NMFC Changes effective December 4, 2021

by logisticsplus | Oct 14, 2021 | News

The Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB) has published a new supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®). These NMFC changes are effective 12/04/2021.  Some notable changes are listed below.

Subject 1 – Foodstuffs, Item 73227 canceled and replaced by 72310,  73260, and 73365.

Subject 2 – Dehydrated Cheese New Item 55450, revised Item 55470 – Cheese food, and Item 73260 – Snack Foods

Subject 3 – Box Group. Items 29080 and 29110, 29140 and 29780, 29800, 29805, 29810, 112360 and  Canceled and replaced with Item 29785 or 112870  ( 29785 – Boxes or Cartons, fiberboard or paperboard, NOI., 112870 – Lumber NOI, or Wood, built-up or combined, or Plywood, NOI)

Subject 4 – Item 101720 Ink and related materials

Subject 5 – Faucets

Subject 6 – Toilet or Bidet Seats

Subject 7 – Boxes, Chests or Cabinets, Tool, Ammunition or Fishing Tackle

Subject 8 – Mixing Machines (Asphalt, cement, concrete or mortar)

Subject 9 – Item 59380 – Solutions or Sterile Water, intravenous

Subject 10 – Item 680 – Packing or Packaging – General

Subject 11 – Item 682 – Pictorial Precautionary Markings

Subject 12 – Item 689 – requirements and Conditions for Test Shipments, CANCELED, obsolete

Subject 13  – Withdrawn to continue research (Item 39510 – Cables)

Subject 14 – Charcoal, Charcoal Briquettes or Charcoal Pellets

Subject – 15 – Broilers, Grills, Roasters or Stoves, cooking, outdoor type, electric

Subject 16 – Manifolds, gas, furnace, stove, or heater

Subject 17 – Kits, pregnancy test – New Item 56975 replaces 59793

Subject 18 – Cord, Cordage, Rope, other than wire rope, String or Twine, NOI,

Subject 19 – Washers; Gaskets; or Packing Devices, Forms or Shapes

Subject 20 – Withdrawn to Continue Research – Cookware, cast iron, NOI

Subject 21 – Wood Chips or Wood Chunks,

Subject 22 – 186080 Sod Cutters, etc – Canceled and replaced by Items 130207 and 186620

Subject 23 – ITEM 292 – SPECIFICATIONS FOR FIBER PAILS

Subject 24  –  100800 Dispensers, tea or ground coffee, household – Canceled

Subject 25 – 122000 Grading or Road Making Attachments or Implements, or Parts thereof

Subject 26 – 10920 Fenders, 21470 Baptistries, 164390 Racks and Related Articles – Packaging exceptions changed

Subject 27 – Various items – Reference to Package 2039 would be removed from item 24080, as it would not provide sufficient protection in today’s less-thantruckload environment. Concurrently, other changes are proposed for clarification and Simplification.

Subject 28 – Various Items – Simplifies the minimum packaging requirements in the involved items to require “in bags” in lieu of the specific types currently named. Other changes to the minimum packaging requirements are proposed for clarification and simplification.

Subject 29 – Various Items – simplify the minimum packaging requirements in the involved items to require “in bags” in lieu of the specific types currently named. Other changes to the minimum packaging requirements are proposed for clarification and simplification.

Subject 30 – Various Items – Cancels items 46170, 46180, 46190, 46570, 46670 and 46700 with reference to item 44155, items 46540 and 46640 with reference to item 44515, items 46160 and 46460 with reference to item 45467, and item 46300 with reference to item 45615. These changes are proposed to provide classes reflective of the respective hazards of, and regulations applicable to, the involved materials. The changes are also in the interest of clarification, simplification and uniformity. Since item 46170 is the only item that authorizes Package 355, the package would be concurrently canceled as having no further application. This proposal would also add the term “Baking Soda” to the listing in item 46220 for Sodium Bicarbonate in the interest of clarification.

Subject 31 – Cancels items 42870, 42920, 43180 and 43230 with reference to item 44155, items 43170 and 45460 with reference to item 44500, and items 43080, 43260 and 43290 with reference to item 45615. These changes are proposed to provide classes reflective of the respective hazards of, and regulations applicable to, the involved materials. The changes are also in the interest of clarification, simplification and uniformity. Note, item 45462 would be canceled as having no further application.

