Freight Classification
Freight classification categorizes commodities for LTL transportation by density, stowability, handling, and liability.Correctly classify your freight shipments.
Freight classification (class) is a National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) standard (managed by NFMTA) used to classify and rate commodities primarily by density and value. Each commodity is categorized into one of 18 classes – the lowest being class 50 and the highest being class 500 – based on four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling, and liability.
A commodity’s transportability can be defined and assigned a universally recognized class, which can then be rated by Logistics Plus per hundred pounds. Logistics Plus accepts no liability for any inaccurate class estimates. For any questions about classification and accuracy, you can contact NMFTA at www.nmfta.org.
What is freight density?
Density is an important component of LTL freight classifications. A shipment with a lower density typically has a higher freight classification, while a higher density typically has a lower freight classification. Freight density is calculated as follows:
- Step 1. Measure the shipment’s height, width, and depth in inches—measure to the farthest points, including skids or another packaging. On shipments with multiple pieces, repeat Step 1 for each piece.
- Step 2. Multiply the three measurements (height x width x depth). The result is the total cubic inches of the shipment. If you have multiple pieces, multiply the height x width x depth for each piece. Take the results for each piece and add them together to get the total cubic inches.
- Step 3. Divide the total cubic inches by 1,728 (the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot). The result is the cubic feet of the shipment.
- Step 4. Divide the weight (in pounds) of the shipment by the total cubic feet. The result is the pounds per cubic foot, i.e., the density of the shipment.
Most LTL carriers impose minimum cubic capacity rules to effectively counter very light, fluffy shipments that take up more than their fair share of a trailer. In most cases, LTL carriers state that if a shipment consumes 750 cubic feet of space or more, AND the shipment has a density of fewer than 6 pounds per cubic foot, it’s not paying its fair share. While the rule varies dramatically among carriers, most artificially adjust the weight to a minimum of 6 pounds per cubic foot AND apply a 125 or 150 commodity class to the shipment, which will dramatically increase your shipping costs.
Shippers that wish to avoid freight classifications and density rules can take advantage of the Logistics Plus exclusive LTL Density Rates Program. This program will appeal to freight forwarders and international shippers who wish to guesswork the domestic portion of their overall transportation costs.
Many commodities now fall under the new NFMC 13-tier table based on freight density
Over 2,000 commodities now fall under the newly expanded density table, which contains 13 classes. This will affect the pricing of many LTL shipments. The 18-tier classification density scale used today will remain unchanged. However, commodities previously classified under the old 11-tier chart have been converted to the new 13-tier version shown below. Commodities with custom density tiers (such as 70, 125, 200) and those for which stowability, handling, and liability are less impactful will also be converted to the 13-tier system. Commodities that have any stowability, handling, and liability exceptions will continue to have a single class or modified density-based class designation.
| Freight density in pounds per cubic foot | Freight class |
| Less than 1 | 400 |
| 1 but less than 2 | 300 |
| 2 but less than 4 | 250 |
| 4 but less than 6 | 175 |
| 6 but less than 8 | 125 |
| 8 but less than 10 | 100 |
| 10 but less than 12 | 92.5 |
| 12 but less than 15 | 85 |
| 15 but less than 22.5 | 70 |
| 22.5 but less than 30 | 65 |
| 30 but less than 35 | 60 |
| 35 but less than 50 | 55 |
| 50+ | 50 |
The following classes not included in the new scale still exist but are not a part of the current 11-tier or future 13-tier density scales: 77.5, 150, 110, 200, 500.
Want to learn more?
Need help determining your freight class or have other shipping questions? Contact us and let one of our knowledgeable LTL freight specialists help you.