier charges from their tariff schedule.

Four factors determine a commodity's freight class: density (weight per cubic foot), handling difficulty, stowability (how easily it loads with other freight), and liability (value and fragility). In practice, density is the dominant factor for most commodities. A pallet of canned goods at 35 pounds per cubic foot will classify much lower – and ship much cheaper – than a pallet of lampshades at 4 pounds per cubic foot, even if both weigh the same total pounds. Carriers will reclassify and re-rate shipments that arrive at a different density than declared, often resulting in unexpected charges.

Accurate freight classification is critical because misclassification leads to re-class fees, invoice disputes, and carrier friction. If a shipper consistently declares class 70 but the freight actually measures as class 85, the carrier will adjust the invoice upward – and some carriers add inspection fees on top. Getting the class right at the point of BOL generation eliminates this problem, which requires knowing exact product dimensions, weights, and the applicable NMFC code for each commodity being shipped.