Carriers classify and bill every LTL shipment by its NMFC code and freight class. Entering these accurately at booking is the single best way to avoid a carrier reclassification and a costly rebill. This article answers the most common questions about NMFC codes, mixed pallets, and how Mothership helps you classify freight correctly.
Why are NMFC codes now required?
Carriers now require a valid NMFC code on every Bill of Lading. Providing the correct code helps you avoid carrier reclassification and costly rebills, protecting you from potential extra fees on a shipment. A missing or incorrect NMFC is one of the most common reasons a carrier re-rates freight after pickup.
How do I handle a shipment with multiple commodities on one pallet?
You can itemize each commodity separately within the booking flow. On a cargo item, click "Add another commodity to this pallet" to add each commodity as its own line item. This gives every commodity on the Bill of Lading its own NMFC code, which protects you from being reclassified to the single highest-cost commodity on the pallet.
What if I don't know my NMFC code?
Our auto-suggest tool does the work for you. Type your freight description into the NMFC field and the system surfaces matching codes, classes, and handling flags in real time — so you can classify accurately at booking without looking codes up manually.
How is freight class calculated for mixed pallets?
For quoting, the system uses the highest freight class among all commodities on the pallet. The Bill of Lading then lists the individual NMFC codes and classes for each item, ensuring proper itemization on the shipping documents.
Will this slow down my booking?
No. The auto-suggest and auto-split features are designed to be faster than manual NMFC research — making accurate classification the path of least resistance.
💡 Tip: Accurate NMFC codes, freight class, dimensions, and descriptions are the best protection against reclassification rebills. Enter each commodity as it actually ships, and let the auto-suggest tool confirm the code.