When determining if a shipment complies with the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®) rules, shippers have a valuable but often overlooked resource—the Box Manufacturer’s Certificate (BMC). This certificate specifies the type of content the box is rated to handle, providing clear guidance for compliance.
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA)™ interpretations team relies on shippers to ensure that the contents of a box match the specifications outlined in the BMC. If the contents don’t comply, the shipper risks being noncompliant and may face denial of any damage claims resulting from this discrepancy.
A BMC looks like this:
In Figure A above, the top line tells you the weight (per square inch) at which the box would burst. That’s what the lab determines when it performs the Mullen Burst Test.
The next line tells you the total weight of the liner per thousand square feet. This measures the sheet of corrugated fiberboard before it’s made into a box.
The third line is the size limit of the item in cubic inches.
The bottom line is the gross weight limit the box can handle.
It’s essential for shippers to refer to this certificate on every box they use. Adhering to the specified ratings and restrictions specified on the BMC will help prevent issues that can lead to the boxes either bursting or being crushed when stacked with others.
Not all boxes are made the same, only those that meet specific standards can carry the certification. This can pose challenges for the NMFTA interpretations team, as they depend on the shipper to provide detailed information about the items being shipped.
“You need the individual weight of the contents inside the fiberboard box,” said Larissa Franklin, packaging development manager at NMFTA. “If there are multiple boxes on a pallet, it’s challenging to determine the weight of each individual box. Miscalculations can lead to claims, and it’s up to the shipper to determine if it’s compliant with Rule 222 and potentially the box certificate. Because not all boxes can bear the box certificate.”
The process of matching the item to the box starts with ensuring the box being used meets the criteria for the item being shipped.
“As a shipper, you know your product best,” said Jeff Cooper, interpretations manager at NMFTA. “You know its weight and specifications. You have it in your computer. Ensure your box supplier meets the requirements. For example, if you’re a manufacturer that sells food slicing machines, you need a specific box that can handle that weight. Work with the box manufacturer to make sure your box meets the requirement of the commodity.”
Once the shipper has confirmed the box is compliant, the next imperative is to ensure the contents comply with the BMC. That’s the best way to ensure the package complies with NMFC Item Rule 222, which is often the subject of interpretation requests.
According to Franklin, interpretations become much more difficult if she doesn’t have BMC information.
“Often shippers furnish a BMC,” Franklin said. “This makes it difficult to verify compliance with Item Rule 222. For packaging interpretation, I review the pack tendered to the carrier, check the minimum packaging requirements for that NMFC item number, and ensure everything aligns with the packaging rules in the NMFC. Each NMFC item has unique requirements, and some include additional packaging notes. I compare all these details to confirm compliance.
Franklin explained that she has seen boxes packed with 1,000 pounds of steel when they were only rated for 100 pounds—an obvious noncompliant issue. This happens when a shipper doesn’t consult the BMC information, or doesn’t understand why it’s important. In such cases, damage claims are likely to be denied.
None of that is necessary, though.
“Just follow the ratings that are on the box manufacturer certificate, especially the gross weight,” Franklin said. “If the box is only rated for 65 pounds, don’t try putting 100 pounds in the box.”
Simple enough. It’s just a matter of paying attention to the information on the BMC and checking it against the information you have about your item. It can save everyone a lot of trouble, time, and money.
If you have additional questions, contact NMFTA’s interpretations team at interpretations@nmfta.org.
