Freight class is a standard classification system for shipments, defined by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). It's used to categorize commodities like Adhesives for transport, taking into account factors like weight, dimensions, density, storage capability, ease of handling, and liability. Freight class is a system to categorize different types of goods being shipped.
Density is a key concept in freight shipping, as it significantly impacts the freight class for commodities like Adhesives and hence, the shipping cost. It is calculated as the weight of the shipment divided by its volume. In LTL shipping, density refers to how heavy a shipment is for its overall volume.
Stowability is used in freight shipping to describe how easily an item can be stowed or stored in relation to other items. For example, when trying to understand stowability for Adhesives, it is important to know if the item can be packaged efficiently and stowed onto the truck easily. In other words- It refers to the ease with which goods can be stowed for transportation.
Liability is a term used to refer to the accountability or risk involved in transporting Adhesives. It's one of the factors considered when determining freight class. It's the risk associated with transporting goods from one place to another.
Handling refers to the procedures and precautions taken when moving and storing Adhesives. It is one of the factors considered when determining freight class for Adhesives. It's the procedures involved in moving and storing goods.
Tips
Adhesive Cements
Adhesives
Epoxy Adhesives
Expoxy Resins
--
--
--
--
Common Commodity Items
Classes
For many NMFC® codes there isn’t just one single class that is applied. Often, NMFC® numbers have multiple "sub-classes", which are almost always based on the density of the shipment. In the instance where your NMFC® number has multiple sub classes, it's best to contact an expert, like Koho, to help identify which subclass to use.
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) annually publishes a list of freight class designations, codes, and subclasses for commonly shipped items (https://classit.nmfta.org/). To access this list, you are required to pay a subscription fee. Learn more about freight classes for free on our freight classes pages.
It might be tempting to declare that your shipment is a lower freight class than it actually is in order to secure a lower price, however, carriers will re-classify your freight for accuracy and charge you a fee for having to do so.