National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is a freight classification system created by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) and used for interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce shipping of LTL cargo. NMFC freight codes provide standardized freight classes to determine the ease of transport of many of the huge variety of different commodities being shipped together in LTL shipments every year.

CWT stands for hundredweight. LTL shipments are priced “per 100 pounds,” “cwt,” or “per hundredweight.” This means that a 400 lb shipment priced at $25 CWT would cost $100, not including accessories or specialty services.

NMFC freight classes are determined using four factors: density, handling, stowability, and liability. All of these factors affect the cost to the carrier of shipping goods.