What's Freight Class?

Freight Class is the category of your freight defined by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. (NMFTA)

It is also referred to as NMFC: National Motor Freight Classification.

The class of your shipment is determined by its contents, as different types of products have different shipping costs.

The NMFTA classes products according to four characteristics:

1) Weight

2) Storability

3) Handling

4) Liability

There are 18  freight classes ranging from class 50 (the least expensive) to class 500 (most expensive)

The NMFTA also assigns item #'s to every product along with rules and packing requirements.

Each item # has a freight class. All Item numbers and freight classes are catalogued in the NMFC tariff for carriers.

Domestic LTL Carriers use the NMFC tariff to determine their freight charges.

This is why your shipment's freight class is needed in order to calculate correct shipping charges.

You must select the correct freight class or the carrier will re-class your shipment, which could result in a higher shipping charge.

You can use our class finder, to the right, to look up your freight class. You may also call the NMFTA direct at: (703) 838-1810