The simple answer is: Yes, all types of filters, from air filters to coffee filters, are a density based item.

We have had many people and customers contacting us lately asking about the NMFC freight classification of air filters, car filters, automotive filters and pretty much any kind of filter you can think of. A lot of these people have been having issues with re-classing and have been told that all filters are the same freight class. Many are thinking that all filters, no matter the filter type, weight or amount, are a flat freight class 150. Sorry, but that is wrong.

The NMFTA classifies many different kinds of filters as a density based item with 11 different sub classes. The way to think about this is that if there is one coffee filter on a 48×40 pallet then it is going to be the highest possible freight class, 400. Now if you have sturdy HEPA air condition filters packed very tightly on a pallet then the freight classification is going to be much lower. The kinds of filters that NMFC freight class code 69100 covers is:

• Air filters, including air filter parts and elements
• Coffee filters
• Ffilter cartridges
• Skimmers
• Filters mats
• Filter pads
• Air cleaners
• Automotive Filters including standard, oil and transmission

Still wondering what the specific freight class of your filter is? Contact one of our experienced freight class professionals at LTL Freight Shop. They will answer all of your questions about filter freight classes and help you with the density break downs!

LTL Freight Shop
888-752-0443
sales@ltlfreightshop.com

Shipping picture frames and mirror frames can be difficult, especially when determining the NMFC freight class. Frames can fall under a variety of NMFC codes based on the type, including 10 different NMFC freight classification code. For this blog we are focusing on Mirror and Picture Frames – NMFC 76580.

There are many different freight classes for frames (NMFC 76580), 9 to be exact. The NMFTA has them ranging from freight class 70 to freight class 400. The specific freight classification is all based on the density of your frames and how its packaged. The more frames you pack together tightly, the heavier the freight becomes which results in a higher density and therefore a lower freight class. If you are planning to ship one picture frame the density will be lower and the NMFC freight classification will be higher, which will result in a higher shipping cost. The density of frames being higher relies greatly on the way they are packaged.

Please contact one of our agents at LTL Freight Shop if you have any questions about Frame classifications or if you need help with the density break downs for NMFC 76580- Frames! We are also happy to help with any freight classification questions, especially density based items, that you may have.

LTL Freight Shop
888-752-0443
sales@ltlfreightshop.com

For the love of the game(s)…

If you sit and think about how many different sports there are and how much sporting goods or equipment they all entail, you would be pondering for days. The same is true if you try and determine a specific freight class for each individual type of sports equipment or athletic goods. Our friends at the NMFTA have saved us the time and have given athletic or sporting goods one general NMFC freight classification and, of course, it is density based.

The NMFC code for Athletic or Sporting Goods is 15520 and it actually has 11 different sub classes, based upon the density of the item. To get the correct freight class, as always, you will need to the accurate dimesnions and weight of each piece. The NMFC code includes a variety of athletic items such as:

• Basketball nets
• Gym and exercise equipment, including an athletic treadmill or weight lifting benches or equipment
• Fishing tackle, buckets, containers and supplies
• Golf platforms and golf mats
• Boards, including snowboards, surfboards, bodyboards, paddleboards and more
• Swimming gear, including floats, rafts, goggles, snorkels,
• Playground equipment or apparatus
• and many more items.

While this NMFC class incorporates the majority of athletic goods and sporting goods, there are a few items that don’t fall under this freight classification and are not density based items. For help with freight classes for any type of athletic goods or sporting goods, feel free to contact one of our Freight Class Professionals at 888-752-0443 or sales@ltlfreightshop.com. You can also submit a request for freight class help or consultation.

Hope this helps!

LTL Freight Shop

Don’t get belted with a re-class on your next shipment!

As we continue our series on NMFC freight class help, we noticed another issue that many customers seem to be having. Our focus on this blog is the item or items, Belts or Belting, which fall under the NMFC code 23340.

