Classifying freight and the associated NMFC codes can be tricky. Even if you have worked in the logistics and freight industry for 13 plus years, and have all the tools it can still be challenging. The NMFTA or National Motor Freight Traffic Association came up with a set of standardized classification system for all commodities called NMFC codes. These categories and codes allow both shippers and carriers to agree to what is being shipped and how much the associated freight cost or cost of freight should be.
However, there are so many classification and nuances to these NMFC codes, it can be challenging to pick the most correct category. If companies and their logistics teams categorize their products incorrectly, it can also lead to freight cost adjustments or rebills after the fact. This can cause all kinds of extra work and unanticipated increases in the cost of freight that can be hard to absorb or pass along to clients. By better understanding freight classification and NMFC codes, your shipping team and company will be better able to control its freight costs.