LTL class

Freight class is an industry-wide numeric classification system that categorizes commodities for LTL shipping based on their characteristics and the complexity they add to carrier operations. There are 18 freight classes, ranging from 50 (the lowest, least expensive to ship) to 500 (the highest, most expensive).

The freight class for any commodity is determined by four characteristics:

• Density: Pounds per cubic foot of the commodity. Items with higher density tend to have a lower freight class and lower shipping cost

• Handling: The difficulty of moving the commodity through LTL terminals—including fragility, size and how the item is packaged

• Liability: The risk of the item being damaged or causing damage to other freight, as well as its perishability. Higher liability means a higher class

• Stowability: Whether the freight can be stacked, turned or otherwise arranged to maximize trailer space. Freight that is difficult to stow—due to dimensions, shape or hazardous properties—receives a higher class

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) manages the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system—a standardized reference that assigns a specific classification number to individual commodities based on the same four characteristics above.

NMFC codes make freight class determination more precise and consistent. Rather than calculating class from scratch for every shipment, shippers and carriers can look up the NMFC code for a commodity and use that to determine the applicable freight class. This reduces errors, streamlines booking and helps prevent costly reclassification penalties.

For most commodities, the starting point is the NMFC code. Many carrier websites provide free freight class lookup tools. Beyond that, shippers can calculate class using these four characteristics:

• Measure and weigh the shipment to determine density (weight ÷ cubic feet)

• Assess handling complexity and fragility

• Evaluate stowability—whether the item can share space with other freight

• Consider liability—perishability and potential to damage adjacent items

LTL carriers and logistics providers also offer freight class calculators on their platforms to simplify this process.

Determining the right freight class and NMFC code for every shipment is essential to cost accuracy, on-time delivery and claims prevention. A transportation management system (TMS) supports LTL class management by:

• Calculating LTL density for shipments to support accurate freight class determination

• Providing market-based rate quotes across a broad carrier network using the correct class inputs

• Automating the identification of carrier reweigh or reclassification on invoices—so that when a carrier applies a different class than the one quoted, the discrepancy is flagged immediately

• Supporting freight settlement across multiple stakeholders when reclassification affects billing

• Enabling compliance with international LTL shipping regulations for cross-border moves

For businesses with complex LTL shipping—high volume, multiple locations or shipments requiring precise classification—automated class management reduces both cost exposure and administrative burden.