When it comes to shipping your product, one of the first things to consider is how your product is defined by the shipping industry.  In the shipping world, products are defined by their makeup which is referred to as classification.   Freight classifications (also known as class) are catalogued in the National Motor Freight Classification tariff, and commonly referred to as NMFC.   Based upon an evaluation of density, stowability, ease of handling and liability, products are grouped into one of 18 classes.  Classes range from a low of 50 to a high of 500.  The NMFC tariff contains rules, descriptions and ratings for products being shipped.  The class of your freight plays an important part in calculating the shipping charges.  Generally, the higher class results in higher freight charges. In addition to defining class, the NMFC also assigns item numbers to each product type being shipped.  The item number relates not only to the product itself, but also to its packaging.
 
In order to avoid a costly shipping error, be sure the correct class and NMFC item number is always on your original bill of lading.  While it is the responsibility of the shipper to correctly fill out the bill of lading, if you are responsible for the freight charges, then the mistake will ultimately result in you paying more for shipping.

For more help on shipping questions email Barb Smith at barbsmith@tds.net .