NMFC Class 85 — Food Beverage
Coffee and tea products ship at freight class 85–100 when packaged. Green coffee beans in bulk bags may be Class 65–70.
Typical class: 85 · Density: 10–18 lbs/cu ft
Shipment Dimensions (inches)
| Class | Density (lbs/cu ft) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50+ | Heaviest, most dense freight |
| 55 | 35–50 | Very dense freight |
| 60 | 30–35 | Dense freight |
| 65 | 22.5–30 | Moderately dense |
| 70 | 15–22.5 | Average density |
| 77.5 | 13.5–15 | Slightly below average |
| 85 | 12–13.5 | Below average density |
| 92.5 | 10.5–12 | Light freight |
| 100 | 9–10.5 | Light freight |
| 110 | 8–9 | Light, bulky freight |
| 125 | 7–8 | Bulky freight |
| 150 | 6–7 | Very bulky freight |
| 175 | 5–6 | Very light, bulky |
| 200 | 4–5 | Extremely light |
| 250 | 3–4 | Extremely light, high value |
| 300 | 2–3 | Low density, high handling |
| 400 | 1–2 | Very low density |
| 500 | 0–1 | Lowest density, highest cost |
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NMFC Class 85 — packaging, handling, and freight class details
Coffee and tea freight moves along a complex supply chain that begins at origin countries (Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, India) and ends at consumer and foodservice destinations. Green coffee beans arrive by container ship at Gulf, East Coast, and West Coast ports, then move to roasting facilities via truck or rail. Roasted coffee — the bulk of consumer freight volume — moves from roasters like Starbucks, Folgers, and Dunkin' to retail distribution centers. Specialty coffee roasters ship directly to cafes and e-commerce customers. Tea follows a similar import-to-distribution pattern.
Freight class for packaged coffee and tea is Class 85–100. A case of 12 one-pound retail bags of ground coffee weighs 12–13 lbs and occupies 1.0–1.5 cubic feet — 9–12 lbs/cuft, Class 85–92.5. Whole-bean coffee in retail bags is similar. Tea bags in retail boxes are slightly less dense. Green coffee beans in 60-kg burlap bags (known as jute bags or grain sacks) are much denser — 60 kg in roughly 2 cubic feet gives 30+ lbs/cuft, Class 65–70.
Odor absorption is the most critical handling concern for coffee and tea. Coffee in particular absorbs odors from adjacent freight — one damaged gallon of floor cleaner or household chemical in the same trailer can render an entire pallet of coffee unsalable due to contamination. This is not theoretical; odor transfer through cardboard cartons is well-documented and results in significant claims. Coffee and tea must never share a trailer with chemicals, cleaning products, paint, fuel, or any odorous substance.
Temperature and humidity control improve coffee shelf life but are not typically required for packaged roasted coffee. Green coffee and specialty teas benefit from temperature moderation but can tolerate standard dry van conditions for normal transit times. For coffee, the practical tip at pickup is to smell the trailer — if there is any chemical, fuel, or other strong odor in the trailer, refuse the load until the trailer is replaced. Rate context: coffee freight at Class 85–100 pays fair LTL rates. Direct-to-roaster green coffee distribution and specialty roaster accounts pay average commodity rates consistently.
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