For those that don’t know, the NMFC code is a numeric indicator used by LTL shippers that identifies the type of product that is being shipped. For Belts or Belting, there are a few different NMFC freight classifications, although the majority of all belts fall under the NMFC code 23340. Belts or Belting is an interesting item to find the freight class because there are so many different kinds of belts:

• Engine belts
• Machine belts
• Belts for pants
• Belts for banding
• Metal Belts
• Industrial Belts
• The list goes on and on…

To find the correct freight class for belts or belting, we must again look at the concept of density based items. Belt freight classes can range from freight class 60 to freight class 400 depending on the weight, dimensions and density of the item or items. As the density increases, the freight class will fall and so should the overall cost of the shipment.

It is important to know this information on freight class before booking your next belts or belting freight shipment. For help with determining your specific freight class or determining the density of your item, feel free to contact an experienced freight professional at 888-752-0443 or sales@ltlfreightshop.com. You can also request a freight class consultation.

Hope this Helps!

LTL Freight Shop

Don’t get hosed on your next freight shipment!!!

Another installment in our series to help businesses to determine the correct NMFC freight classification for their shipment is here! Our focus in this edition is the freight class for Hoses or Tubing, another fun density based item. The official freight classification for Hose or Tubing is NMFC 51140, which focuses on flexible hoses and tubing.

We want to clarify that this focuses on those items NOI, which means Not Otherwise Indexed, as another freight class or NMFC code. There are a few items that don’t fall under this NMFC classification, including metal tubing or pipes, finned tubing and more. The key factors that helps to determine if the hoses or tubing falls under this classification are:

• Flexible Hoses or Tubing
• Hoses or Tubing with or without fittings
• Hoses or Tubing is in packages
• Hoses or Tubing are NOI, not otherwise indexed

To find the correct freight class for hoses or tubing, we must again look at the concept of density based items. Hose or Tubing freight classes can range from freight class 60 to freight class 400 depending on the weight, dimensions and density of the item or items. As the density increases, the freight class will fall and so should the overall cost of the shipment.

Again, don’t get hosed with re-classes on your next freight shipment. Be sure to check with us to determine the right freight class for your hose or tubing shipment. For help with determining your specific freight class or determining the density of your item, feel free to contact an experienced freight professional at 888-752-0443 or sales@ltlfreightshop.com. You can also request a freight class consultation.

Hope this Helps!

LTL Freight Shop

Clients have been calling in confused lately about why they have been getting re-classed when they use NMFC 52890 for shipping cookware. Like many of the other product types that we have highlighted with our NMFC Freight Class Help series, this doesn’t necessarily fit all types of cookware. It is important to realize that each NMFC code is specific to certain types of products, and products from a similar type may fall under different NMFC codes and therefore have different freight classes.

It is important to choose the correct NMFC code for your cookware shipment. For your information, NMFC 52890 includes a variety of cookware items, specifically:

• Cast iron cookware freight class
• Kettles freight class
• Irons freight class and 
• Griddles freight class

In contrast, NMFC 52900 is the density based freight class code for cookware items such as any sheet steel cookware or bake ware in boxes. As you can see, there are differences between NMFC codes and freight classes even in a similar product group. With this type of product, you will also need a density calculator to ensure the correct freight classification.

We have a dedicated team of NMFC freight class professionals at your disposal. Please reach out to LTL Freight Shop at 888-752-0443 or sales@ltlfreightshop.com  for any LTL freight class or LTL freight quote needs on your cookware shipment!

Hope this Helps!

LTL Freight Shop

Don’t let your Pet Treats cost more than they need to!

Pet treats, while simple in concept, can be complicated when shipping. This is because of the differences between pet treats, pet foods and all other types of shipping that involves pet products. These products can fall under different freight classifications, NMFC codes and truck requirements. Many even need refrigerated trucking to prevent from spoiling.

