What is the most common freight class for LTL shipments?

Class 70 and 85 are the most common. They cover freight in the 12–22 PCF range — palletized goods like food products, auto parts, and packaged industrial items. If your freight falls here, you're shipping at roughly average market rates.

Can I dispute a freight class reclassification?

Yes. You need a signed weight and inspection certificate from the carrier, your original BOL with NMFC code declared, and your own density documentation. Most carriers have a formal dispute process. If your PCF math holds up, you can recover the fee — but it takes 30–60 days.

What happens if I don't put a freight class on my BOL?

The carrier will assign one based on their inspection. That inspection defaults to the highest applicable class for the commodity. Always declare a class — and the NMFC code that supports it.

Is freight class the same as NMFC code?

No. The NMFC code identifies the commodity. The freight class is derived from it (and sometimes from your density). One commodity can have multiple possible classes depending on how it's packaged and its PCF.

Does freight class affect my liability coverage?

Yes. NMFC classes also set the released value per pound. Lower classes often have lower default liability. If you're shipping high-value goods, declare value separately or purchase carrier liability add-ons.

How Freight Class Is Determined — Free LTL Lookup Guide

What Is Freight Class and Why Does It Matter?

Freight class is a standardized code ranging from 50 to 500, defined by the NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification). Carriers use it to price every LTL shipment — and it's the single biggest variable on your rate quote. Higher class means a higher rate. A class 500 shipment can cost 5–10× more per hundredweight than class 50.

The class affects your freight rate, accessorial charges, and liability limits. It shows up on the bill of lading and is verified by the carrier at pickup or delivery. Shippers who guess wrong get hit with a reclassification fee after delivery — often $150–$400 added to the LTL freight invoice with no warning.

Understanding how class is determined — before the carrier does — is the single most effective way to avoid unexpected charges and negotiate better rates.

The 4 Factors That Determine Freight Class

01 — DENSITY

Pounds Per Cubic Foot (PCF)

The most important factor. Denser freight = lower class = cheaper rate. Calculated as: weight ÷ cubic feet.

02 — STOWABILITY

How It Fits in the Trailer

Freight that's hazardous, oddly shaped, or can't be stacked with other freight gets a higher class.

03 — HANDLING

Ease of Loading

Fragile, oversized, or hazmat freight that requires special handling costs more to move — reflected in class.

04 — LIABILITY

Risk of Damage or Theft

High-value or perishable freight carries more risk. Higher liability = higher class.

Density is the dominant factor for most shipments. If your freight is dense and stackable, you'll pay less. If it's light, fragile, or awkwardly shaped, expect a higher class. The NMFC assigns base classes by commodity, but density overrides apply when you can demonstrate your PCF falls in a lower range.

Use a PCF density calculator to get your number before you book — it's the most reliable way to validate your class.

The 18 Freight Classes

The NMFC defines 18 classes ranging from 50 to 500. Here's what each range typically covers and the relative cost impact.

Class	PCF Range	Typical Freight	Relative Cost
50	50+ PCF	Bricks, sand, metal parts	Lowest
55	35–50 PCF	Hardwood flooring, auto parts	Very Low
60	30–35 PCF	Car accessories, crated machinery	Low
65	22.5–30 PCF	Bottled drinks, car parts	Low
70	15–22.5 PCF	Food items, auto engines	Below Avg
77.5	13.5–15 PCF	Tires, bathroom fixtures	Below Avg
85	12–13.5 PCF	Crated motors, doors	Average
92.5	10.5–12 PCF	Computers, refrigerators	Above Avg
100	9–10.5 PCF	Boat covers, wine cases	Above Avg
110	8–9 PCF	Cabinets, framed art	High
125	7–8 PCF	Small appliances	High
150	6–7 PCF	Auto sheet metal, bookcases	Higher
175	5–6 PCF	Clothing, couches	Higher
200	4–5 PCF	Auto covers, mattresses	Very High
250	3–4 PCF	Bamboo furniture, plasma TVs	Very High
300	2–3 PCF	Kayaks, assembled furniture	Extreme
400	1–2 PCF	Deer antlers, ping pong balls	Extreme
500	<1 PCF	Bags of gold dust, low-density foam	Highest

Not sure of your freight class? Use our free calculator.

Freight Class Calculator →

How to Calculate Your Density

PCF DENSITY FORMULA

PCF = Weight (lbs) ÷ Volume (ft³)

Volume:

ft³ = (L × W × H in inches) ÷ 1,728

Example:

48" × 40" × 48" pallet, 500 lbs

Volume = (48 × 40 × 48) ÷ 1,728 = 53.3 ft³

PCF = 500 ÷ 53.3 = 9.4 → Class 100

Always measure the total footprint of the shipment including pallet and any overhang. Carriers measure the exterior dimensions, not just the box. Reclassification fees almost always happen because the shipper used box dimensions and forgot the pallet adds 5–6 inches of height.

Pro tip

Always add pallet dimensions (typically 48"×40"×5.5" for a standard wood pallet) to your cargo dimensions before calculating density. Carriers always do.

Skip the manual math — use the PCF density calculator to get your number instantly.

What Is the NMFC?

The National Motor Freight Classification is a tariff published by the NMFC (National Motor Freight Traffic Association). It assigns every commodity a base freight class. Some commodities have a single fixed class; others have density-based breakpoints — you prove your density falls in a lower range, you get a lower class. NMFC codes are 4–6 digits. Your bill of lading should always include the NMFC code to protect against reclassification.

EXAMPLE NMFC CODES

Furniture, woodenNMFC 36000

Computers / electronicsNMFC 40300

Auto parts, metalNMFC 60960

Clothing / apparelNMFC 50180

Building materialsNMFC 52080

5 Mistakes That Trigger Reclassification Fees

01

Forgetting the pallet in your dimensions

A standard wood pallet adds 5.5" of height. Carriers measure it. Your density calc should include it.
02

Using the wrong NMFC code

Carriers have lookup access. If your code doesn't match the commodity, they'll reclassify on delivery, not before.
03

Describing freight vaguely on the BOL

"General merchandise" or "parts" invites the highest applicable class. Be specific.
04

Not checking density breakpoints

Many NMFC items have density-based sub-classes. If you qualify for a lower class by PCF, claim it — but you must declare it.
05

Assuming class = price

Your actual rate also depends on lane, weight break, and carrier tariff. Two shipments with the same class can have very different rates.

Spotting a reclassification charge on a freight invoice? Our Invoice Checker can help you break it down.

Invoice Checker →

How to Look Up Your Freight Class for Free

You have three reliable options:

1

CargoTools Freight Class Calculator

Enter dimensions, weight, and commodity and get the class instantly. Free, no account required.
2

NMFC.org

The official source, but requires a paid subscription for full access. Useful for confirming NMFC codes.
3

Your carrier's online quoting tool

Will assign a class during rating, but you're locked into their interpretation — with no way to challenge it upfront.

The safest approach is to calculate your density first, then cross-reference with the NMFC code for your commodity type. If your PCF falls near a breakpoint, document it. If a carrier reclassifies you and you have the math, you can dispute it.

Note that dim weight is a separate but related billing factor for parcel shipments — it works differently from freight class but the same dimensional measurement logic applies. If you're deciding between carriers or modes, our parcel vs LTL breakeven tool can help you find the cheaper option.

How Freight Class Is Determined — And How to Look It Up for Free