If you’ve ever filled out an LTL quote request and stalled at “freight class,” there’s a reason. The number isn’t printed on the pallet, and most businesses don’t need to think about it until a carrier asks for it.
Freight class is one of the details traditional LTL carriers use to rate a shipment. If the class is based on an estimate, old shipment specs, or the wrong commodity information, the price can change once the freight is weighed, measured, or inspected.
So before you pick a number from a chart, it helps to understand how to determine freight class based on the shipment itself: what it is, what it weighs, how much space it takes up, and what’s involved in handling it.
What freight class is
Freight class is an National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) used in traditional less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. It gives carriers and shippers a common way to classify commodities based on:
- How they use trailer space
- What’s involved in handling and transporting them
The NMFC includes 18 freight classes, ranging from 50 to 500. Lower classes are generally assigned to freight that’s denser and easier to handle and stow, whereas higher classes may apply to freight that takes up more space for its weight, is harder to handle or stow, or carries greater liability.
Freight class is specific to the NMFC system used in LTL transportation. It doesn’t apply to every type of freight service. A dedicated truck, same-day shipment, or another type of transportation may be priced using a different model.
How freight class is determined
Freight class is based on four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling, and liability.
Under the current NMFC system, density has become the primary basis for classifying many commodities that don’t have unusual handling, stowability, or liability characteristics. That makes accurate weight and dimensions particularly important for many LTL shipments.
Density
Density measures how much a shipment weighs compared to the trailer space it takes up.
For NMFC density calculations, you’ll need to measure the freight after it’s packaged and ready to ship. Include the pallet, packaging, and anything that sticks out beyond the main load in the full length, width, and height.
Stowability
Stowability describes how easily the freight is stowed in the truck with other shipments.
Freight might be harder to stow if it can’t be stacked, has an unusual shape, takes up excessive trailer space, or limits what can safely be loaded around it. Those characteristics impact classification even when density alone would indicate a different class.
Handling
Handling considers the requirements necessary to move the freight through the LTL network.
Factors like size, shape, packaging, stability, and the equipment needed to move the shipment can all play a role. Each load can be different; an easily moved standard pallet holding a load of consistently-sized boxes presents a different handling situation than an unusually shaped piece of freight.
Liability
Liability looks at the risks associated with transporting the commodity. That can include its susceptibility to damage or theft, its value, or the possibility that it could damage other freight.
A commodity with greater liability considerations may receive a different class than density alone would suggest.
How to calculate your freight’s density
For freight classified using the standard density scale, the calculation starts with two things you should already have when requesting a quote: the shipment’s packaged dimensions and its weight.
- Multiply the length, width, and height in inches.
- Divide that number by 1,728 to convert cubic inches to cubic feet.
- Divide the shipment’s weight in pounds by the cubic feet.
For example, say you’re shipping a pallet that measures 48 inches long, 40 inches wide, and 48 inches high. Once packaged and palletized, it weighs 600 pounds.
48 × 40 × 48 = 92,160 cubic inches
92,160 ÷ 1,728 = 53.33 cubic feet
600 ÷ 53.33 = 11.25 pounds per cubic foot
This shipment would have a density of about 11.25 pounds per cubic foot. If the commodity uses the current standard NMFC density scale and doesn’t have another classification provision, that density falls into class 92.5.
The important part is measuring the freight as it will be handed over to the carrier. If the packaging ends up adding several inches of height or the freight hangs over the edge of the pallet, those dimensions count. They increase the cubic volume, which can change the calculated density and potentially the freight class.
The freight class chart, from class 50 to 500
The NMFC has 18 freight classes overall. For many commodities classified by density, the current standard scale uses these 13 density ranges:
| Density in pounds per cubic foot | Standard freight class |
| Less than 1 | 400 |
| 1 to less than 2 | 300 |
| 2 to less than 4 | 250 |
| 4 to less than 6 | 175 |
| 6 to less than 8 | 125 |
| 8 to less than 10 | 100 |
| 10 to less than 12 | 92.5 |
| 12 to less than 15 | 85 |
| 15 to less than 22.5 | 70 |
| 22.5 to less than 30 | 65 |
| 30 to less than 35 | 60 |
| 35 to less than 50 | 55 |
| 50 or more | 50 |
This chart can help you determine the class of a commodity that uses the standard density scale. It won’t tell you the correct class for every shipment.
The NMFC also includes classes such as 77.5, 110, 150, 200, and 500. Those may apply when a particular commodity has its own classification provision or when handling, stowability, or liability calls for something other than the standard density scale.
That’s why density is a useful starting point, but you still need the correct NMFC item for the commodity you’re shipping.
Why freight class changes what you pay
Traditional LTL carriers use freight class as one part of the rating process. Generally, higher-class freight costs more to transport because it may use more trailer space for its weight or require additional consideration for handling, stowability, or liability.
Think back to two 600-pound shipments. One might be packed into a dense, compact pallet. The other might be tall, lightweight freight that occupies considerably more cubic space. They weigh the same, but they don’t use the same amount of trailer capacity.
Freight class helps account for that difference.
However, it’s still only one piece of an LTL rate. Weight, dimensions, origin and destination, service level, access conditions, and handling requirements can also affect the price. Our guide to freight pricing explains how those factors fit together.
What happens when your freight class is wrong
If the freight you hand over doesn’t match the information used to create the quote, the carrier may inspect, reweigh, remeasure, or reclassify it.
For example, you may have entered class 70 when booking, but the carrier determines that the shipment belongs in class 100. That higher class can result in a higher transportation charge. Depending on the carrier and pricing agreement, there may also be a reclassification fee.
The class itself isn’t always the original problem. Incorrect dimensions or weight can change the density calculation, which can then change the class.
That’s why estimating the size of a pallet or pulling an old weight from a previous shipment can create problems. Use the measurements and weight of the freight that’s ready to ship.
How to find the right class before you book
Find the right class before you book by identifying the commodity you’re shipping. The applicable NMFC item will tell you how that commodity is classified and may point to a fixed class, a density-based scale, or another classification provision.
Before requesting an LTL quote, gather:
- The exact commodity being shipped
- The NMFC item number, if known
- Fully packaged length, width, and height
- Total packaged weight
- Pallet or piece count
- Packaging type
- Any unusual shape, stacking, or handling requirements
- Pickup and delivery locations
- Site access requirements
NMFTA’s ClassIT+ database can be used to look up NMFC items and classification provisions.
If the item uses density, calculate it using the shipment’s final dimensions and weight. If the commodity has a special provision or you aren’t sure which NMFC item applies, confirm the classification rather than choosing a class from density alone.
It’s also worth confirming what the carrier needs when you book. The NMFC is an industry classification standard, but individual carriers can use their own tariffs or pricing agreements.
For A1 Xpress trucking and freight service, having accurate shipment information helps us determine the right vehicle and service for the load. A1 Xpress provides flat-rate pricing with no added charges for weight, wait time, or fuel surcharges.
Have the shipment details ready before you request a quote
Freight class gets easier to deal with once you have the right information in front of you. Know what you’re shipping, measure the packaged freight, confirm its weight, and check the applicable NMFC classification before booking traditional LTL service.
If you’re moving freight for your business in New Jersey or the surrounding region, A1 Xpress can help you determine the vehicle and service you need based on the shipment itself.
Contact A1 Xpress for a quote or call 732-431-9112 with the shipment details. We provide flat-rate pricing, so the price you approve before pickup won’t change because of added weight, wait-time, or fuel surcharges.