Freight class is the single biggest factor in your LTL quote, but most shippers don't learn about it until they get hit with a reclassification fee. The system looks arbitrary—why is coffee table legs Class 125 while a coffee table is Class 250?—but there's logic to it. Understanding how freight class works saves you money and prevents surprises at delivery.
What Freight Class Actually Means
Freight class is a standardized way to price LTL shipments based on how easy or difficult your freight is to transport. The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system assigns every type of commodity a class between 50 and 500. Lower classes are denser, more durable goods that carriers love. Higher classes are light, bulky, fragile, or high-value items that take up truck space without adding much weight.
Canadian LTL carriers use the same NMFC system as U.S. carriers, which makes cross-border LTL shipping more straightforward than it might be otherwise. The classification was developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association decades ago, and while it's been updated regularly, the core principle hasn't changed: carriers want to fill trucks with dense, stackable freight that won't break.
The Four Factors That Determine Your Class
Freight class is based on four characteristics, sometimes called the NMFC's "density-liability-stowability-handling" factors. Density is the most important for most shipments—it's your weight divided by your cubic feet. A pallet of bottled water is dense and gets a low class. A pallet of lampshades is light and bulky, so it gets a high class.
Stowability matters when your freight can't be loaded with other shipments. Hazmat loads, awkward shapes, or anything that needs special placement in the trailer will bump your class higher. Handling is about how much work it takes to load and unload. Fragile items, freight on non-standard pallets, or anything requiring liftgates or special equipment usually moves up a class.
Liability covers the carrier's risk. High-value electronics, anything prone to theft, or goods that might damage other freight nearby will cost more to ship. This is why a box of smartphones has a different class than a box of phone cases, even if they weigh the same and take up the same space.
How to Calculate Density and Look Up Your Class
Most freight falls into density-based classes, which means you can calculate it yourself. Measure your shipment's length, width, and height in inches, multiply them together, divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet, then divide your weight in pounds by that cubic footage. That's your density in pounds per cubic foot.
If your density is 50 or more pounds per cubic foot, you're looking at Class 50—the cheapest LTL rate. Between 35 and 50 pcf is Class 55. Between 30 and 35 is Class 60. The scale continues down: 22.5 to 30 pcf is Class 65, 15 to 22.5 is Class 70, and so on. Below 1 pcf, you're in Class 500 territory, which is why shipping empty crates or ping-pong balls costs a fortune.
For commodities that don't fit the density model—anything with special handling, liability, or stowability issues—you need to look up the specific NMFC code. The full NMFC database requires a subscription, but your LTL carrier or freight broker can look it up for you. Give them an accurate product description and they'll tell you the class.
The Freight Class Chart: Classes 50 Through 500
Here's how the classes break down in practical terms. Class 50 is the densest freight: things like nuts and bolts in boxes, bricks, or bagged cement. Class 55 to 70 covers bricks, cement, hardwood flooring, and most bottled goods. Class 77.5 to 85 includes tires, bathroom fixtures, and crated machinery—still dense but not quite as tightly packed.
Class 92.5 to 100 is where you find computers, monitors, and household appliances. Class 110 to 125 covers small appliances, framed artwork, and some furniture parts. Class 150 is typical for upholstered furniture and car parts like bumpers. Class 175 to 200 includes clothing on hangers, mattresses, and other low-density but not enormous items.
Class 250 to 300 is reserved for very light, bulky freight: bamboo furniture, mattress toppers, kayaks. Class 400 is for extremely low-density items like deer antlers (seriously, it's in the NMFC) or large, lightweight equipment. Class 500 is the highest: ping-pong balls, bags of gold dust, anything that takes up space and weighs almost nothing.
Why Carriers Reclassify Freight (And How to Avoid It)
Reclassification happens when the carrier inspects your freight at the terminal and determines your stated class was wrong. Maybe your dimensions were off, or you described 'machine parts' when it was actually 'antique machine parts' with a different NMFC code. Either way, they'll recalculate, bill you for the higher class, and often add a fee on top.
The best way to avoid reclassification is to be precise with your measurements and descriptions. Round up on dimensions if you're not sure—better to slightly overestimate than get hit with a surprise bill. Use a freight scale or get your pallet weighed at pickup. If you're shipping something unusual, ask your broker or carrier to verify the class before you book.
Some shippers try to game the system by understating weight or dimensions. This always backfires. Terminals have freight inspection teams, and carriers share data. Once you're flagged, every future shipment gets extra scrutiny. It's not worth saving a few dollars on one load if it means getting audited on every shipment for the next year.
Special Cases: FAK, Density-Based Pricing, and Negotiated Classes
If you ship the same commodity regularly, you might qualify for a Freight All Kinds (FAK) rate, where the carrier agrees to treat multiple classes as a single class for pricing. This simplifies quoting and often saves money if you're shipping a mix of Class 70 and Class 85 items—they might both move as Class 77.5.
Some carriers and 3PLs now offer density-based pricing instead of the traditional class system. You still measure and weigh your freight, but instead of looking up a class, the rate is calculated directly from your density and distance. It's more transparent and often cheaper for dense freight, but it doesn't help much if you're shipping pillows or other low-density goods.
Large shippers with consistent volume can negotiate their own class designations with carriers. If you ship 50 pallets a week of the same product, a carrier might agree to move it as Class 65 even if the NMFC says it's Class 70. These agreements are usually part of a broader contract and require committed volumes, so they're not available to occasional shippers.
Canadian-Specific Considerations
The NMFC applies equally in Canada and the U.S., but cross-border shipments sometimes get reclassified at the border if customs opens and reinspects your freight. If your description to CBSA doesn't match what the carrier has on file, expect delays and possible reclassification fees. Keep your commercial invoice and your bill of lading descriptions consistent.
Some Canadian carriers apply slightly different rules for remote or northern destinations. A Class 85 shipment to Toronto prices normally, but the same shipment to Yellowknife might get bumped to Class 92.5 because of the extra handling and limited backhaul opportunities. Always confirm the class with your carrier if you're shipping outside major metros.
For transloading or drayage moves that connect to LTL, make sure the freight class is communicated at every handoff. If a container comes into the Port of Vancouver, gets transloaded to pallets, then moves LTL to Calgary, the class needs to be correct on the LTL leg or you'll pay for a reclassification after the fact.
Where Qeep Fits
We help Canadian shippers get freight class right the first time, whether you're moving LTL across the border or combining drayage and LTL in the same quote. If you're not sure what class applies to your freight, we'll look it up and walk you through the reasoning. And if you're shipping regularly, we'll work with our carrier partners to get you FAK rates or contracted classes that make quoting simpler and costs more predictable. Get a quote or reach out if you want to stop guessing at freight class.
Ready to move freight? Get a quote or talk to a Qeep specialist.
