Freight NOI Calculator

Freight rates are determined by several different factors including package dimensions, weight, distance and freight class, as well as your packages’ Pounds per Cubic Foot (PCF) or density. Your package’s PCF is closely related to the freight class that is applied to your freight shipment. A low PCF will result in a higher class rating. In turn, a higher class rating corresponds to a higher cost to ship your freight.

For example, a shipment that works out to 1.31 pound per cubic foot and weighs 100 pounds (Class 300) will be much more expensive to ship than an item that has the same weight but equates to 9.67 pounds per cubic foot (Class 100). In other words, the more space your freight occupies on a truck or in a container the more costs you will incur for transport. If your commodity or product cannot be classified by a National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) number, than apply a general class rate or NOI (Not Otherwise Indicated) class to determine your cost to ship. NOI shipping terms are typically quoted and processed manually through select freight carriers. For this reason, shippers are encouraged to make sure their weights and dimensions are accurate in order to avoid billing adjustments based on PCF and class changes. By far the most common reason for a re-bill or billing adjustment, it is also the most avoidable. Never guess or estimate dimensions and weights when shipping freight.

1) Measure the shipment’s height, width, and depth. In taking these measurements, you must measure to the farthest points, including pallets or another packaging. (On shipments with multiple pieces, repeat this step for each piece).

2)Multiply the three measurements (height x width x depth). The result is the shipment’s total cubic inches (or feet).

3)Finally, divide the shipment’s weight (in pounds) by the total cubic feet. The result is the pounds per cubic foot, i.e., density.

Enter the length, width, height, and weight of your cargo. Our freight density calculator will instantly show its freight density and recommended freight class.

Freight Class Density vs. NMFC Number
There are two ways to determine freight class – NMFC Number and Freight Class Density.

NMFC-based freight class– The Nation Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), a nonprofit membership organization of motor carriers, created the National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC) system to assign freight classes for a multitude of commodities.

Density-based freight class– There are two circumstances under which density, not NMFC, will determine a cargo’s freight class.

1) You are using a density-based carrier.

2) the NMFC for what you are shipping is Not Otherwise Indicated (NOI). Sometimes, that may be because you are shipping several items with different freight classes in the same crate.

The freight density of an object is the measurement of its compactness or pounds per cubic foot (PCF). Watch the video below to learn how freight density and freight class are closely related.

Get started shipping now with a free freight quote. Have more questions about freight class, freight density, or freight shipping ? One of our expert Freight Agents can help you along the way. To speak with one of our agents, call 800.716.7608.

How Is LTL Class Density Calculated?

LTL Carriers will generally charge for freight based on the weight and cube of the shipped items. To assist with this, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association publishes the National Motor Freight Classification guide. This standard allows determining freight classes to compare different commodities and shipped products. Every shipped item falls into one of 18 freight classes, represented by numeric numbers ranging from class 50 to class 500.
Freight Density is critical.

There are four different aspects or characteristics that determine any given commodities freight class. The factors determining a commodity’s class are density, stowability, handling, and liability.

Freight Density
The freight density is the pounds per cubic foot of your item. It is the primary key in determining freight class (however, the characteristics listed below can, in some cases, have a very profound effect on the class and, therefore, the cost). Typically, lower freight classes represent items of higher freight density and, hence, a lower price.

Stowability
Stowability takes into account how easy it is to stow the commodity. The harder it is to stow or transport this item compared to other things, the more this factor will increase the freight class and cost. Some factors include if it is unusual dimensions or if it contains hazardous materials. Additionally, some items are regulated by government or carrier policies and items with characteristics that prevent them from being near or shipped with other things.

Handling
Handing considers the commodity’s ability to be handled as the freight is loaded and unloaded from the LTL terminal to the LTL terminal. The greater the difficulty in handling, the more this factor will increase the freight class and cost. Packaging, unit dimensions, and fragility are considered when determining how handling impacts the class.

Liability
Liability considers how likely the item will be damaged, stolen, or damaged to other freight and property. The greater the liability risk, the more this factor will increase the freight class and cost.