NMFC Classification Glossary of Terms – NMFTA Help Center

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)®

Please refer to the NMFC Classification Glossary of Terms below for the definitions of terms.

Term or Icon	Definition
	Indicates commodity or commodities may be subject to special federal regulations concerning the shipping of hazardous materials. See Item (Rule) 540 in ClassIT+ for additional details.
	Indicates classes have been assigned based on known Handing, Stowability, and/or Liability issues.
Class	The number assigned to an article or group of articles in this Classification or in exceptions thereto, for the purpose of determining the applicable rate.
Collect Shipment	The charges for transportation service, including accessorial services rendered at the request of the consignee, or requested by the consignor for the consignee, are to be paid for by the consignee.
Consignee	Designated recipient of goods.
Consignor	The Consignor is the Shipper.
Density	Freight density is a measurement of how much space cargo takes up as well as how tightly packed it is relative to its size. This measurement is calculated by taking the cargo's total cubic feet and dividing by the weight of the cargo. The result gives you the freight's density, measured in pounds per cubic foot.
Finished	The articles are further manufactured than as provided for in Sec. 11(b) in ClassIT+.
Folded	The article is folded without regard to reduction of shipping cubage.
Freight Class	A freight class or National Motor Freight Classification is a classification used by shipping companies for less-than-truckload freight shipments. Freight classification numbers range from 50-500.
Greatest Dimension	The longest straight-line dimension of the handling unit as tendered for shipment.
Handling Unit	Refers to each piece or unit of freight tendered to the carrier for shipment that requires or promotes separate handling. Such piece or unit may consist of a loose article, an article or articles in a package, or an article or articles palletized or unitized for shipment in such a manner as to allow loading and unloading as a single piece or unit. Unitization includes, but is not limited to, the consolidation of individual packages or pieces by means of banding, strapping, wrapping or master packing, with or without lift truck skids or pallets. Where articles are unitized for shipment, the term ‘handling unit’ or ‘shipping unit’ does not refer to the individual packages or pieces so unitized, but rather to the complete unit as tendered.
In the rough or rough turned	The articles are not further manufactured than sawed, hewn, planed, bent or turned.
In the white	The articles are further manufactured than as provided for in Sec. 11(a) in ClassIT+, but including not more than one coat of priming.
Knocked Down (KD)	An article must be taken apart, folded or telescoped in such a manner as to reduce its bulk at least 33-1/3 percent from its normal shipping cubage when set up or assembled.
Knocked Down Flat (KD Flat)	An article must be taken apart, folded or telescoped in such a manner as to reduce its bulk at least 66-1/3 percent from its normal shipping cubage when set up or assembled.
Liability	Refers to the carrier's responsibility for loss or damage to goods during transport. It's a legal obligation to compensate the customer for losses incurred due to carrier negligence.
National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC®)	Standard that provides a comparison of commodities moving in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce. It is similar in concept to the groupings or grading systems that serve many other industries. Commodities are grouped into one of 18 classes—from a low of class 50 to a high of class 500—based on an evaluation of four transportation characteristics: density, handling, stowability, and liability. Together, these characteristics establish a commodity’s “transportability".
Nested	Three or more different sizes of an article must be placed each smaller within the next larger or that three or more of the same articles must be placed one within the other so that each upper article must not project above the next lower article by more than one-third of its height.
Nested Solid	Three or more of the same articles must be placed one within or upon the other so that the outer side surfaces of the one above will be in contact with the inner surfaces of the one below and so that each upper article will not project above the next lower article by more than 1/4 inch.
Prepaid Shipment	The charges for transportation service rendered at the request of the consignor, including charges for any accessorial services performed at the request of the consignor, are to be paid by the consignor.
Rate	The figure to be used in computing the charge on property transported.
SCAC	Standard Carrier Alpha Code—The SCAC (alpha code) listings in this Classification represent only those carriers participating in the NMFC.
Scrap	Fragments, scraps or pieces of material that are useless for any purpose other than remelting or the reclamation of raw materials. Such provisions will not apply on articles shipped in their original form, including used articles or defective articles being returned to the manufacturer for credit.
Set Up (SU)	Articles in their assembled condition or articles that are tendered for shipment disassembled, folded or telescoped but do not meet the conditions described in Sec. 12, paragraphs (b) through (d) in ClassIT+.
Shipment	Consists of a tender of freight to a carrier by a consignor at one place at one time for delivery to a consignee at one place at one time on one bill of lading.
Stowability	Freight stowability is a consideration of how easy it is to stow cargo on a trailer. Items that are easily stowed are those that come in uniform shapes and sizes.

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