Freight class
Also called NMFC class
Reviewed by Dasha ShakovVP Marketing, Proton
Updated
What is freight class?
Freight class is a category from 50 to 500 that US less-than-truckload carriers use, together with weight and distance, to price a shipment. Classes are set in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), based mainly on the goods’ density and also on how easily they are stored, handled and damaged.
How it works
Lower classes are for dense, sturdy goods and cost less per pound; light, bulky or fragile goods get higher classes. The class goes on the bill of lading, and a wrong class can lead the carrier to reclassify the shipment and bill more.
Freight class example
A pallet of boxed fasteners ships at a low class, while a pallet of lightweight ductwork the same size ships at a much higher one and costs more to move.
Related terms
- Less-than-truckload (LTL)Less-than-truckload (LTL) is a freight service for shipments too large for parcel carriers but too small to fill a truck, typically one to several pallets.
- Bill of lading (BOL)A bill of lading (BOL) is the document a carrier issues at pickup that serves as the receipt for the goods and the contract for carrying them.
- Freight termsFreight terms are the part of a sale that says who pays for shipping and how the cost is billed.
- Landed costLanded cost is the total cost of getting a product onto the shelf: its purchase price plus inbound freight, duties and tariffs, insurance and handling.
