NMFC Class 65 — Building Materials
Plywood and OSB panels ship at freight class 65–70 when properly bundled and palletized.
Typical class: 65 · Density: 22.5–35 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 65 — packaging, handling, and freight class details
Plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) are structural panel products that underpin residential and commercial construction. Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific, and Potlatch produce these panels from mills concentrated in the South and Pacific Northwest, shipping through distribution networks that reach every major building market. OSB has largely displaced plywood in structural applications due to cost, and the two products often ship together in mixed loads to lumberyards and big-box retailers.
Freight class for plywood and OSB is Class 65–70. A sheet of 3/4-inch plywood weighs 60–70 lbs and measures 1.6 cubic feet, yielding 38–44 lbs/cuft — Class 60 or 65 depending on the precise calculation. Full unit loads (80 sheets per unit) run 4,800–5,600 lbs on a 4x8 pallet footprint. OSB is slightly lighter than plywood of comparable thickness and may land at Class 65 more consistently.
Moisture protection is the critical issue. Both plywood and OSB absorb moisture and delaminate or swell when wet. Plywood face veneers can bubble and separate with even modest moisture exposure; OSB swells significantly at edges when wet, making it difficult to install and reducing structural value. Loads should be covered with tarps on flatbed or kept in dry van. The top sheet of any bundle is usually a "sacrificial" sheet of lesser quality, but moisture that penetrates more than one sheet deep creates product claims.
Forklift handling of panel products requires fork spread wide enough to support the full bundle width. A fork spread that is too narrow causes the bundle to sag and can delaminate the bottom sheets. For flatbed transport, bundles should be stacked no more than two or three high depending on weight limits, with dunnage between layers to prevent surface damage. Rate context: panel products are Class 65–70 and pay adequately. Housing cycle sensitivity means rates can swing with construction demand, making market timing relevant for carriers who concentrate in this lane.
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