Freight classes are categories which we use to group different types of items for shipping. Freight classes are useful in deciding how much it will cost to ship goods. They also tell you how products should be packed & handled.
By knowing the right class, you can avoid extra costs & transport your packages safely. In today’s article, you’ll learn more about 18 freight classes.
18 Types of Freight Classes
Let’s understand in detail the 18 different classes of freight. This classification is based on the standards set by National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC).
1. Class 50 (Clean Freight)
Class 50 includes items weighing 50 pounds or above. They are packaged in 4 by 4 feet dimensions pallets. The packaging is done by tightly wrapping the plastic film around the goods. These materials are not fragile i.e., they are strong, durable, and heavy-duty objects.
Some common examples are:
- Office products like printers, bundles of paper, and office desks
- Steel Rods
- Nuts and Bolts
- Heavy machinery like automotive parts and medical supplies
Note: The cost of transporting these items is the lowest.
2. Class 55
Class 55 contains heavyweight objects and requires little care while packaging them. It includes items with a weight of less than the objects in class 50. Their weight is in the range of 35 to 50 pounds per cubic foot.
Construction materials are commonly included in this class. For example,
- Bricks
- Cement bags
- Hardwood flooring e.g., oak, cherry, walnut, hickory, etc.
- Marble tiles
- Mortar
These items require special attention during their packaging to avoid breakage of tiles.
3. Class 60
Items having a load of less than 35 lbs per cubic foot are included in this category. Each cube foot of the object contains items within a weight range of 30-35 pounds. The things mostly included in this class are related to car accessories and car parts such as:
- Car batteries
- Cargo carriers
- Roof racks
- Rear and front bump
- Quarter and cowl panel etc
Ceramic tiles and steel wires are also included in this class.
4. Class 65
Some of the car parts and accessories weighing less than 30 lbs are also included in freight class 65. Their range of weight per cubic foot is 22.5 to 30 pounds. These materials must be handled carefully while packaging. Common items transported through this class are:
- Spare tires
- Audio amplifiers
- Air compressors
- Glass bottles
- Books packed in cartons
- Chocolate packets
These materials might be at risk of breakage and, therefore, must be handled properly.
5. Class 70
If you want to transport items weighing between 15 and 22.5 pounds per cubic foot, they fall within class 70. These materials are dense with less chance of breakage and, therefore, can be handled easily and at a lower cost.
Packaged food products, wooden products, automobile engines, and furniture parts are managed via this class.
These items require timely delivery because of the risk of expiration of food products.
6. Class 77.5
If your transport materials include bathroom fixtures, then your items fall in freight class 77.5. The weight of these materials is from 13.5 to 15 lbs. They are fragile and subject to breakage easily. Therefore, careful packaging is required for their transport.
Examples of these items are:
- Bathroom fixtures like medium or small pedestal sinks, faucet sets, showerheads, vanity sinks, and towel racks.
- Small tires e.g., motorcycle tires, trailer tires, and golf cart tires.
7. Class 85
Class 85 is specially made for pharmaceutical products. Other items in the range of 12 to 13.5 pounds are also included in this class. These may include parts of industrial machinery that are packed in large packages or other necessary household products. Such as:
- Iron stoves
- Crated pieces of equipment
- Transmission items such as wires and cables
- Medicinal products
8. Class 92.5
This class includes electronic devices that are at risk of damage by applying small force. These items must be handled cautiously while packaging. They contain a weight of 10.5-12 lbs per ft3. Some of these are:
- Refrigerators
- Computer and its accessories (mouse, keyboard, monitors, speakers)
- Generators (mostly powered by gas)
- Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
Note: Their cost of transport is mostly higher due to special care and packaging.
9. Class 100
Class 100 has a variety of products and includes lighter items than the above class. They are easy to handle while packaging and are not at the risk of breakage. They hold a weight of 9-10.5 lbs/ ft3. These are:
- Protective automotive covers e.g., boat covers and car covers.
- Caskets or trunks
- Canvas
- Vacuum cleaners
10. Class 110
Class 110 is particularly for framed paintings and photographs. These are also handled carefully as they are fragile weighing 8-9 pounds. Some of the other items included in this class are:
- Cabinets fixed in kitchens, rooms, garages, bathrooms, and offices used for storage
- Instruments used for metalworking. For example, saw and grinder.
