If you’re considering shipping with LTL – or have already decided to do so –, NMFC codes are definitely something you want to know about. By being informed of the freight class of the items you are transporting, you will be a lot closer to figuring out the cost of your shipment.

NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) is a classification system used in US for ground freight designed by the NMFTA (National Motor Freight Traffic Association), a nonprofit organization of motor carriers. It works as a sort of grouping or grading method through which commodities are categorized.

The aim of the NMFC numbers is to provide a comparison of commodities being shipped by classifying items. This should guarantee fair measures and standardize prices which, in turn, will facilitate negotiations between shippers and carriers.

Items are grouped into one of 18 classes: 50 being the lowest and the cheapest and 500 being the highest and the most expensive. Here you will find a complete list of items and their classification.