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Freight Class Explained: How It Impacts LTL Shipping Costs
Learn how freight class affects your LTL shipping costs. Understand NMFC codes and avoid reclassification fees with proper classification.
Published on May 26, 2025
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If you ship products using Less Than Truckload (LTL) carriers, understanding freight class is crucial. Freight class directly impacts your shipping costs, how your goods are handled, and even how quickly your shipments move through the supply chain.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what freight class means — and how getting it right can save you time and money.
What Is Freight Class?
Freight class is a standardized system used to categorize shipments based on their characteristics. Created by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), freight classes help carriers determine shipping rates, liability, and handling requirements.
There are 18 different freight classes, ranging from Class 50 (least expensive to ship) to Class 500 (most expensive).
The main goal? Ensure fairness and consistency across the shipping industry.
How Freight Class Is Determined
Several factors go into deciding a shipment’s freight class:
- Density: The weight of the shipment relative to its size (pounds per cubic foot). Lower density often means higher freight class.
- Stowability: How easily the shipment can be stored with other freight. Irregular shapes or hazardous materials may increase the class.
- Handling: Items that require special care, fragile packaging, or extra equipment for loading may be assigned a higher class.
- Liability: Shipments that are perishable, highly valuable, or at higher risk of damage may also be assigned a higher freight class.
Each of these factors affects how complicated — and expensive — it is for carriers to transport the freight.
Freight class is closely tied to the density of your shipment — how much it weighs relative to its size. Here’s a reference table showing how different density ranges correspond to freight classes, with examples of typical products for each:
Freight Class Table by Density
| Freight Class | Pounds per Cubic Foot (PCF) | Examples |
| Class 50 | ≥ 50 | Very dense freight (e.g., bricks, steel rods) |
| Class 55 | 35 – 49.99 | Heavy machinery parts, dense boxed items |
| Class 60 | 30 – 34.99 | Tile, paper in reams |
| Class 65 | 22.5 – 29.99 | Bottled products, dense hardware |
| Class 70 | 15 – 22.49 | Canned goods, bulk books |
| Class 77.5 | 13.5 – 14.99 | Bagged food ingredients, tools |
| Class 85 | 12 – 13.49 | Furniture parts, industrial items |
| Class 92.5 | 10.5 – 11.99 | Retail display racks, plastics |
| Class 100 | 9 – 10.49 | Packaged clothing, electronics |
| Class 110 | 8 – 8.99 | Luggage, small appliances |
| Class 125 | 7 – 7.99 | Light fixtures, assembled furniture |
| Class 150 | 6 – 6.99 | Toys, boxed goods with voids |
| Class 175 | 5 – 5.99 | Lightweight consumer products |
| Class 200 | 4 – 4.99 | Fragile or oddly shaped items |
| Class 250 | 3 – 3.99 | Oversized, lightweight products |
| Class 300 | 2 – 2.99 | Large but low-density items |
| Class 400 | 1 – 1.99 | Extremely bulky or fragile freight |
| Class 500 | < 1 | Very light, high-risk freight (e.g., ping pong balls) |
What Are NMFC Codes?
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) codes are a set of codes assigned to different types of commodities. Each NMFC code is tied to a specific freight class.
Example: A pallet of tile might have a different NMFC code — and freight class — than a pallet of clothing, even if the weight is the same.
Getting your NMFC code right ensures your shipment is classified correctly, helping you avoid reclassification fees and shipping delays.
Why Freight Class Matters for Your Shipping Costs
Choosing the right freight class isn’t just about paperwork — it has a major impact on your shipping expenses.
If you list a lower class than your shipment should have, your carrier might reclassify it and charge you additional fees. On the other hand, overestimating your freight class can mean you’re overpaying for every shipment.
Accurate freight classing helps you:
Control shipping costs
Avoid disputes and delays
Ensure your goods are handled properly
Working with an experienced 3PL can make the entire process easier — and much more cost-effective.
How 3PL Center Can Help
At 3PL Center, we help our clients manage freight class and LTL shipping the right way:
Freight Class Verification: Our team can help calculate density, confirm NMFC codes, and ensure your shipments are correctly classified.
Discounted LTL Rates: Thanks to our volume-based contracts with major carriers, we offer significantly reduced rates — even for higher freight classes.
Real-Time WMS Tracking: Our Warehouse Management System (WMS) tracks every pallet, ensuring smooth, visible movement through the supply chain.
Rate Shopping: We compare rates across multiple carriers, helping you get the best possible cost for every shipment
Whether you’re shipping furniture, fitness equipment, or fragile goods, 3PL Center takes the guesswork out of freight class — so you can ship smarter.
Want to Ship Smarter?
Want to make sure you’re using the correct freight class — and getting the best rate?
Use our instant quote calculator to see how much you can save on your next LTL shipment.
FAQs About Freight Class and LTL Shipping
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