The National Classification Committee (NCC), an autonomous standing committee of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), is holding its quarterly meetings to consider a variety of issues affecting or relating to the provisions of the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), including the reclassifying of several products such as chalkboards, ceiling fans, furnaces and paint.
The NMFC is a pricing tool that provides a comparison of the “transportability” of commodities moving in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce based on an evaluation of four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling and liability. Together, these characteristics establish a commodity’s transportability. The NMFC provides both carriers and shippers with a standard by which to begin pricing negotiations and greatly simplifies the comparative evaluation of the many thousands of products moving in today’s competitive marketplace.
The NMFC also specifies minimum packaging requirements to ensure that goods are protected adequately in the motor carrier environment. It contains various rules that govern and otherwise relate to the classification and/or packaging of commodities, as well as procedures for the filing and disposition of claims. And it contains the Uniform Straight Bill of Lading, including its Terms and Conditions.
The NCC will hold its general meeting on Monday, Nov. 7. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, a panel of the NCC will meet to consider 17 proposed reclassifications and 32 classification review matters. All persons having an interest are welcomed to attend and participate in the meetings. The issues under consideration for classification change or review that have drawn the greatest interest are:
NCC/NMFTA staff professionals provide detailed analyses and reports to aid the panel in its deliberations. These analyses and reports are available to the public. To see the full agenda for the panel meeting, or to access the staff analyses and reports as well as other public information, go to www.nmfta.org, select Public Docket Files and then select Docket 2005-4. To ask questions or make arrangements to attend, please contact the NCC/NMFTA staff at 703-838-1810.
