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 Furniture 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 Furniture and hence, the shipping cost. It is calculated as the weight of the shipment divided by its volume. Density is the weight of a shipment relative to its size in freight 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 Furniture, it is important to know if the item can be packaged efficiently and stowed onto the truck easily. In other words- It's the characteristic of a shipment that determines how well it can fit with other shipments.
Liability is a term used to refer to the accountability or risk involved in transporting Furniture. It's one of the factors considered when determining freight class. Liability refers to the responsibility assumed for potential damage or loss during shipment.
Handling refers to the procedures and precautions taken when moving and storing Furniture. It is one of the factors considered when determining freight class for Furniture.
Tips
Chairs
Furniture
Lockers
Mattresses
Metallic
Plastic Film
Shelving Household Utility Steel
Stools
Tables
Wooden Furniture
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100
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300
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85
70
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NOI, cast or natural stone, in boxes or crates
NOI. Applies only on waterbeds consisting of a mattress (foam, cellular, expanded or sponge plastic or rubber pad, integral water cylinders or bladder, and plastic liner; with fabric covering) with or without a pedestal or platform. In Packages 5F or 10F, Articles tendered for shipment on lift truck skids, pallets or platforms must be securely fastened to and must not overhang the edges of the lift truck skid, pallet or platform deck. When so tendered, articles may be shipped in Packages 47F or 154F.
Without stands, or with stands KD, collapsed or taken apart; in Packages 1F, 3F, 5F or 25F
Shelves completely detached from uprights, in packages
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.
