Freight Class 110 vs 125
Compare Class 110 and Class 125, see why they are not adjacent bands on the current full-density scale, and learn how to verify the correct NMFC class.
Freight classes 110 and 125 are adjacent numbers in the NMFC class sequence, but they are not adjacent bands on NMFTA’s current standard full-density scale.
Class 125 is part of that scale at 6 pounds per cubic foot but less than 8 pounds per cubic foot. Class 110 is a valid class, but the standard 13-subprovision full-density scale does not contain a class 110 band. Class 110 may appear in item-specific provisions or in classification work that accounts for handling, stowability, and liability.
Class 110 versus class 125
| Comparison point | Freight class 110 | Freight class 125 |
|---|---|---|
| Valid NMFC class number | Yes | Yes |
| Position in class sequence | Between class 100 and class 125 | Between class 110 and class 150 |
| Standard 13-subprovision full-density band | None | 6 to less than 8 lb/ft³ |
| FCDC density-guideline reference | Minimum average density of 8 lb/ft³ | Minimum average density of 7 lb/ft³ |
| Can a generic density chart establish the class? | No | No. The applicable item must use the relevant provision. |
The standard full-density scale and the FCDC Density Guidelines are different tools. Combining them into one shipper lookup chart creates the misleading 8-to-9 and 7-to-8 ranges often repeated online.
The current standard full-density scale
NMFTA’s classification policies say density has prime importance when a commodity does not exhibit unusual or significant handling, stowability, or liability characteristics. Those commodities may use the standard full-density scale.
At the relevant part of that scale:
- 4 to less than 6 pounds per cubic foot corresponds to class 175
- 6 to less than 8 pounds per cubic foot corresponds to class 125
- 8 to less than 10 pounds per cubic foot corresponds to class 100
There is no class 110 step between class 100 and class 125 on the current standard scale. A chart that inserts a universal class 110 density band into that sequence is describing something other than the full-density scale.
Where class 110 fits
Class 110 remains part of the overall 18-class NMFC system. Current NMFTA docket material includes item-specific provisions assigned class 110, which confirms that the class is still active even though it is absent from the full-density scale.
The FCDC Density Guidelines also list class 110 with a minimum average density of 8 pounds per cubic foot and class 125 with a minimum average density of 7 pounds per cubic foot. Those guidelines aid the Freight Classification Development Council when unusual or significant handling, stowability, or liability characteristics are present. The policies allow class adjustments based on the degree of those characteristics.
These minimum-average-density references are not universal brackets for a shipper to apply directly. A handling unit at 8.5 pounds per cubic foot is not automatically class 110.
Why the four characteristics matter
NMFTA evaluates commodities through:
- Density: packaged weight relative to occupied space
- Handling: the ease or difficulty of moving the freight
- Stowability: how effectively it can be placed with other freight
- Liability: risks such as damage, theft, perishability, or damage to other freight
An item-specific class can reflect more than density. Size, configuration, fragility, hazardous characteristics, or other transportability concerns may affect how the commodity is classified.
Do not calculate density and then invent a one-class adjustment for handling or liability. Read the applicable NMFC item, subitem, notes, packaging requirements, references, and symbols. Those provisions determine how the classification applies.
Avoid generic commodity lists
Product examples on third-party charts are not a substitute for an NMFC lookup. One broad product name can cover several materials, forms, uses, or packaging configurations.
Before searching, document:
- What the article is made from
- Its form and intended use
- Whether it is assembled, disassembled, nested, or knocked down
- The package type and tendered shipping form
- Any characteristics that affect handling, stowability, or liability
The correct description should identify the freight that is actually shipping, not the class you hope to receive.
How to check whether 110 or 125 applies
Use this sequence:
- Identify the commodity precisely.
- Find its current NMFC item and applicable subitem in ClassIT+.
- Review the full provision, including shipping form, packaging, notes, references, and symbols.
- Determine whether the item uses the standard full-density scale, an item-specific density structure, or another class assignment.
- Calculate packaged density when the provision requires it.
- Check the effective date and save the lookup with the shipment record.
- Review applicable carrier tariffs, exceptions, or customer pricing terms.
NMFTA describes the NMFC as a voluntary standard and notes that carrier tariffs may also apply. Confirm both the classification and the pricing terms used for the specific shipment.
Calculate packaged density accurately
Measure the complete handling unit in the form tendered to the carrier. Include the pallet, crate, carton, cushioning, wrap, and projections in the outside dimensions and packaged weight.
When dimensions are in inches:
- Multiply length by width by height to calculate cubic inches.
- Divide by 1,728 to convert cubic inches to cubic feet.
- Account for all handling units.
- Divide total packaged weight in pounds by total cubic feet.
NMFTA’s ClassIT+ density calculator follows this method. Its guidance says the calculator is for estimation and reference and does not suggest an item’s class.
The result can support the applicable NMFC provision. It cannot establish that a shipment is class 110, and it establishes class 125 only when the item uses the relevant full-density band.
Watch for packaging changes
Recalculate when:
- A pallet is rebuilt or its height changes
- A different box, crate, or cushioning system is used
- Product is added or removed
- Freight overhangs the pallet
- Separate handling units differ in size or weight
- The saved product profile describes an older configuration
Keep the source dimensions and weight with the shipping record. If the freight changes before pickup, update the quote and shipping documents rather than carrying forward a stale density or class.
What the class difference means for price
Freight class can affect the rate basis, but class 110 does not produce one universal discount from class 125. The complete quote can also depend on:
- Origin and destination
- Total weight and handling-unit count
- Carrier pricing and minimum-charge provisions
- Discounts and fuel treatment
- Pickup and delivery services
- Other applicable rules or exceptions
Compare complete shipment-specific quotes prepared from the same facts. A lower class number in one offer does not prove that its final total must be lower than another carrier’s offer.
If an invoice differs from the quote, first identify whether class, weight, dimensions, services, or another pricing term changed. Not every adjustment is a reclassification, and not every class correction produces the same fee or review process.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating class 110 and 125 as adjacent bands on the standard full-density scale
- Applying the FCDC minimum-average-density guidelines as universal shipper brackets
- Choosing a class from a generic product example
- Assuming a commodity without an obvious item automatically uses density alone
- Measuring the product instead of the complete packaged handling unit
- Reusing a class after the product, packaging, or NMFC content changes
- Assuming every carrier applies the same pricing and billing-review terms
Prepare the quote inputs
Before comparing freight options, gather:
- Origin and destination ZIP codes
- Number and type of handling units
- Outside packaged dimensions for each unit
- Total packaged weight
- Precise commodity description
- NMFC item and freight class, when verified
- Pickup timing
- Required pickup and delivery services
These details create a consistent basis for classification review and rate comparison.
Compare rates with verified shipment details
Shipocity is backed by a team with more than 40 years of combined logistics experience. Through established industry relationships, the platform helps businesses compare competitive freight rates for their specific shipment.
Once the commodity, packaged dimensions, weight, class, lane, and required services are ready, enter those details to compare the freight options available for the shipment.
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