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 Brass, Bronze or Copper 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 Brass, Bronze or Copper and hence, the shipping cost. It is calculated as the weight of the shipment divided by its volume. Density is a determinant of the freight rate in LTL shipping.
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 Brass, Bronze or Copper, it is important to know if the item can be packaged efficiently and stowed onto the truck easily. In other words- It's a measure of how well a freight item can be stowed or packed for shipping.
Liability is a term used to refer to the accountability or risk involved in transporting Brass, Bronze or Copper. It's one of the factors considered when determining freight class. It's the risk or potential loss involved in the shipment of goods.
Handling refers to the procedures and precautions taken when moving and storing Brass, Bronze or Copper. It is one of the factors considered when determining freight class for Brass, Bronze or Copper. It's the precautions taken when transporting goods.
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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.
No. If you claim that your freight is a lower class than it actually is, your carrier will likely find out. They will charge you a fee for reclassifying the freight and charge you the appropriate amount for the actual class of your freight after it has been shipped.
