Freight Class Estimator (US LTL) | ContainerMetric

How Freight Class Is Determined

In US LTL (Less than Truckload) shipping, the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) assigns every shipment one of 18 classes from 50 to 500. The most common density-based driver is pounds per cubic foot (PCF), calculated as total weight in pounds divided by total volume in cubic feet. Dense, easy-to-handle freight earns a low class and a lower rate; light, bulky freight that wastes trailer space falls into a high class.

This estimator computes density and maps it to a class using the standard density scale. Freight at 50 PCF or more is class 50, the cheapest tier. As density drops the class climbs: roughly 30–35 PCF is class 60, 15–22.5 PCF is class 70, 10.5–12 PCF is class 92.5, and so on, down to anything under 1 PCF, which lands at class 500.

For a worked example, a pallet weighing 500 lb that occupies 40 ft³ has a density of 12.5 PCF, placing it in class 85. Cube the same 500 lb into 80 ft³ and density halves to 6.25 PCF, pushing it to class 150. Because carriers may also weigh stowability, handling, and liability, treat this estimate as a strong density-based starting point and confirm the exact NMFC item with your carrier before tendering.

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