Bill of lading field
What is freight class on a bill of lading?
Freight class is the NMFC classification your carrier rated the shipment at. It runs from 50, for dense durable goods that are cheap to move, up to 500 for light bulky fragile ones. Density in pounds per cubic foot drives most of it, along with how the goods stow, handle and survive the trip.
Why it matters
Class is a multiplier on the rate. The difference between class 70 and class 125 on the same pallet is not a rounding error, which is why carriers audit it.
The mistake that costs money
Guessing a low class because it makes the quote look better. Carriers inspect and re-class, and a re-class charge arrives weeks later with the corrected rate applied retroactively. Copy the class off the quote instead.
Worth knowing
- 18 classes: 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 77.5, 85, 92.5, 100, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500.
- Density is pounds per cubic foot — weight divided by the space the freight actually occupies, pallet included.
- Stowability, handling and liability adjust it from there. Hazardous or awkward freight classes higher.
- Take the class from your carrier's quote or your rate agreement. That is the number they will bill on.