Subject 32 – Cancel item 91220 with reference to items 44500, 44515 and 64300, as applicable. In addition to providing clarification, simplification and uniformity, this change would assign classes reflective of the respective hazards of and regulations applicable to box toe gum.

Subject 33 – Amends the provisions of item 42652 to remove the “bomb burst” symbol (), add language further restricting the item’s application to materials not required by the DOT to bear a Hazard Class or Hazard Division label or placard, and refer to a new attendant Note clarifying that item 42652 does not apply on materials regulated by the DOT as hazardous and required to bear a Hazard Class or Hazard Division label or placard. The proposed new Note would direct the Classification user to other items for classes applicable to such hazardous materials.

Subject 34 – Amend the provisions of item 171410 to remove the “bomb burst” symbol (), add language further restricting the item’s application to materials not required by the DOT to bear a Hazard Class or Hazard Division label or placard, and maintain class 70, per the present sub 2 provisions of the item. A new attendant Note would be established to clarify the item’s intent and would direct the Classification user to other items for classes applicable to such hazardous materials.

Subject 35 – The following numbered packages are canceled and reference(s) to them in individual item descriptions are removed:

• 759
• 762
• 773
• 776
• 788
• 789
• 794
• 795
• 801
• 802
• 814
• 818
• 934
• 1306
• 2332
• 2387

Subject 36 – The following numbered packages are canceled and reference(s) to them in individual item descriptions are removed:

• 825
• 826
• 827
• 834
• 838
• 841
• 846
• 868
• 870
• 881
• 886
• 911
• 919
• 932
• 978
• 1029
• 2304
• 2305
• 2413
• 2529

Subject 37 – The following items are canceled as obsolete:

• 81370
• 83740
• 87590
• 87630
• 88540
• 89710
• 89990
• 90970
• 91120
• 91140
• 91200
• 91280
• 91400
• 91440

Subject 38 – The following items are canceled as obsolete:

110120

• 110160
• 110270
• 110290
• 110497
• 112980
• 115720
• 115880
• 116400
• 116670
• 116730
• 131310
• 131620
• 134100
• 134220
• 134280
• 134300
• 134570
• 135620
• 135660

Subject 39 – The following items are canceled as obsolete:

• 117200
• 117240
• 117360
• 118220
• 119060
• 125540
• 125600
• 125640
• 125660
• 126040
• 126120
• 127760

Subject 40 – The following items are canceled as obsolete:

• 98870
• 99190
• 99200
• 99210
• 99230
• 99250
• 99320

Additional detail is included in the DOCKET 2021-3 bulletin. As always, please contact us if you have any questions.

NMFC Changes effective April 10, 2021

by logisticsplus | Feb 23, 2021 | News

The Commodity Classifications Standards Board (CCSB) has published a new supplement to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®). These changes became effective 04/10/2021.  Some notable changes are listed below.

