Transporter having carriers like trucks or 3LPs or the drivers of carrier trains etc who used to ship cargo from one place to another or other people who run such a business in which they ship their goods quite often are familiar with the term Freight Class.
This article is written to portray a complete idea of what are freight classes, and how are they determined? Because before making any shipment it’s necessary to estimate your freight class and ultimately the freight rate because on wrong estimating, you would be charged
What Are Freight Shipping Classes?
Freight Classes are the classes defined by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFA) for assisting carriers, distribution centers, and agents to figure out the expense to deliver their cargo. There are eighteen Freight Classes in numbers. Freight Center offers calculators and specialists to help you in deciding the cargo class of your shipment.
How To determine Your Shipment’s Freight Class?
Freight Classes are made on the basis of various parameters like Load, Density, Height, Displacement to cover, Stowability, Handling, Liability, etc. An aspect of FML’s responsibilities is to assist you in deciding which Freight class your shipment Belongs? There are four parameters as described below on the basis of which NMFC determines the Freight Class.
- Density
- Stowability
- Liability
- Degree of Ease Of handling
Density:
Mass per unit cubic meter i.e. density is another significant factor for determining Freight Class. Greater the density, lesser the expense. Freight class of goods like large or small tables, clothing, etc are analyzed via their densities. Carriers love shipping cargo that is massive and doesn’t occupy a lot of room contrasted with its weight. This implies they can fit more items on their truck and earn more money. Shippers need to realize how to ascertain the density of freight so they can appropriately portray their products on the bill.
Stowability:
Stowability considers how your cargo can be moved with different items. Some items can be easily stowed but some need a lot of precautionary measures. Freight that is combustible, transient, unsafe or things with bizarre measurements that make it hard to stack cargo around them is controlled and can’t be transported with specific materials. So, to avoid risks this parameter is important to consider. Things that are crated or boxed are generally stackable and simpler to pack inside a load holder or truck. Stowability assumes a key job on how the rate class will be resolved which impacts the complete expense of delivery a specific decent
Liability:
The liability of the shipment is checked to investigate the cargo is legal or not. Liability from things like robbery, harm, break-capacity, and deterioration or the likelihood of the thing making harm other cargo during the transportation is checked. The probability of having a more serious hazard will bring about a higher Freight class. Density and Stowabilty are also considered while checking liability.
Handling:
Handling of a shipment is the degree of care it needs while shipped from one place to another. It takes into account various parameters like the shipment total size, weight, risky properties or delicacy that can cause troublesome.
Eighteen Classes
| Name Of Class | Charge | Instances | Weight |
| Class ‘50’ | Minimum Charge | Durable and neatly, compactly packed items | Above 50 pounds |
| Class ‘55’ | Cement blocks, tiles, etc | 35 to 50 pounds | |
| Class ‘60’ | Car machinery parts and other accessories | 30 to 35 pounds | |
| Class ‘65’ | Small vehicle accessories, Fluid bottles, paper bundles, etc. | 22.5 to 30 pounds | |
| Class ‘70’ | Eatables, Vehicles Engines | 15 to 22.5 pounds | |
| Class ’77.5’ | Vehicles tires, plumbing tools, washroom accessories | 13.5 to 15 pounds | |
| Class ‘ 85’ | Machinery, Cast iron or steel materials | 12 to 13.5 pounds | |
| Class ‘ 92.5’ | PCs, fridges, etc | 10.5 to 12 pounds | |
| Class ‘ 100’ | Vehicles covers, tents etc | 9- 10.5 pounds | |
| Class ‘110’ | Drawers, small cabins, wooden home works, etc | 8 to 9 pounds | |
| Class ‘125’ | Commonly used small home machines | 7 to 8 pounds | |
| Class ‘150’ | Metal sheets and small products etc. | 6 to 7 pounds | |
| Class ‘175’ | Cloths, sofas, etc | 5 to 6 pounds | |
| Class ‘200’ | Metal sheets and metal parts, airplane parts, aluminum stools, etc | 4 to 5 pounds | |
| Class ‘250’ | Wooden furniture, bed mattresses, smart TVs | 3 to 4 pounds | |
| Class’300’ | Stools, chairs, wooden benches, etc | 2 to 3 pounds | |
| Class ‘400’ | Animal horns | 1 to 2 pounds | |
| Class ‘500’ | Highest Charge | Worthy materials like gold and platinum | Less than 1 pounds |
NMFC CODES:
NMFC codes are the codes that are assigned to each shipment according to its density, stowability, liability, and handling, worth, etc. These codes are used to group the shipments according to their transportation properties and indicate least bundling necessities and are generally used to allot shipping rates to various wares. NMFC codes are essential for a more efficient categorization of commodities. Transporters can see their respective codes from the NMFC database which keeps on updating times to times.
If You Are Still Confuse?
If you are still unable to determine your Freight class and rate, then you can use Freight Class Calculator that helps you understand exactly what is your Freight Class. Because if you would wrongly mention your class, you would be charged.
