The Commodity Profile Database, or CPD, is a centralized database of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment data maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.® (NMFTA)™ to support commodity research and updates to the National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC)™.
The database is made up of observations of individual real-world shipments of commodities that NMFTA has obtained. These observations are gathered through several sources, including dock surveys conducted by NMFTA staff, direct submissions from carriers and shippers, and ongoing batch data feeds from participating LTL carriers.
During dock surveys, NMFTA researchers will gather observations firsthand while visiting the docks of member carriers. During our visit, we will record observations of commodities currently being researched and upload that data to the CPD for future research and data analysis. In addition, carriers and shippers may submit shipment data directly to NMFTA through online or email submissions when they have information relevant to an active research project.
When an interested party has data on a commodity being researched, they will often submit it to us through our research inbox at research@nmfta.org.
The largest volume of data comes from continuous submissions provided by LTL carriers. Many carriers regularly provide data from recent shipments for inclusion in our database, providing us with significant insight into the freight actively moving through today’s LTL networks.
Broad, ongoing data submissions are critical. They allow NMFTA to identify trends early, analyze how commodities are actually being shipped, and evaluate whether existing NMFC provisions continue to reflect real-world conditions. For example, CPD data can highlight potentially obsolete item numbers, such as items that have not been used on any shipments, or very few shipments, over an extended period. When this occurs, NMFTA may investigate whether the item remains relevant and whether changes to the classification are warranted.
How the Data is Used
Data in the CPD plays a major role in the process of updating the NMFC. When a research project is opened on a commodity, CPD data helps NMFTA assess whether NMFC provisions accurately reflect how that commodity is being shipped. As research progresses, the data continues to inform decisions about whether new or revised provisions may be needed.
Because of this, the quality and quantity of data collected in the CPD directly influence the accuracy of NMFC updates. The more comprehensive the dataset, the better NMFTA can design provisions in the NMFC to account for what shipments of different commodities look like out in the LTL environment. This includes accounting for variations in packaging, handling units, density, and shipping practices across different networks.
Collecting data from a wide range of sources is especially important. One carrier’s freight profile may differ significantly from another’s, and CPD data allows NMFTA to account for those differences when developing classification provisions. This helps ensure that the NMFC reflects the diversity of real-world shipping environments and minimizes downstream issues related to misclassification, disputes, or operational inefficiencies.
How to Submit Data to the CPD
If your company is not currently submitting data to the CPD and would like to participate, the first step is to contact the NMFTA at CPDNotifications@NMFTA.org. NMFTA staff will work with you to determine the most effective submission method based on your organization’s data volume and capabilities.
While the data provided by each carrier may vary, several critical fields are always required. These include cube, weight, and the NMFC number, which are essential for calculating density and identifying the commodity. Additional details such as item descriptions, packaging information, shipper details, and specific dimensions are encouraged and help support more detailed classification analysis.
Data may be submitted via a spreadsheet sent by email to CPDNotifications@NMFTA.org. For larger datasets, a secure FTP transfer site is available. Submission frequency is flexible and determined by your organization. Monthly submissions are preferred, though some carriers submit data on a quarterly basis.
Conclusion
Submitting shipment data to our CPD is a major way to have a direct impact on the classification process and ongoing accuracy and relevance of the NMFC. By sharing real-world shipment information, you help ensure that NMFC provisions reflect how freight is actually moving today—not how it moved years ago.
The more complete and representative the data, the better equipped NMFTA is to develop classifications that support consistency, reduce friction, and reflect modern LTL operations across the industry.
