The term “freight classification” or “freight class” refers to a metric that enables the uniform pricing of Less-Than-Truckload freight carriers and enterprises. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association establishes this standard.

In the simplest terms, each item or product has a National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) assigned to it, which corresponds to a particular freight class number for LTL shipments. Freight classes may vary from 500 to 50 and are always based on particular commodity kinds.

Carriers of LTL freight are always concerned about freight class, since it is directly tied to the tariffs required to convey products. And these tariffs are inextricably linked to the associated taxes and shipping costs. Regrettably, the majority of enterprises either disclose an inaccurate freight class or understate the freight class.

While it may seem to be a smart idea to save money by listing your freight in a lesser freight class, when a carrier is required to reclassify your freight, this results in lost time, money, and resources, as well as additional expenses. Simultaneously, the freight class may be directly tied to the size and density of a consignment. Additionally, carriers must be aware of the size of a package in order to effectively optimize trailer capacity.

Density may be defined in the context of transportation as the amount of space an object occupies in proportion to its weight. To put things into perspective, Class 50 is the smallest class and is reserved for freight weighing greater than 50 lbs. per cubic foot.

On the other hand, less dense freight that requires more room per pound, such as gold flakes, may be categorized higher. In either scenario, the total cubic feet divided by the total weight in pounds yields the density-based freight classes. Certain commodities, on the other hand, are not density-based and have established classifications.