To read a freight class table, locate the most accurate material example or density weight range for a specific shipment and follow it directly left to the first column that lists the freight's class. The freight class table consists of four vertical columns and 18 horizontal rows. Each row is a specific freight class as defined by the National Motor Freight Classification standard, and each column contains a specific descriptive feature of that class.Continue Reading
Reading the freight class table and accurately determining the freight class is crucial for both the shipper and the trucking company. The freight class determines the cost of the shipment as well as its value, which is important if the contents are damaged in transit.
The first step when reading the freight classification table is to look at the examples for ones that match the items on the shipment, such as bricks, car parts, books, computers or wood cabinets. If there is not an example that matches the shipment contents, check with other cargo carriers that may have shipped similar materials and are willing to provide the information.
If you cannot find it through the type of contents, calculate the density of the shipment to determine the freight class. Weigh the shipment, and measure its length, width and height in inches. Multiply the length times the width, and then multiply that total by the height to get cubic dimension. Convert the cubic inches into cubic feet, and divide the shipment weight by the cubic feet to get its weight per cubic foot.Learn more about Mail & Shipping