Freight class is one of the most expensive things in wholesale to get wrong, and one of the most boring to learn. We're not going to pretend it's exciting. We are going to give you the version that's actually useful for independent retail.
What it is: NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) assigns every LTL (less-than-truckload) shipment a class number from 50 to 500. Lower numbers mean denser, less fragile, easier-to-stack goods. Higher numbers mean lighter, more fragile, or oddly-shaped goods that take up disproportionate truck space. Carriers price LTL based on class, weight, distance, and a handful of accessorial fees.
Why it matters: an LTL shipment quoted as Class 70 that actually arrives at the consolidation point and gets re-classed as Class 125 can double in price between the original quote and the final invoice. We have seen this happen — twice on the same buyer, who finally retained us for freight after the second one.
The categories most likely to get re-classed in independent retail: ceramics and glassware (often Class 100 or 125 due to fragility), bagged goods (granola, dried beans, coffee — Class 70 to 100 depending on density), apparel and knitwear (Class 100 to 150 because it's bulky relative to weight), candles (Class 65 to 85), and anything in a non-standard box.
How to avoid getting re-classed: be honest on the bill of lading. The temptation to call your shipment a denser class to save money is real, and carriers catch it about 60% of the time at the consolidation hub. The re-class fee is usually 15–25% on top of the price differential. It's almost always cheaper to quote the correct class up front.
If you're not sure, ask the supplier. They ship the same goods to thirty other accounts and know exactly what class they should go out as. Putting 'please confirm freight class' on the PO is normal and welcomed.
If you'd like our short-list of LTL carriers we trust in the Northeast — the ones whose first call won't be the worst call — write to us and we'll email it. It's not on the website because we update it twice a year and we'd rather not let it drift out of date.
Written by Amy Burdick for WICE. Questions or pushback? We read every reply. Write to us.