Understanding freight class can go a long way in accurately anticipating the shipment costs for transporting your goods. If you can determine freight class, you can more easily understand how a carrier views your shipment regarding resources and cost. However, despite the importance of freight class, we often encounter many business owners who are new to freight shipment and unfamiliar with the term. In today’s article, we’ll give more background on the term and explain how to determine freight class.
What is Freight Class?
Freight classification is a standard that easily compares commodities being moved in commerce. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association determines freight classification and publishes the National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC®). Freight classes are designed to standardize shipment costs and are frequently used in LTL (less than truckload) shipping. There are 18 shipment classes, ranging from 50 to 500; the lower the class, the lower the shipment cost.
What Determines Freight Class?
Four characteristics determine freight class:
Density
Density measures how much space an object occupies in relation to its weight. Determining how much room per pound your freight fills (pounds per cubic foot) is essential because freight that has a higher density and is more compact is less expensive to ship.
Liability
The value of a commodity affects its liability. If a good is more likely to be stolen or damaged or if it could possibly damage surrounding freight, it is said to have a higher liability. Music equipment is more valuable and fragile and would, therefore, have a higher liability rating than, for example, T-shirts.
Stowability
Stowability refers to how easily your freight can be transported with other cargo. Freight that is packaged in boxes or crates is easier to pack inside a trailer or shipment container than items that are oddly shaped or packaged loosely. As a result, they would have a lower freight class and a resulting lower cost of shipment. Similarly, hazardous or flammable freight with regulations that forbid it from being transported alongside certain other materials would also have a higher freight class.
Ease of Handling
Another factor used to determine freight class is the level of care. The higher the level of care needed to handle a commodity during shipment, the higher the freight class and the cost of shipment.
Comet Delivery Services
At Comet Delivery Services, we know how to determine freight class. Our team of experts has the resources to help you determine freight class for your commodities and select the most cost-effective means of transport. Contact us today to learn more about freight class and further explore our suite of transportation solutions!
