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 Household Goods 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 Household Goods and hence, the shipping cost. It is calculated as the weight of the shipment divided by its volume. Density is a factor that can affect the cost of shipping a freight item.
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 Household Goods, it is important to know if the item can be packaged efficiently and stowed onto the truck easily. In other words- It's about how well a freight item can be stored or packed with other items.
Liability is a term used to refer to the accountability or risk involved in transporting Household Goods. It's one of the factors considered when determining freight class. Liability is the potential financial responsibility in case of loss or damage during shipment.
Handling refers to the procedures and precautions taken when moving and storing Household Goods. It is one of the factors considered when determining freight class for Household Goods. It's the precautions taken when moving and storing freight.
Tips
Household Goods Household 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.
Created and maintained by a nonprofit organization called the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is a classification system used for interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce movement of LTL shipments. You can learn more on our freight classes pages.
Freight Class 500 freight is the most expensive to ship. This classification is reserved for items of very high value or for items that use lots of space but weigh very little.
