NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification)
The NMFC is a product-classification system maintained by the NMFTA that assigns freight classes to thousands of commodities for use in LTL pricing. It is the industry standard for determining how freight is categorized and rated.
In Depth
The NMFC contains thousands of commodity classifications organized by item number. Each NMFC item specifies the appropriate freight class based on density, handling requirements, liability, and stowability.
While density is the most common classification driver, the NMFC also accounts for special handling requirements (hazardous, fragile), liability (high-value goods), and stowability (irregularly shaped items).
Usage Example
Example: 'The NMFC number for automotive engines is 86760, which classifies them as Class 50–55 based on density.'
Related Calculators
Related Terms
Freight Class
Freight class is a standardized classification system defined by the NMFTA (National Motor Freight Traffic Association) that categorizes LTL freight into 18 classes (50–500) based primarily on density, handling, stowability, and liability.
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
LTL (Less Than Truckload) is a freight shipping method where multiple shippers share space on the same truck, each paying for only the portion of the trailer they use. LTL is used for shipments too large for parcel carriers but too small to fill a full trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find an NMFC number?
The official NMFC database is at ClassIT.com (subscription required). Carriers and brokers can also look up NMFC numbers.