Commodity guide · food

Freight class for food

Canned and dense packaged food typically rates class 55 - 65 (22.5 - 50 pcf); lighter boxed dry goods rate class 70 - 85.

Why food rates where it does

Non-perishable food is heavy for its cube: canned goods on tight pallets can exceed 35 pcf (class 55), bottled and jarred product commonly lands at 22.5 - 30 pcf (class 65), and boxed dry goods like cereal or snacks run lighter at 10 - 20 pcf.

Worked example. A pallet of canned goods: 48 × 40 × 50 in, 2100 lb. That is 55.6 cu ft and 2100 lb → 37.80 pcf → class 55. Run your own numbers →

Relevant class pages: class 55 · class 65 · class 70.

What moves the number

Class is only half the story for food freight - most of it also needs food-grade trailers and may need protection from freeze or heat, which are accessorial questions, not classification ones. Density still sets the base rate.

Measure, don't assume. Since NMFC Docket 2025-1 (July 2025) most commodities class by measured density on a 13-band scale. The ranges above are typical, not guaranteed — your packaging decides your density. Calculate your actual class →

Related: the full class chart · density calculator · how NMFC codes work.