What is a freight class?

Different types of products have different shipping costs associated with them. The motor carrier industry defines products being shipped according to certain characteristics: density, stowability, handling and liability. Each definition, or description, is called a freight classification.

A shipment's freight class is needed in order to calculate freight charges. Most providers of ground transportation use a reference called the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) to determine freight classes for rating purposes.

The NMFC catalogues freight classes and also assigns item numbers to products being shipped. To calculate the freight charges, Hollis Transport consults the NMFC to find the best description for each product, or commodity, in the shipment. For each description, the NMFC also specifies the associated freight class and item number.

The NMFC item number and the text describing the commodity should be stated on the bill of lading for every shipment tendered to Hollis Transport.