Correctly classifying LTL freight benefits everyone, from cost savings to protecting shippers from liability risks
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA)™ announced today a price increase for interpretation requests. This change will only impact companies that are currently not participating in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)®.
NMFTA’s interpretation team is available to help carriers, shippers, and 3PLs determine the correct classification for any given piece of freight, as current pricing has remained unchanged in the past four years.
As of July 1, 2024, new pricing for interpretation requests will be:
- A block of five inquiries: $225.00 ($45.00 per request)
- A single inquiry: $50 per request
“We’ve seen a 28 percent increase in the number of inquiries for interpretation help over the past year,” said Ashley Gencarelli, a seven-year veteran of the interpretations team at NMFTA. “These requests result from several industry factors, such as recent changes to the NMFC and the increasing general knowledge that the service is available.”
Overall, nearly 80 percent of interpretation requests come from carriers, which keeps pace with historical trends. All additional requests are submitted by 3PLs and shippers, who are increasingly aware of the available interpretation help as the NMFTA has intensified its efforts to promote the service.
To assist supply chain professionals in determining the applicable NMFC provision for a given commodity, NMFTA’s Freight Classification Development Council (FCDC) interpretation experts provide an opinion on the applicable NMFC Item Number and Description they believe applies to the commodity in question. When an item is accurately classified, the shipper is protected from liability risks in the event an item is damaged. The classification also helps to prevent a situation in which an item is otherwise correctly classified but still creates a liability risk because of inappropriate packaging.
All requests for assistance must be submitted through the NMFTA’s online store at store.nmfta.org and are limited to one article per inquiry. Additional inquiries will have to be submitted under a separate order. For the request to be processed by the FCDC, sufficient details on the article in question must be present on the form, including a link to a website detailing the exact article in question and its purpose or function. If a website is unavailable, photographs or sales literature and a detailed explanation of the article’s intended purpose and function may be provided.
For further information on the submission process, visit the Classification Assistance & Interpretations informational page or contact interpretations@nmfta.org. Additional details on freight classification can also be accessed by attending NMFTA’s frequent webinars. Freight Classification Webinar Series 3, a four-part series, will begin August 6, 2024.
About NMFTA
Since 1956, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA)™️ has represented the interests of the less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier industry. The NMFTA publishes the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)®️, assigns Standard Carrier Alpha Code™ (SCAC®), assignment of Standard Point Location Codes® (SPLC™), develops digital standards for the LTL industry, and safeguards those digital standards through cybersecurity research, dissemination of studies, and education. Membership in NMFTA is available to all for-hire interstate and intrastate motor carriers. For more information, visit www.nmfta.org.
Contact
Marli Hall
Director of Public Relations
marli.hall@nmfta.org
703-665-3559
