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 Cloth, Dry Goods, Fabrics or Textiles 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 Cloth, Dry Goods, Fabrics or Textiles and hence, the shipping cost. It is calculated as the weight of the shipment divided by its volume. Density is a concept used in freight shipping to determine the cost of transporting goods.
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 Cloth, Dry Goods, Fabrics or Textiles, it is important to know if the item can be packaged efficiently and stowed onto the truck easily. In other words- It's an assessment of how well a shipment can be loaded onto a trailer.
Liability is a term used to refer to the accountability or risk involved in transporting Cloth, Dry Goods, Fabrics or Textiles. It's one of the factors considered when determining freight class. It's the responsibility for the condition of goods during transportation.
Handling refers to the procedures and precautions taken when moving and storing Cloth, Dry Goods, Fabrics or Textiles. It is one of the factors considered when determining freight class for Cloth, Dry Goods, Fabrics or Textiles. It's the actions involved in moving and storing goods safely.
Tips
Blankets NOI
Cloth Fabric
Cloth Or Fabric Cotton
Dry Goods Or Textiles NOI
Fabric
Synthetic Fiber
Tape Glass Fiber
Wipes Nonwoven Fiber Disposable
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85
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85
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Garment interlining, in the original piece, cotton and synthetic fiber combined with goat hair, in wrapped rolls
Woven or not woven; with or without binder or paper backing, in boxes or wrapped rolls
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.
HSN stands for Harmonized System of Nomenclature. It is a system for classifying commodities created by the World Customs organization. U.S. LTL shipping, however, uses NMFC classifications instead.
Adding NMFC code to a shipment is technically optional, but the NMFC codes can help avoid reclassification and ensure you're using the correct freight class number.