This article walks you through the Commodity tool under the Tools tab. Use this when you need to find the correct NMFC code for a commodity before building an LTL shipment or when a client asks you to confirm what freight class applies to their product.
What NMFC codes are: The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system assigns a standardized code to every type of commodity shipped by truck. LTL carriers use these codes to determine freight class and pricing. Using the right code means accurate rates — using the wrong one can result in a reclassification charge after delivery.
From the top nav, click Tools and select Commodity search.
Type at least 3 characters into the search bar — either the commodity name (e.g., "Furniture", "Electronics") or a known NMFC code.
Results appear automatically as you type. Each result shows:
NMFC code — the numeric code (e.g., 95190)
Description — the full commodity description as defined by the NMFC (e.g., "Binding, carpet, oilcloth or linoleum, metal, in boxes")
Click any result to see full details.
Tips
Search by name first if you don't know the code — use the general commodity category (e.g., "metal", "plastic", "wood") and browse the results to find the closest match
NMFC descriptions are specific — "metal boxes" and "metal in boxes" are different codes. Read the full description carefully before selecting
When in doubt, ask your client for the NMFC code directly — many shippers already know their commodity codes and can confirm the right one