The U.S. LTL freight classification system is about to change. On July 19, 2025, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) will roll out a restructured version of the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). This is the most significant overhaul in nearly 90 years.
The update centers on a shift to density-based freight classes. Thousands of commodity codes will be consolidated, a new 13-class density scale will be introduced, and shipments with handling, stowability, or liability concerns will be tagged with special identifiers.
For freight forwarders, the implications are immediate: quoting systems, packaging standards, and training procedures must all be reviewed and updated. Incorrect NMFC codes can result in costly reclassifications and rate disputes. However, the transition also brings opportunity. Forwarders who prepare now will be in a stronger position to offer accurate rates and reduce carrier adjustments.
What is the 2025 NMFC reclassification (and what is changing)?
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is a standardized system used to categorize commodities shipped via less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers. Managed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), it assigns a freight class to each commodity based on four key attributes: density, handling, stowability, and liability. These classifications help determine shipping rates and ensure consistency across the supply chain.
On July 19, 2025, the NMFTA will implement a major update to the NMFC system, one of the most significant overhauls in nearly 90 years. The changes are designed to simplify and standardize freight classification, reduce confusion, and improve rating accuracy.
The update will shift thousands of LTL freight items toward a density-based classification model. Over 2,000 NMFC items will be restructured—some consolidated into broader categories, others removed entirely. As a result, many commodities that previously had fixed freight classes will now be rated based on how much space they occupy relative to their weight (i.e., pounds per cubic foot).
At the heart of this update is a new 13-class density scale, including new classifications such as Class 50 and Class 55. Higher-density items may qualify for lower shipping classes (and potentially lower costs). In comparison, low-density or irregular freight may be assigned higher classes depending on how difficult they are to handle, stow, or insure.
A key addition to the system is the introduction of special identifiers for commodities with “known issues,” such as fragility, hazardous contents, or poor stowability. These items will not be mapped strictly to the density scale and may carry higher class designations to reflect operational risk.
To support these changes, NMFTA has upgraded its digital platform, ClassIT, with improved tools for density calculation, classification lookup, and integration into quoting systems. Freight forwarders can utilize the updated platform to determine accurate NMFC codes, minimize the risk of misclassification, and ensure compliance with the new framework.
How the NMFC changes impact freight forwarders
The 2025 NMFC reclassification introduces a significant shift in how freight forwarders manage LTL shipments. Because the new system ties rates directly to density and operational risk, small oversights can have outsized consequences.
Accurate quoting will become more complex. Under the new model, freight density must be calculated precisely and classified under the correct NMFC item and density-based freight class. If a forwarder misclassifies cargo by using outdated codes or failing to apply a special identifier, they risk disputes over rates, invoice corrections, or even shipment rejection by carriers. This makes quoting tools, dimensional scanners, and internal processes far more critical than before.
Training is another major consideration. Forwarding teams accustomed to static freight classes must now understand how changes in dimensions, packaging materials, or load configurations can impact classification. Without this knowledge, even experienced teams may misquote or mislabel freight, leading to delays or reweighs.
The move to density-based classification also increases the importance of consistent documentation. Carriers will likely scrutinize declared weights and measures more closely. If a shipment is reweighed or reclassified and the declared values are inaccurate, the forwarder may face chargebacks, delayed delivery, or carrier pushback.
In this environment, compliance becomes a competitive advantage. Freight forwarders who align their quoting systems, SOPs, and staff training with the new NMFC framework will not only avoid penalties but also deliver better service to clients. Those who lag behind risk friction at every touchpoint: quoting, billing, claims, and delivery.
How to prepare for the 2025 NMFC reclassification
With the 2025 NMFC reclassification deadline fast approaching, forwarders must take proactive steps to avoid disruption. Waiting until the last minute is not an option, especially when compliance gaps can lead to rate disputes, rejected shipments, or damaged client relationships. Preparation should focus on five key areas:
1. Audit your current NMFC codes
Start by reviewing your most frequently used NMFC items. Are they among the 2,000+ items being reclassified, consolidated, or transitioned to the new density scale? If you’re using codes that will no longer exist or will be mapped to the new density scale, identify them now. This audit should also flag items that may require special identifiers under the new system.
