Freight Shipping Tips: Freight Classification

I am writing here today to address another common question we receive from customers at Shipping & Freight. When filling out the quote form on our website or speaking to an agent, customers are often confused by what Freight Classification is and two questions normally come to mind.

1. What is Freight Classification?

Every item that is shipped through a freight carrier is given a classification called a NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) #. This number is a tool that carriers use in order to determine the classification for a specific item and to determine what they will charge their customer for moving that item. Some things that are taken into consideration when determining a classification are:

• What the commodity actually is


• What the commodity is made of (Wood? Metal? Ect.)


• How the commodity is packaged (Pallet? Crate? Ect.)


• What the weight and dimensions of the commodity are (Density)


• How easily the commodity is moved


• What is the liability for moving that commodity (Is the item expensive or cheap?)

For example:

A customer that is shipping a heavy dense item, such as a car engine on a pallet (Class 85), will pay a relatively cheaper per-pound cost than a customer that is shipping a fiberglass jeep top in a box (can be up to a Class 300). In essence, the lower the class number of an item, the cheaper it is per-pound to ship that item. I am sure there are one or two exceptions out there, but normally this is the case.

2. How do I figure out the Freight Class for the items I am shipping?

Freight classifications can be found in the most current NMFC catalogue. Unless you are trained in doing so, I would suggest letting a logistics professional handle this for you. If your classification is not correct, the freight carrier will end up rebilling you when the shipment is completed and this does not normally leave most customers very happy. If you are not trained in classifying commodities, I do suggest calling a freight broker so they can do it for you. With the correct information, they can give you an accurate classification and also give you a better shipping rate than you could get from a freight carrier alone!

If you have any questions on how to class a particular item, do not hesitate to give us a call! We can be reached at (727) 230-9048 or toll free for landlines at (877) 618-6058. We strive to make shipping freight a quick and easy experience for our customers!