How to Find an NMFC Item Number

Get the exact NMFC item number for your product using an NMFC code lookup. A guess from a density chart is not enough. The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) assigns a specific numbered entry to each commodity, and that entry determines the class. A lookup using ClassIT+ is the step most shippers skip, and skipping it causes reclass charges. Use the NMFTA's tool to find the item number, then write it on the bill of lading. Here is how.

The NMFC item number is a four- or five-digit code that identifies a specific commodity, such as "bottled water, in cartons" or "plastic articles, NOI." The freight class is the numeric rating (50-500) assigned to that item. Multiple items can share the same class; the item number ties the commodity description to the class. A density-only lookup can give you a class for a handling unit, but if your product has an NMFC item that explicitly assigns a different class due to fragility or stowability issues, you must use that item number. Writing an item number on the bill of lading (BOL) communicates to the carrier what you are shipping. Writing only a class is incomplete. Carriers will reclass if they cannot verify the commodity.

ClassIT+ is the NMFTA's online classification tool. It is the authoritative source for NMFC item numbers and their associated classes. Do not rely on third-party calculators; they often use legacy 18-class density scales and do not check for specific item assignments. Here is how to use ClassIT+ for a lookup:

Step 1: Access ClassIT+

Go to nmfta.org and log in to the ClassIT+ portal. A subscription is required, individual or enterprise, but the NMFTA also offers free public access to a limited version for single lookups. If you are a regular shipper, the subscription pays for itself in avoided reclass fees.

Step 2: Search by Commodity Name

Type the product name into the search bar. Use the most specific term you can: "bottled water, spring" instead of "water." ClassIT+ returns a list of NMFC items with their full descriptions, classes, and any notes on packaging or handling.

Step 3: Verify the Description

Does it match the product exactly? Check the notes column. Some items include restrictions like "in boxes" or "not otherwise indexed." If the description does not fit, try a broader term or add "NOI" (not otherwise indexed) to find a general class for that commodity group.

Step 4: Record the Item Number

Write down the NMFC item number and its class. This goes on the BOL. For example, Item 88550 covers "bottled water, in cartons" and carries class 70. If your bottled water ships on pallets wrapped in stretch film, check whether the item specifies "in cartons". If it does, the pallet wrap changes the handling unit, and you may need a different item.

What If No Item Exists?

If the commodity has no specific NMFC item, use the density scale as a fallback. The current density scale (13 subprovisions, effective July 19, 2025) maps density to class. Measure the handling unit's dimensions (LxWxH in inches), calculate cubic feet (LxWxH / 1728), then divide weight in pounds by cubic feet. Match the result to the density ranges: <1 lb/cu ft = class 500; 1-2 = 400; 2-4 = 300; 4-6 = 250; 6-8 = 200; 8-10 = 175; 10-12 = 150; 12-15 = 125; 15-22.5 = 110; 22.5-30 = 100; 30-35 = 95; 35-50 = 85; 50+ = 70. Write "NOI" as the item number and note the density. Carriers will accept this as a default, but they may still inspect to verify the calculation.

Not all NMFC items are density-based. Some are "fixed-class" items: the class does not change with density. For example, Item 99999 for "crude metal, scrap" might carry a fixed class 70 regardless of how dense the scrap pile is. Density-based items, such as Item 360 (the 13-subprovision scale), assign class based on the handling unit's density. The NMFC uses density as the primary factor for most commodities, but fixed-class items exist for products where stowability, handling, or liability override density. Always check whether the item you found in ClassIT+ is density-based or fixed-class. If it is density-based, calculate the handling unit density precisely; a small change in dimensions can shift the class and raise the rate significantly.

The bill of lading (BOL) must include the NMFC item number and the class. Do not write only the class. Write both. Example: "NMFC 88550, Class 70." If the item is density-based, also include the density value. Some carriers require the density on the BOL to avoid a reweigh. If you are shipping a mixed-density shipment with multiple handling units, list each handling unit's NMFC item and class on separate lines. If you are using a negotiated FAK (Freight All Kinds) class, write the FAK item number and the agreed class, but be aware that FAK terms are contract-specific and not all carriers offer them.

Do not write vague descriptions like "general merchandise" or "various." These invite reclass. The carrier's driver will compare the BOL description to the actual freight during pickup. If the description does not match, the carrier can reweigh or inspect under NMFC Item 360 and charge the shipper for the reweigh if the class changes. That charge varies by carrier. Check the carrier's rules tariff for the exact amount.

If ClassIT+ returns multiple possible items for your product, or if the density calculation gives a class that seems too high for a common commodity, ask the carrier's classification desk. Most national LTL carriers have a team that can provide an NMFC item number over the phone. Do not accept a random class from the carrier's online rate quote tool. Those tools often use the 18-class legacy scale. Insist on an NMFC item number and verify it in ClassIT+.

If you receive a reclass charge, hire a freight auditor before paying. Auditors specialize in challenging reclasses by checking the NMFC item, the density calculation, and the carrier's dimension-rounding rules. Carriers round dimensions differently (some round up to the next whole inch, others to the nearest inch), and a failure to apply the correct rounding rule is a common cause of false reclasses. The auditor will also check whether the carrier applied the correct NMFC item number. A single reclass charge can cost hundreds of dollars; an auditor's fee is often a fraction of that.

If the reclass is based on a reweigh that you believe is wrong, ask the carrier to provide the weigh-station ticket or scale certificate. The NMFC Item 360 gives the carrier the right to reweigh, but the shipper has the right to see the evidence. If the carrier refuses, file a dispute with the NMFTA.

To see how an NMFC item listing works, here is an actual entry from the NMFC. Item 88550 covers "bottled water, in cartons." The class is 70. The item description includes a note that the density must be at least 35 lb/cu ft to qualify for class 70; if the density falls below that, the item defaults to the density scale. The handling unit is a pallet of cartons. The dimensions of one pallet are 48" x 40" x 36". Weight is 1,500 lbs. Volume = (48 x 40 x 36) / 1728 = 40 cu ft. Density = 1,500 / 40 = 37.5 lb/cu ft. That exceeds 35, so class 70 applies. If the pallet were stacked 48" high instead of 36", volume would be 53.3 cu ft, density would be 28.1 lb/cu ft, and class would jump to 100 under the density scale default. This is why measuring the actual handling unit, not the product alone, is critical. The NMFC item listing tells you exactly what the carrier expects.