NMFC item number
A commodity classification reference in the National Motor Freight Classification. It describes the article and its applicable classification provisions; it is not simply another name for the class number.
LTL classification
NMFC vs. freight class: the difference that matters on an LTL BOL
An NMFC item identifies what the commodity is under the classification; freight class is the applicable LTL rating. They belong together in a careful shipment record, but they are not interchangeable.
The short answer
NMFTA’s National Motor Freight Classification is the LTL classification standard. It groups commodities using transportation characteristics—density, handling, stowability, and liability—and assigns freight classes ranging from 50 to 500. The current item and its provisions, not a generic web chart, determine what applies to a specific shipment.
Do not turn a density estimate into a classification promise
A correct arithmetic density result does not establish the correct NMFC item or class. Packaging, actual tendered dimensions, commodity provisions, and current NMFC changes can matter. Confirm the classification before tendering freight.
Three related but different inputs
Freight class
The class applicable to the article or handling unit for LTL rating. NMFTA describes 18 classes from 50 through 500, based on transportability.
Density
Weight divided by cubic feet. It is important for density-based classifications, but it does not override commodity-specific provisions, packaging, handling, stowability, or liability concerns.
A safer pre-tender classification check
- 1Use real scale weight and greatest-as-tendered dimensions, including projections.
- 2Confirm the commodity and packaging against current NMFC content or the carrier’s approved process.
- 3Keep mixed commodities and handling units clear enough for the carrier to rate the actual shipment.
- 4Treat density output as a calculation input—not a quoted, certified, or guaranteed freight class.
NMFC and class — FAQ
Is an NMFC number the same as freight class?
No. An NMFC item identifies a commodity and its classification provisions; freight class is the applicable rating class. They often appear together on LTL paperwork, but they are different data.
Can I determine class from density alone?
Not safely in every case. Density matters for density-based items, but NMFTA also considers handling, stowability, and liability, and commodity and packaging provisions can control.
Does DockBOL look up or assign NMFC classifications?
No. It provides fields and a density calculation for information you have confirmed. It does not contain or reproduce a current NMFC lookup database and cannot certify class.
More LTL documentation guidance
Sources & scope
Updated August 22, 2026. Scope: U.S. LTL classification education. NMFTA ClassIT+ and the carrier remain the current sources for a shipment’s applicable classification.
- NMFTA classification overview — four factors and class range
- NMFTA — classification factors FAQ — current explanation of transportability
- NMFTA — current classification resources — official confirmation path
Put confirmed LTL data on a clean document
DockBOL calculates density from the dimensions and weight you enter, then keeps your confirmed NMFC and class fields beside the commodity line. It never guesses the classification for you.
Free · no account · density math built in