Freight Class

Freight class is the National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s system for standardizing LTL pricing. There are 18 classes — 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 77.5, 85, 92.5, 100, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 400, and 500. Lower classes are denser and cheaper to ship; higher classes are lighter, bulkier, and cost more.

Density is the primary driver. As a rule of thumb, freight denser than 50 lb/ft³ is class 50, while freight under 1 lb/ft³ lands at class 400–500. The full scale steps down through the density thresholds in between. Four factors ultimately define a class: density, stowability, handling, and liability.

Getting the class right matters: an inaccurate class on the bill of lading is the top cause of reclassification and unexpected charges after pickup. FreightCake’s freight class calculator returns the same class the platform would quote.