One of the big factors that changes based on the type of pet product is the NMFC freight class. The freight class is based on many different factors, including packaging, how it is being shipped, the density of the product and more. For instance, Pet Treats fall under the NMFC code 27765. However, this only contains a certain group of pet treats that meet the following specifications:

• Bones, Chews or Chips Pet Treats
• Sticks or Biscuits Pet Treats
• Other Forms or Shapes of Pet Treats
• Edible and either flavored or not
• In boxes, but not bags, unless the bags are placed in boxes.

As you can see, there are very specific requirements, even for a simple things such as pet treats. Based on the specifications of the shipment, especially with pet treats being a density-based item, the shipment can fall under 9 different freight classes which will drastically change the shipment cost. This can also affect the other pet products that you are looking to ship.

As always, if you are a frequent or new subscriber to our blog and need help determining the freight class or NMFC code for your shipment, we are here to help. Contact one of our freight class experts and get freight class help today!

Hope this Helps!

LTL Freight Shop

We receive hundreds of calls, emails and form submissions each week asking our freight class experts to help determine their freight classes. Our team knows how difficult it can be to find the right freight class, especially with so many different options and factors that affect it. After all these calls lately, we wanted to answer the frequent question:

Why are there 18 freight classes in LTL freight shipping?

The freight classification of a shipment can range from freight class 50-500 and is one of a variety of factors that affect the pricing of a shipment. LTL freight classes and NMFC codes are one of the most important details on every shipment. Including the correct class in the beginning will prevent re-classes and increases in freight shipping costs. The freight class of the shipment is divided based on different factors, such as:

• Freight Shipment Density
• Product Type
• NMFC Code
• Shipment Packaging
• New or Used
• AND MORE

The NMFTA divides shipments among 18 different freight classes. These freight classes are 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 77.5, 85, 92.5, 100, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 400, and 500. Each of these 18 freight classes will vary based on the product of the shipment, and even on different shipments of the same product type. This is called a density-based item. The key with these items is to use a density calculator to determine the density in pounds per cubic foot, as this can change the shipment from freight class 50 to freight class 500. As a rule of thumb:

• The lower the shipment density, the higher the freight class and cost
• The higher the shipment density, the lower the freight class and cost
• Feathers take up space but weigh nothing (Higher class and cost)
• Iron or Steel take up little space but weigh a lot (Lower class and cost)

When trying to find the correct freight class for your shipment, it is important to make sure you are using the correct tools and resources. Freight class problems can quickly turn into a shipping department nightmare. Don’t let the complexity of freight classes cause issues for the rest of your business. Contact a freight class expert at LTL Freight Shop today for help with freight classes and to use a density calculator. Call 888-752-0443 or email sales@ltlfreightshop.com.

Hope this Helps!

LTL Freight Shop

Who doesn’t love candy? Apparently a small minority people do not! Chocolate candy does have some negative and positive side effects with certain people. One of the negative side effects is trying to ship it via an LTL or Truckload freight carrier.

Shipping chocolate candy can be a difficult task to get to the mouths of the customers. Many people don’t realize some of the difficulties in the supply chain process. Some types of chocolate do not require special accommodations, while other need temperate controlled trucks, special handling, and specific booking requirements to determine the correct cost.

One of these requirements for shipping chocolate candy is the NMFC freight class. The NMFTA made a NMFC code for chocolate candy under NOI (Not otherwise indexed). The code for chocolate candy is NMFC 39970, which also contains items like other types of candy in glass jars or metal tins.The specific freight class of the chocolate candy shipment can get slightly more complicated, with the sub classes range from class 65 to class 92.5. To accurately get the correct freight class for chocolate you must measure and weigh each pallet and run them through a density calculator. Once you have the total density you can obtain the correct class.

If you have any specific questions on shipping chocolate candy, please feel free to contact a shipping representative today at 888-752-0443 or sales@ltlfreightshop.com. We also have freight class experts to assist you with your shipment, or you can request a freight quote today to ship your chocolate or candy.

Hope this Helps!

LTL Freight Shop