Determining Cost of Shipping

If all the information is correct, the charge quoted to you will also be correct. However, if your shipment’s weight, sizes, item description (class), or services provided prove to be different (greater) than shown, your account will be charged for “all services as actually provided.”

Freight Classes

What You Ship Determines the You Rate You Will Pay.

The freight industry has established a standard for establishing a freight rate within the United States. This system is known as “Freight Classing” There are 18 different freight classes ranging from a class 55 up to a class 500. All items shipped within the United States via LTL (less than a truck load) freight carrier move under one of these classes. The higher the freight class the higher the rate will be per pound.

A full explanation of how any item is assigned a freight class would be long and complicated to explain. The simplest explanation is; the more dense an item is for its weight, the less valuable the item is for its weight and the less fragile the item is, the lower the class will be and therefore the lower the class and rate will be.

For example, Boxes of nails are heavy for their size, nearly indestructible, and not all that valuable for their weight. Nails would have a very low-class rating. On the other hand, boxes of glass chandeliers would be relatively light for the space they would take, are fragile, and can be valuable. Chandeliers would have a class rating greater than nails and, therefore, would have a higher class rating and a higher cost to ship per pound.

What Is a Nmfc Number?

This is a numeric indicator that specifically identifies each type of product that an LTL carrier can ship. The National Motor Freight Association presets these product classifications quarterly. It is always helpful to have the NMFC number on the Bill of Lading in order to avoid re-classification and accurately identify each product you ship. You can contact FreightCenter at 800.716.7608 to determine the NMFC number for your products.

How Does Pricing Work?

A few factors determine your price. You must provide accurate weight and measurements of the cargo. It is very important that you properly identify “what” you are shipping. Every item being shipped via freight has a corresponding NMFC# (National Motor Freight Classification) and Freight Class, which are large factors in dictating the cost of your shipment.

Once you specify “what” you are transporting, we can tell you the NMFC# and Freight Class. For instance, if you are shipping an engine block, it would be a Freight Class 85. Also, the origination and destination points of the item, and what, if any, accessorials you need.

Accessorials include Residential Pick-Up, Residential Delivery, and Lift-gate service, to name a few. Remember that your freight may be inspected at the carrier’s discretion to verify weight, measurements, or identity (Freight Class and NMFC#). If the information you provide is, for any reason, inaccurate, you may be re-billed for services that are actually rendered. If you want or need any of these services, be sure to tell your Freight Specialist. If a service is not listed, it has not been paid for.

What Is Dimensional Weight?

Dimensional weight is a standard formula used throughout the freight industry that considers a shipment’s density when determining charges. Transportation charges are based on the gross weight of the shipment or the dimensional weight of the shipment, whichever is greater. Simply put, dimensional weight is when the weight of a package is inappropriately less than the actual size of the package. For example, a box filled with inflated basketballs.

When Do Dimensional Weight Charges Apply?

When the actual weight of a package is less than the calculated dimensional weight, carriers charge by the dimensional weight.