LTL Freight Classes Get an Overhaul for 2025 – Better Rates or Just More Headaches?

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction

The LTL (less-than-truckload) freight industry just announced it’s updating its classification system starting in 2025. If you’re thinking, “What’s that got to do with me?”—hang tight. These changes will shake up everything from shipping rates to how claims are handled.

Let’s break down what it means, why it’s happening, and how it might help—or hurt—the folks on the front lines of freight.

What’s Changing – The 2025 Freight Class Update

Here’s the big news:

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) is updating the NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification).

New criteria and reorganized classes are coming into effect across many types of goods.

Focus areas: density, handling, stowability, and liability—the core pillars that determine a shipment’s freight class.

Basically, they’re reclassifying the way we rate different goods—from a box of light bulbs to a pallet of tile.

Why It Matters – Follow the Money

The NMFC determines how much a shipper pays, how much a carrier earns, and even what kind of equipment gets used. Changes mean:

Some freight will move up in class (more expensive to ship).

Some freight will move down (potentially cheaper rates).

Disputes might rise—especially early on while shippers, brokers, and carriers adjust to new classifications.

Bottom line: even a small change in freight class can impact profit margins in a big way.

Impact on Drivers – Especially LTL Road Warriors

If you're running LTL, you’ll see it firsthand:

More load confusion – Expect hiccups during pickup and delivery as people get used to the changes.

More claims and paperwork – Wrong classification? You’ll get caught in the middle of a dispute.

Potential delays – Especially if dock workers or dispatch get mismatched freight info.

And for company drivers or O/Os working LTL, remember: time is money. Sorting out freight class confusion wastes both.

Why the Change? – Cleaning Up a Messy System

Freight classification has been outdated for a while. Industry complaints include:

It’s too vague – Items with wildly different shapes and risks sometimes share the same class.

Hard for new shippers to understand – Which means more errors, more reclasses, and more headaches.

It doesn’t keep up with tech – E-commerce and packaging innovations outpaced old classifications.

This update aims to modernize the system and (hopefully) make pricing more accurate and transparent.

Multiple Perspectives – Winners and Whiners

Who Might Win:

Tech-savvy shippers who already use advanced freight rating software.

Carriers who’ve eaten costs from under-classed freight.

Customers shipping dense, easy-to-stack goods—they could get price breaks.

Who Might Lose:

Inexperienced shippers confused by new categories.

Brokers dealing with rate disputes and reclassification claims.

Drivers stuck at the dock when freight’s rejected for wrong class or wrong documentation.

It’s a classic case of "intended improvements" causing temporary chaos.

How to Prepare – Don’t Get Caught Slippin’

If you’re in the LTL space, here’s how to get ready:

Brush up on the new NMFC codes – Learn the key changes in your lane.

Ask your dispatcher or carrier what training or updates they’re providing.

Push for transparency – If a load’s class is off, don’t take the hit quietly.

This ain’t the time to “wait and see.” It’s the time to ask questions, get educated, and stay sharp.

Bottom Line – Upgrade or Upsell?

The LTL class revamp could lead to smoother pricing, fewer disputes, and more fairness across the industry.

But if it’s not implemented carefully, it’ll just add another layer of confusion—and truckers and terminal workers will be the ones paying the price.

So keep your CB on and your eyes open, because 2025’s gonna be bumpy for the LTL game before it smooths out.

Call to Action

Change is coming whether you're ready or not—so why not get ahead of it?

👉 Learn how to make money beyond the dock at TruckersSideHustle.com
👉 Plan your next move at RetireFromTrucking.com
👉 For more trucker insights and industry updates, visit LifeAsATrucker.com

Stay sharp, stay ready, and don’t let no classification rework put your income in park.