There’s a lot of grey area in logistics, but NMFC Item 170 isn’t one of them.
If you’ve ever slapped an NMFC number on a BOL thinking “eh, that’s close enough,” buckle up — because Item 170 is where that guesswork turns into real charges, reclasses, and a round of headaches you didn’t order.
So, What Is NMFC Item 170?
Item 170 is a rule that says if you list an NMFC number on your freight without identifying the exact sub-item, then the carrier gets to choose the classification.
Spoiler alert: they’re not picking the one that saves you money.
They’ll select the most disadvantageous classification — translation: the one with the highest freight class and price tag — and guess what? They’re allowed to. Item 170 gives them that right. And if you didn’t specify sub 1, sub 2, or whatever sub your product actually is? That’s on you.
Let’s Put It in Human Terms:
Imagine going to a car dealership and saying, “I want a Toyota.”
That’s it. No model, no trim, no color. Just “Toyota.”
Now the dealer walks you out to a bright orange Prius with leopard seat covers and a 72-month loan at 12% APR.
Technically? Still a Toyota.
Same energy here. When you give a generic NMFC number without full detail, you’re letting someone else — someone who gets paid more when your cost goes up — make that choice for you.
Why Does This Happen?
Because a lot of NMFC numbers are parent items. They contain multiple sub-items, and those sub-items might vary drastically in terms of density, packaging, or application. And surprise — each one has a different class.
One sub-item might be Class 70. Another could be 150. Guess which one your carrier picks when you’re vague?
How to Stay Out of Trouble
Here’s the good news: Item 170 problems are 100% avoidable if you slow down and document your freight the right way. Here’s how:
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✅ Always include the full NMFC number with sub-item
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✅ Verify the correct class based on packaging and density
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✅ Don’t rely on old BOL templates — audit them
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✅ Call us if you’re unsure — seriously, we deal with this every day
And if your team is shipping online through a TMS — we can train them to use the commodity book correctly. It’s not rocket science, but it does take 10 minutes of brainpower (and we know sometimes that’s a lot to ask on a Monday).
Final Thought
Item 170 isn’t evil — it’s just unforgiving. But if you’re proactive and precise, it won’t be a problem. If you’re not? Well… enjoy your surprise invoice and the awkward phone call that follows.
We’re helping customers get ahead of this now, especially with the NMFC changes dropping July 19. If you want help vetting your commodity book or training your team, hit us up. We’ve got your back.