How Do Freight Classes Work, and How Do They Affect My Shipping Cost?

 

If you’re a business owner new to LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) freight, reading a shipping invoice can be confusing. You might see various fees and codes, but the single biggest factor in your bill—and the most common source of “surprise fees”—is your shipment’s freight class.

Understanding this number is critical to controlling your shipping budget.

This guide breaks down exactly how freight classes work so you can stop guessing and start saving.

Freight Classes Explained and How They Affect Your Shipping Cost

Freight class is a standardized system that determines your shipment’s “transportability”and is a number ranging from 50 to 500.

In short, it is how carriers price your shipment based on how difficult it is to move.

Here is the most important rule to remember:

• Low Class (e.g., 50): These items are dense, durable, and cheap to ship. Think of bricks on a pallet.
• High Class (e.g., 500): These items are very light, fragile, or high-value, and expensive to ship. Think of ping pong balls.

Your freight class isn’t random; it is determined by four key factors: Density, Stowability, Handling, and Liability.

The 4 Factors That Determine Your Freight Class

To get an accurate quote, you must understand the four characteristics carriers use to classify your cargo.

Factor 1: Density (The Most Important Factor) 

Density is defined by how much space your shipment takes up relative to its weight. A classic example: a box of feathers and a box of bricks of the same size have very different densities.

How to Calculate It:

1. Measure your pallet or shipment in inches: (Length x Width x Height) / 1728 = Total Cubic Feet.
2. Divide the total weight by the cubic feet: Total Weight / Total Cubic Feet = Density (Lbs. per Cubic Foot).

An example given by our freight expert, Cindy Wilson:

Consider a standard 4×4 pallet (64 cubic ft) that weighs 1,000 lbs. This shipment has a density of 15.6, which generally makes it Class 85.

Knowing this math prevents carriers from assigning a higher, more expensive class to your goods.

Factor 2: Stowability

Stowability measures how easily your shipment can be loaded and “stowed” on the truck with other freight.

The Problem: Oddly shaped items, items that can’t be stacked, or items classified as hazardous materials have “poor” stowability. Because they waste space or prevent other items from being placed near them, they are more expensive to ship.

An example given by our freight expert, [name]:

A common issue is a non-stackable drum or a delicate piece of machinery with a high replacement value. These items effectively “kill” the vertical space above them in the truck, leading to a higher freight class.

Factor 3: Handling

This refers to the ease or difficulty of loading and unloading your shipment.

The Problem: A standard, stable pallet is easy to handle. However, an item that is (1) fragile, (2) requires special lift-gate services, or (3) is packaged in a way that a forklift can’t easily grab requires special handling.

An example given by our freight expert, Cindy Wilson:

You can often lower your shipping costs simply by adjusting and optimizing how you pack your goods. Proper packing, stacking, or crating makes the freight easier to move, reducing the likelihood of extra handling fees.

Factor 4: Liability

Liability is the risk associated with your shipment, including the risk of theft, damage, or the item damaging other freight around it.

The Problem: High-value items (like electronics) or hazardous materials (like chemicals) carry high liability, which results in a higher freight class.

An example given by our freight expert, Cindy Wilson:

A pallet of steel parts has very low liability—it’s hard to break and unlikely to be stolen. In contrast, a pallet of climate-controlled pharmaceuticals has very high liability due to spoilage risks and high value.

At-a-Glance: Freight Class, Density, & Cost

Use this table as a quick reference to see how density correlates with cost.

Freight Class	Example Items	Density (Lbs. per Cubic Foot)	Cost Level
Class 50	Bricks, Steel, Nuts & Bolts	50+	Lowest
Class 85	Crated Machinery, Car Parts	12-15	Low
Class 100	Canned Goods, Wine	9-10.5	Average
Class 250	Assembled Furniture, Mattresses	3-4	High
Class 500	Ping Pong Balls, Bags of Feathers	< 1	Highest

The #1 Costly Mistake: A Re-Classification Fee

So what happens if you just guess your freight class to get a quick quote? This is the most common—and expensive—mistake a new shipper can make.

What Happens: You might get a quote based on a “guessed” class (e.g., Class 70). The carrier picks up your freight, takes it to their terminal, and uses certified equipment to re-weigh and re-measure it.

The Result: If they discover the actual class is higher (e.g., Class 150), they will issue a re-classification fee plus the new, much higher shipping rate. This chargeback is a surprise bill that can sometimes be double the original quote.

Our in-house freight expert says you have to get it right the first time. Mis-classifications and incorrect weights or dimensions drive costs up quickly and unexpectedly. However, when Cardinal Delivery handles your freight, those costs will not affect you as a customer because we ensure accuracy before the truck ever leaves the dock.

So, How Do I Get an Accurate Freight Class

You generally have two options for getting an accurate class.

Option 1: NMFC Codes (The Hard Way)

You can look up your item’s specific National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) code. This is a large and pretty complex database that assigns a specific number to every type of commodity. However, this process is time-consuming and often difficult to navigate for non-experts and you shouldn’t have to be a freight expert to run your business.

Option 2: Let Your Logistics Partner Handle It (The Easy Way)

The easiest and safest way is to partner with experienced logistics experts you can trust. For example, if you work with Cardinal Delivery, you simply provide us with:

1. The exact dimensions (L, W, H).
2. The exact weight (including the pallet).
3. A clear description of what the item is.

We then handle the classification for you, making sure everything is done correctly to avoid any issues or re-classification fees.

Stop Guessing. We Make Freight Simple

Freight class is complicated, but your shipping doesn’t have to be—no more worrying about chargebacks and confusing codes.

Our team of logistics experts manages this complexity for you. We don’t just move your freight; we ensure it’s classified correctly, priced fairly, and managed professionally from dock to dock.

Contact us today, and let’s get you a fast, accurate quote for your next LTL shipment.