When you ship your products as LTL (less-than-truckload), you will need to assign your shipment a freight class number. The freight class number is a standard code published by the National Motor Freight and Traffic Association which allows carriers to quickly identify qualities of the shipment and assist with transportation logistics.
Office supplies come in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Because of this, the freight class for supplies can range from 60-400. We list some common office supplies and their associated freight class codes here. Generally, the lower the freight class code, the cheaper the shipment will be.
Density is identified by the dimension and weight of your shipment. Office supplies like cartridges, printers, and paper shredders can have varying freight class codes based on the density of individual pieces.
Does your shipment require any special handling? Equipment like office furniture and copiers may need to be packaged in a crate or industrial box which can affect the freight class code.
Liability is defined by the value of your shipment and its likeliness to be stolen or damaged. High valued equipment such as computers and machines used for data processing can increase your shipment’s freight class number.
Is your equipment difficult to stow or transport? Heavier or unconventionally-sized goods such as office partitions, desks, and chairs can increase your shipment’s freight class, increasing your cost to ship.
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.
Often, office supplies are shipped alongside an array of different products. It's important to understand each product's class and ensure the shipment is classed in accordance with the class of its highest commodity. This is also the case for any mixed pallets.
Office supplies are usually destined for locations that may lack a dock or forklift, or may otherwise offer limited access. Make sure you apply to proper accesocials to avoid additional fees on your shipment.