2. Update quoting and documentation tools
Ensure your digital tools—TMS platforms, quoting engines, and shipping software include density calculators and density logic to support more accurate freight classification. As demonstrated by Shipco’s TMS platform. Forwarders who rely on legacy software may miss crucial changes or apply outdated rates.
3. Train your team on the new classification model
Classification under the new rules requires a working knowledge of density (weight per cubic foot), cube calculations, and risk indicators. Conduct targeted training for quoting staff, documentation teams, and operations personnel. Everyone involved in LTL quoting should understand how density and special identifiers now affect class and cost.
4. Optimize packaging and measurement practices
Since classification now depends more heavily on density, optimizing how freight is packed and measured can reduce costs. Encourage clients to avoid oversized or irregular packaging that could result in shipments being classified into a higher shipping class. Equip your team with dimensional scanners or reliable measurement protocols to improve accuracy.
5. Follow NMFTA guidance and updates
Stay plugged into NMFTA updates, webinars, and advisory materials. The rollout of the 2025 reclassification is complex, and guidance may evolve as implementation begins. Forwarders should assign a compliance lead or designate a team to monitor these updates and adjust processes accordingly.
How Shipco helps freight forwarders navigate NMFC changes
The upcoming NMFC reclassification introduces new requirements around LTL classification, quoting accuracy, and documentation. But for Shipco, the transition reflects processes that are already embedded in Shipco’s daily inland operations. The company’s internal systems, pricing logic, and service models are aligned with the core principles of the new framework.
Shipco has long applied freight classes based on shipment density, especially across inland legs connected to air and ocean freight. This density-first model reduces the risk of reclassification, chargebacks, and billing disputes, challenges that many forwarders will now face for the first time.
Customers shipping under Shipco’s inland solutions won’t need to adjust how they interact with Shipco’s inland services, which are already aligned with the new NMFC framework. However, forwarders remain responsible for accurately classifying freight and packaging at the point of quoting.
“At Shipco, our pricing strategy and structure are already aligned with density-based principles. We apply our freight classes based on the shipment’s density, which mitigates the risk of reclassification for the first and final mile of air and sea freight shipments. Our customers are already operating under the framework that will now be the new standard as of July 19.”
Ryan Murphy, VP U.S. Inland & E-Commerce at Shipco
Long-term benefits of the NMFC reclassification
The shift to a density-based model is not only a compliance shift but also a structural improvement with long-term operational benefits. For forwarders who adapt early, the reclassification opens the door to more transparent quoting, fewer disputes, and more efficient workflows.
The updated system enables freight classes to accurately reflect the actual characteristics of shipments, thereby reducing the limitations and ambiguity associated with static classifications. A 13-class density scale encourages shippers to pack more efficiently and rewards better use of space. This is especially important in a cost-sensitive and capacity-constrained market.
Over time, fewer reclassifications and billing disputes will mean faster invoicing, cleaner audits, and improved client trust.
The broader impact is standardization. As more forwarders and carriers adopt this model, industry practices will converge, resulting in less fragmented LTL quoting and compliance across partners and regions. This supports scalable growth, not just for carriers and consolidators like Shipco, but for forwarders building density-aligned systems.
Conclusion: Preparing for the 2025 NMFC reclassification
The 2025 NMFC reclassification reshapes how LTL freight is quoted, classified, and moved across the U.S. supply chain. For freight forwarders, this means new risks but also new efficiencies. Those who act now will be able to quote more precisely, reduce disputes, and strengthen client confidence.
With just weeks remaining until the July 19 rollout, the time to prepare is now. Review your codes. Update your quoting systems. Train your team. And if you’re already working with Shipco, know that much of the groundwork has already been laid.
Shipco’s inland services are aligned with the new classification model, with built-in density logic. But forwarders still play a key role in ensuring accurate declarations and documentation.
