What is freight class?
Also called: NMFC class, LTL class, freight classification
Freight class is a rating from 50 to 500 in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) that US LTL carriers use to price shipments. Since the NMFC's 2025 overhaul, many commodities are classed by density on a 13-level scale, where denser freight gets a lower, cheaper class.
In depth: Freight class and density: how to classify a pallet shipment
The NMFC is published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). Classes reflect four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling and liability.
What changed in 2025
NMFC Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025. The main changes, as described by NMFTA and carriers:
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| More density-based items | Many commodity listings moved to density-based classing |
| 13-level density scale | Replaced the previous 11-level scale |
| New low classes on the scale | 50 pcf and over rates class 50; 35 to under 50 pcf rates class 55 |
| Special items | Items with unusual handling, stowability or liability keep a fixed class |
Class tables are licensed data. Use the current NMFC (NMFTA's ClassIT+) or your carrier's tariff for a specific item.
Why it matters for pallets
Freight density is weight divided by the cubic volume of the shipment as tendered, so the pallet affects it twice: its height adds cube, and its weight adds pounds. Overhang, unused height and oversize pallets lower density and can raise the class. See the freight class and density guide.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Pallet specs rarely state freight class, but shipping teams need the pallet's height, footprint and weight to calculate it.
Common confusions
Freight class is an LTL concept. FTL is priced per trailer, not by class.
Frequently asked questions
How many freight classes are there?
There are 18 classes, from 50 (lowest cost per pound) to 500 (highest). The density scale introduced in 2025 assigns 13 of them; the others are assigned to specific items.
Does the pallet count toward freight class?
Yes, in practice. Carriers measure the handling unit as shipped, pallet included, and weigh it with the pallet, so the pallet's height and weight both affect the density used for classing.
What changed in freight class in 2025?
NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, moved many commodities from commodity-based to density-based classes and replaced the 11-level density scale with a 13-level one that adds classes 50 and 55 for very dense freight. Check the current NMFC or your carrier for a specific item.
Related
- GuidesFreight class and density: how to classify a pallet shipmentFreight density is the shipment's weight in pounds divided by its volume in cubic feet, measured at the outside of the loaded pallet. On the NMFC 13-tier scale, effective July 19, 2025, density maps to classes from 50 (50 lb/ft³ or more) to 400 (under 1 lb/ft³). Some items keep their own class, so check the NMFC item.
- GlossaryFreight densityFreight density is the weight of a shipment divided by the volume it occupies, measured at its outside dimensions with the pallet included. In the US it is given in pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and is the main factor in most LTL freight classes.
- GlossaryLTL (less-than-truckload)LTL (less-than-truckload) is freight too small to fill a trailer, shipped alongside other shippers' loads and moved through carrier terminals. It is priced by weight, distance, freight class and accessorial services, so pallet size and density affect the cost.
- GuidesShipping pallets LTL: how to prepare, measure and ship a palletLTL (less than truckload) moves one or a few pallets on a shared trailer, priced by weight, distance and freight class. Build a square, wrapped load on a sound four-way pallet, measure its real size and weight including the pallet, declare the right class on the bill of lading, and book accessorials in advance.
- GlossaryCube utilizationCube utilization is the share of the available volume, in a pallet footprint up to its height limit, a trailer or a container, that is actually filled with product. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
More in Loading and shipping
- GlossaryColumn stackingColumn stacking is a stacking pattern where every case sits directly on top of the case below, with corners and walls aligned through the full height of the load. It keeps the most compression strength but is less stable than interlocking.
- GlossaryFloor loadingFloor loading is shipping cases or bags stacked directly on the floor of a trailer or container, without pallets. It fits more product in the vehicle but must be loaded and unloaded by hand or with special equipment. The term is also used for the load a floor can bear per unit area.
- GlossaryFTL (full truckload)FTL (full truckload) is a shipment that uses a dedicated trailer from origin to destination, with no terminal handling. A 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked, subject to the legal weight limit.
- GlossaryInterlocking stackingInterlocking stacking is a stacking pattern where alternate layers are rotated or shifted so each case bridges the joints between cases in the layer below, like bricks in a wall. It ties the load together but reduces compression strength compared with column stacking.
- GlossaryLoad barA load bar is an adjustable steel or aluminum bar fixed across the inside of a trailer or container, either wedged between the walls or locked into wall track, to keep pallets from sliding during transit. Horizontal decking beams also let a second tier of pallets be carried.
- GlossaryLoad overhangLoad overhang is any part of a unit load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet's top deck. Unsupported case edges lose compression strength, get damaged in handling, and increase the measured size of the shipment.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 232 words.