11. Class 125
It contains small household appliances, especially kitchen gadgets, that are used for daily activities. These materials hold weight in the range of 7-8 pounds. These appliances may include a blender, coffee maker, oven, electric kettle, toaster, etc.
Vending machines are also included in class 125.
12. Class 150
Automotive parts made from metal sheets are mostly included in this class having 6 to 7 pounds weight. These may include the roof, body, inner, and floor panels, bumper, and chassis part of vehicles.
On the other hand, products other than automotive parts are also included such as bookcases to store and display books and metal sheets.
13. Class 175
Class 175 especially contains stuffed furniture and clothing products. For example:
- Pillows
- Cushions
- Poufs
- Couches
Their weight is from 5-6 pounds per cubic foot and these can be easily handled while packaging and transportation.
14. Class 200
This class mostly contains lighter items than the 175 class with a weight of 4-5 lbs per cubic foot. Their packaging is done easily and the items are mostly durable. Some of the examples are:
- Aircraft parts such as control levers, inspection covers, avionics and interior panels, oxygen masks, and trim tabs.
- Automotive parts made of metal sheets
- Encased mattresses
- Tables made from Aluminium metal
15. Class 250
Class 250 contains a variety of items in the range of 3-4 lbs/ft3. These items include furniture made from light wood, such as bamboo chairs and tables. Mattresses and spring boxes are also in this class. Another distinctive product i.e., plasma TV is also included in this group.
16. Class 300
Class 300 particularly contains items made from wood within 2-3 lbs/ft3 weight range. These are easily transported from one place to another.
The items include wooden tables, chairs, decoration pieces, kitchen cabinets, and boats.
17. Class 400
The items with a weight of 1-2 lbs/ft3 are included in this class. One of the most expensive things included in this class is a “deer antler”. These structures are made of bone that grows on the deer’s head. Other examples of this category are:
- Canned food such as juices, frozen vegetables, meat, soups, and beans.
- Cutlery items e.g., knives, spoons, forks, other utensils.
18. Class 500
Items with the highest cost and lightest weight are included in class 500. They have low density with a weight of less than 1 pound per cubic foot. The products included here are:
- Ping-pong balls are used in table tennis.
- Gold dust is used in jewelry, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. It is also used for food decoration purposes.
FAQs
How To Easily Calculate Your Freight Class?
- 1. Firstly, measure the dimensions (length, width, and height) of the shipment. You can measure them in inches.
- Now multiply all the dimensions to get the size in cubic inches.
- To convert the cubic inch value into cubic feet, divide it by 1,728.
- Lastly, to get the weight in “per cubic foot” units, the total weight of the shipment in pounds is divided by the value we get in cubic feet.
In this way, you can easily calculate your freight class.
What 4 Factors NMFC Uses For Each Freight Class?
NMFC gives 4 factors to classify the freight classes. These are:
- Density is the measure of the space the shipment takes relative to its weight.
- Handling determines the costs and shows how difficult it is to package and transfer shipments from one LTL terminal to another. The easier to handle, the lesser the cost it takes.
- Stowability shows that some materials are not transported together due to their irregular dimensions or hazardous properties. Therefore, some products are managed by the government under strict policies to avoid trouble.
- Liability means the chances of material damage and how the material affects the freight. If there is more risk of damage, there will be higher costs for its transportation.
How Important Are NMFC Freight Class Codes?
Freight class codes are important in determining the right class for your item. If you choose the wrong code, it might get you in trouble. You have to pay a fine for providing misinformation to the freight carrier. To know the code, you can contact the product manufacturer, they will provide all the information about your product.
Wrapping It Up
So, we conclude that freight classes range from Class 50 to Class 500. The cheapest class for shipping items is Class 50 as it costs you less money. But if we talk about Class 500, you have to pay the highest costs to transport your goods in this freight class. It accommodates products like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & decorative pieces.
Therefore, if you know the correct freight class, you can avoid unexpected costs, reduce the risk of damage & make your shipping process more efficient.
