A major shift that’s approaching involves changes to freight classifications; with this new implementation, businesses will have to adapt new modernized shipping regulations. While it’s a drastic change, it’s one that comes with an abundance of improvements to make shipping operations easier. 

Taking effect on July 19, 2025, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) will make changes that affect the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), which determines how freight is classified, rated, and billed. 

Impacting carriers, 3PLs, and shippers, the NMFC changes will streamline shipping operations while enhancing efficiency and user experience. By altering the way Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipments are managed, operations will undergo changes to create a more manageable classification system. 

What Are The New Changes? 

With updates to 99 categories of items, the first changes outlined in Docket 2025-1 highlights a transition from commodity-based classifications to one that’s focused on density; reflecting actual shipping characteristics, classifying shipments based on weight and dimensions will eliminate the ambiguity between NMFC and class, making them easier to identify and price. As a result, more than 40% of commodities will have classes determined by this new scale. 

With dimensions being the central change, ShipHawk’s Dimensioner will be key in gathering LTL dimensions, as it’s useful with its ability to streamline how you capture weights and dimensions. It also writes that data back to the ERP where it automatically updates in ShipHawk, ensuring a smooth transition in time for the NMFC changes to take effect. 

Additionally, the changes will also likely affect freight rates, as there will be varying increases or decreases according to each shipment’s density. Because of this, shipping costs will change according to these reclassifications. 

Other key changes include: 

• Standardized density scale, specifically created for LTL freight with no handling, stowability, or liability issues, allowing for a more precise classification of freight. 
• Updated commodity listings, which are condensed and modernized in order to reduce the number of NMFC items; this inherently introduces new freight classifications and modifies existing ones. 
• Unique identifiers for freight with special handling, stowability, and liability needs; this change is meant to improve communication between shippers and carriers, ensuring everyone is aware of various freight characteristics. 
• Improved classification, including the enhanced usability of ClassIT classification tool. 

The new NMFC changes are one of the most significant and comprehensive modifications for the shipping industry. Because of its holistic approach, it’s best that carriers, 3PLS, and shippers review their operations in order to prepare for the updates. 

What You Can Do To Prepare

With the new update, this means that shipping processes will change in order to comply with NMFTA standards. Because the classification process will be simplified, carriers will have to identify freight density themselves. Other important steps to follow include:

• Auditing current classification processes. 
• Training teams on the latest updates. 
• Guiding shippers on correct freight classifications to reduce errors. 

While identifying freight will be easier through the NMFC update, shippers may have to provide handling unit dimensions and weight, which is where the ShipHawk Dimensioner can step in and save you time and money.  

Shippers should evaluate how these NMFC changes might affect transportation spending as well, so it’s best to review one’s budgeting in order to mitigate any adverse effects. Other essential things to consider include:

• Reviewing LTL classifications. 
• Auditing BOLs and TMS data.
• Improving carrier and 3PL communication. 
• Training shipping and logistics teams. 

With shippers relying on 3PLs for additional guidance, it’s important that 3PLs also prepare to optimize their freight classification process. Being in alignment with shippers is necessary so that the transition process is as smooth as possible. Since the new NMFC update includes improvements to class structures and classification criteria, it’s best to educate everyone on the team to ensure accurate quoting as well. Other key things include: 

• Reviewing LTL classifications. 
• Merging NMFC data into TMS systems. 
• Communicating and aligning with carriers and shippers. 

With ShipHawk’s TMS, you have the ability to include product details like dimensions and weights, but you can also specify the NMFC codes for each item; in turn, this determines the code for the overall shipment. With these classification changes approaching, it’s best to expect changes to updating these NMFC codes when setting up these items in ShipHawk’s TMS. 

Steps To Take Now

While ShipHawk already supports the new freight classes, please consider these recommendations to prepare for the July 19th, 2025 deadline:

1. Review your NMFC and Freight classification settings for items and commodities to ensure that they align with the new requirements.  ShipHawk can sync these settings automatically from your ERP or through a manual product update. 
2. If you do not have accurate dimensions of shipments, ShipHawk’s handheld dimensioner can capture dimensions for parcel-sized items up to pallets, and write that data back to your ERP and ShipHawk.
3. Lean into shipment and carrier data and analytics to identify incorrect carrier charges and classifications. ShipHawk recommends ShipHawk Audit to automate the audit and reconciliation process.

The Road Ahead

As this new NMFC standard gets adopted by carriers, shippers might face unexpected freight charges due to misclassifications, miscommunication with carriers, and shipment delays with reclassifications and inspections. The biggest change for shippers is they might need to provide accurate dimensions and weights for pallet shipments, depending on carrier requirements.

Remember: shippers should reach out to carriers about these changes: shippers are responsible for making sure the NMFC codes they use are correct.

While there are anticipated challenges—much like with any kind of change—being prepared and ready for what’s to come will make the transition easier to manage. If you have any questions regarding NMFC updates, the ShipHawk Dimensioner, or the ShipHawk TMS, please feel free to reach out!