An NMFC code lookup means finding the National Motor Freight Classification item number for the goods you are shipping, so an LTL carrier can class and price the shipment correctly. There is no complete free list of NMFC codes. The classification is owned and published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), and the full, current data sits behind its paid tool.
That does not mean you need a subscription to ship. This guide covers what an NMFC number is, five ways to look one up, and how to get the class right when you cannot find a code.
What an NMFC code looks like
An NMFC code has two parts:
The item number. A number of up to six digits that identifies a type of commodity.
The sub. A short suffix that narrows the item down, usually by density, packaging or how the goods are assembled.
On a bill of lading it is written next to the description of the freight, together with the freight class. The item number says what the goods are. The class, from 50 to 500, says how costly they are to carry. Our guide to what NMFC is explains the difference in more detail.
Five ways to look up an NMFC code
Where to look | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
ClassIT+, the NMFTA's official tool | Paid subscription | Shippers and brokers who class freight every day |
Your LTL carrier | Free | A quick answer for a specific shipment |
Your freight broker or 3PL | Free | Shippers without their own subscription |
Your supplier, or past bills of lading | Free | Goods you buy or ship regularly |
The NMFTA's free item lookup tool | Free | Checking whether item numbers you already use changed in 2025 |
1. ClassIT+
ClassIT+ is the NMFTA's online classification tool and the official source. You search by commodity and it returns the item number, the sub, the class and any rules or packaging requirements. It is a paid subscription, so it suits companies that class freight often.
2. Ask the LTL carrier
Carriers have access to the classification and class freight all day. When you request a quote, describe the goods accurately and ask the carrier to confirm the NMFC item number and class. Get the answer in writing, on the quote.
3. Ask your broker or 3PL
A broker that handles LTL will usually look the code up for you. This is the simplest route for a shipper that moves LTL only now and then.
4. Check your supplier and your own paperwork
Manufacturers and distributors often know the NMFC number for their products. If you have shipped the same goods before, the number is on the earlier bill of lading. Check that it is still current before reusing it.
5. The NMFTA's free item lookup tool
In 2025 the NMFTA released a free tool that tells you whether item numbers you already use were changed by that year's update. It checks existing numbers. It does not let you search for a new commodity, so it complements the other methods and does not replace them.
Why there is no free NMFC code list
The classification is copyrighted, and the NMFTA licenses access to it. Lists of NMFC codes found on other websites are unofficial, partial and often out of date. That matters more since July 2025, when a large share of items were changed or consolidated. A code copied from an old list can be wrong today.
Use unofficial lists to get a rough idea of the category, and confirm the number with one of the sources above before it goes on a bill of lading.
Since 2025, density does most of the work
The 2025 update moved most general freight to classification by density. If your goods have no special handling, stowability or liability issues, the class now comes from a standard density scale, whatever the commodity.
For those shipments, accurate measurements matter more than the exact item number:
Measure the longest, widest and tallest points of the shipment as it will ship, including the pallet.
Weigh it, pallet included.
Work out the density in pounds per cubic foot.
Read the class from the density scale.
Our free freight class calculator does the last two steps and shows the full scale.
Commodities with special characteristics, such as hazardous, fragile, very high-value or awkwardly shaped goods, still have their own items and rules. For those, the item number and sub decide the class, and a proper lookup is essential.
How to describe your freight for a lookup
Whoever does the lookup needs the same details:
What it is, in plain terms, and what it is made of.
How it is packed: boxed, crated, palletised, loose.
Whether it is assembled or knocked down.
Dimensions and weight of each handling unit.
Anything unusual: hazardous, fragile, high value, cannot be stacked.
A vague description such as "machine parts" or "household goods" is the most common reason a carrier assigns a different code later.
What happens if the code or class is wrong
LTL carriers inspect freight at their terminals. If the description, weight or dimensions do not match the bill of lading, the carrier corrects them, re-rates the shipment and usually adds an inspection or reclassification fee. For a broker, the extra charge often arrives after the customer has been invoiced and comes out of the margin.
Keep the lookup source, photos of the freight and the measurements with the shipment record. They are what you need to dispute a reclassification. A TMS that stores them with the load makes this routine; see our guide to TMS software for freight brokers.
Does full truckload need an NMFC code?
No. Freight classification is used to price LTL. A full truckload shipment is priced for the truck, so it does not need an item number or class.
See what an AI-native TMS looks like.
Book a demo
