Sba 504 Loan Calculator

Freight Class & Density Calculator

Determine your shipment's NMFC density-based freight class instantly.

Calculation Results:

Total Cubic Feet: 0

Density (PCF): 0

Estimated Freight Class: –

*Note: This is an estimate based on density. Actual NMFC classes may vary based on commodity type, stowability, handling, and liability.

function calculateFreightClass() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('freight_length').value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('freight_width').value); var height = parseFloat(document.getElementById('freight_height').value); var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('freight_weight').value); if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(height) || isNaN(weight) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || height <= 0 || weight <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields."); return; } // Calculate Cubic Feet: (L * W * H) / 1728 var cubicInches = length * width * height; var cubicFeet = cubicInches / 1728; // Calculate Density: Weight / Cubic Feet var density = weight / cubicFeet; var freightClass = ""; // Standard NMFC Density Table if (density < 1) { freightClass = "500"; } else if (density < 2) { freightClass = "400"; } else if (density < 3) { freightClass = "300"; } else if (density < 4) { freightClass = "250"; } else if (density < 5) { freightClass = "200"; } else if (density < 6) { freightClass = "175"; } else if (density < 7) { freightClass = "150"; } else if (density < 8) { freightClass = "125"; } else if (density < 9) { freightClass = "110"; } else if (density < 10.5) { freightClass = "100"; } else if (density < 12) { freightClass = "92.5"; } else if (density < 13.5) { freightClass = "85"; } else if (density < 15) { freightClass = "77.5"; } else if (density < 22.5) { freightClass = "70"; } else if (density < 30) { freightClass = "65"; } else if (density < 35) { freightClass = "60"; } else if (density < 50) { freightClass = "55"; } else { freightClass = "50"; } document.getElementById('res_cubic_feet').innerText = cubicFeet.toFixed(2) + " ft³"; document.getElementById('res_density').innerText = density.toFixed(2) + " lbs/ft³"; document.getElementById('res_class').innerText = "Class " + freightClass; document.getElementById('freight_result_box').style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Freight Class and Density

In the world of LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping, "Freight Class" is a standardized classification system developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). It is designed to establish uniform pricing for shipments across different carriers and regions.

How Density Affects Your Shipping Costs

Freight density is the primary factor in determining the class for most commodities. Density is calculated by dividing the weight of the shipment by its total volume in cubic feet. Generally, the more dense an item is, the lower the freight class and the lower the shipping cost per pound.

• Low Density (High Class): Large, light items (like ping pong balls or assembled furniture) take up more space relative to their weight. These are assigned higher classes like 250 to 500.
• High Density (Low Class): Heavy, compact items (like steel nuts and bolts or bricks) take up very little space. These are assigned lower classes like 50 to 65.

The 4 Key Factors of Freight Class

While density is the most common metric, the NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) considers four characteristics:

1. Density: The space the item occupies in relation to its weight.
2. Stowability: How easily the freight can be stacked or placed with other shipments.
3. Handling: The degree of care or special equipment needed to move the items.
4. Liability: The value of the goods and their susceptibility to theft, damage, or breakage.

Example Calculation

Suppose you are shipping a pallet that weighs 500 lbs with dimensions of 48″ L x 40″ W x 45″ H.

1. Calculate Cubic Inches: 48 x 40 x 45 = 86,400 cubic inches.
2. Convert to Cubic Feet: 86,400 / 1,728 = 50 cubic feet.
3. Calculate Density: 500 lbs / 50 cu ft = 10 lbs per cubic foot (PCF).
4. Determine Class: A density of 10 PCF typically falls under Class 100.

Pro Tip: Always round your measurements up to the nearest inch and include the pallet weight in your total weight to avoid "re-weigh" fees from carriers.