• Subjects 2 and 3 – Foodstuffs Group – Bakery Goods, Coffee, Tea or Herbal Tea, Cookies or Crackers, Foodstuffs, NOI, Snack Foods, NOI: These items were canceled and replaced with Item 73260 which is an 11-tiered density item. Canceled Items 72040, 72042, 72043, 72270, 72271, 72560, 72561, 72680, 72681, 73270, 74800.
  – “Breads, Rolls and Cake” were removed from 73227 and moved into the new Item 73260.
• Subject 5 – Chemicals Group Item 42600: Numerous changes to this group that are too complex to re-state here. Basically, items were revised into three class Tiers based upon Packing Groups I, II or III. Statements also added identifying Items that are not required to bear a Hazard Class or Hazard Division label.
• Subject 7 – Stairs or Stairways, Ramps – Item 178160: Revised from a two-tiered class/density item to two sub-groups based on the Greatest dimension exceeding or not exceeding 96 inches. Each sub-group has three class/density tiers.
• Subject 15 – Glass, flat, bent or not bent NOI – Item 86700 nad Glass , silvered for Mirrors – Item 86900: Revised from two subgroups, three-tiered class/density item based on Greatest Dimension exceeding or not exceeding 96 inches to two subgroups based on Greatest dimension exceeding or not exceeding 96 inches. Each sub-group has seven class/density tiers. Item 86900 is canceled and moved into Item 86700.
• Subject 16 – Item 235 – Specifications for Bundles, Coils, Reels, or Rolls: Item amended to ensure that products or items so tendered will withstand the normal rigors of LTL transportation.
• Subject 17 – Item 270 – Definition or Specifications for Skids, other than Lift Truck: Item amended to ensure that products or items so tendered will withstand the normal rigors of LTL transportation.
• Subject 24 – Item 82285 Sneeze Guards or Food Shields: Revised from a two tiered Item based on Greatest Dimensions exceeding or not exceeding 96 inches to two subgroups based on Greatest Dimensions exceeding or not exceeding 96 inches with four class/ density tiers in each sub group.
• Subject 25: References to open head and closed head drums or pails in the Items below are updated.
  – Rules 257, 258, 260, 296
  – Packages 600 and 2467
• Subject 36: This subject cancels 55 obsolete Classification Items
• Subject 37: This subject cancels four obsolete classification Items.
• Subject 38: This subject cancels and removes references to 25 numbered packages.
• Subject 39: This subject cancels and removes references to 16 numbered packages.
• Subject 40 – Item 149942 Note on Nickel-Silver Wire Item 140940: This note 140942 applied to shipments of less than 30,000 lbs. It is canceled.

Additional detail is included in the DOCKET 2021-1 bulletin. As always, please contact us if you have any questions.

Freight Rates on the Rise: Is it Time for a Freight Analysis or RFP?

by logisticsplus | Feb 15, 2021 | News

As widely reported by freight industry media outlets, such as Freightwaves, Logistics Management, Journal of Commerce, and others, general freight rates – including those for less-than-truckload (LTL) services – continue to rise.  Most experts are predicting high, single-digit rate increases in 2021, along with higher diesel fuel prices.  Renewed economic demand, increases in e-commerce shipping, the influx of container shipments at the ports, limited truck capacity (the top 25 LTL carriers comprise 90% of the LTL market), scarcity of qualified drivers, and COVID-19 outbreaks and restrictions are all driving truckers to raise rates – particularly for small- and mid-sized freight shippers.

Logistics Plus is a top freight brokerage firm with substantial freight spend and contracts with many leading carriers. That allows us to pass on competitive rates to our customers who might not otherwise have the freight volumes or expertise to negotiate competitive rates on their own.  Additionally, when our own “general pricing” contracts are not competitive enough or lack certain customizations for a specific shipper’s freight profile, we can also negotiate “client-specific pricing” contracts for our customers too.

To get started, Logistics Plus offers risk-free freight analyses to shippers curious to know if they can save additional money on their freight spend.  All we need is a sample shipment file (ideally three months or greater in Excel format) with, at minimum, the following data:

• Origin Zip Code
• Destination Zip Code
• Shipment Weight (in pounds)
• Freight Class (or detailed commodity description so we can ascertain the correct freight classification)
• Handling Units and Packaging Type(s)

Additionally, the following optional information is also helpful if it is available:

• Shipment Dimensions (L”xW”xH”)
• Accessorial services provided
• Actual freight charges (freight, fuel, and accessorial fees)
• Actual LTL carrier used

Using the information above, Logistics Plus will run a detailed freight analysis to determine if existing Logistics Plus contracts and carriers will result in material savings. If the initial study demonstrates potential savings, the customer will be asked to complete a Logistics Plus Customer Setup Application (if not already done) to obtain a shipping account to begin realizing the savings.

If the initial analysis does not demonstrate potential savings, or if the customer has specific pricing requirements that cannot be met with existing Logistics Plus contracts and carriers, then – if the customer is willing and able to complete the following Letter of Authorization (LOA) and RFP Checklist – Logistics Plus will conduct a client-specific request for proposal (RFP) to obtain more competitive pricing on behalf of the customer.  Note: Customer is not required to activate or use RFP pricing; however, the LOA is required to go through the process. After client-specific pricing is activated, the customer should complete a Logistics Plus Customer Setup Application (if not already done) to obtain a shipping account and begin realizing the savings.

Contact us if you’re ready to have Logistics Plus conduct a risk-free freight analysis on your behalf. We’re here to help!