NMFC 196480 - Water, evaporated tank, in drums | Class 60

To find the correct freight class for your shipment:

1. List NMFC 196480 and Class 60 on the BOL, and note “evaporated tank water—non-potable” to avoid food-grade confusion.
2. Use tight-head steel or poly drums with intact bungs and ring clamps; add absorbent pads in a drum overpack if past leaks occurred.
3. Palletize drums 4 per 48x48 or 48x40 pallet, band and stretch-wrap, and orient bungs upward; target 3–4 way fork access for safer LTL handling.
4. Request freeze protection in winter lanes; water-filled 55-gallon drums (~460 lb each) can be damaged by freezing and expansion.

Note: All classifications are subject to Item 170. Verify with official NMFC publications for the most current requirements.

• Reliable rating at Class 60 keeps quotes predictable and helps avoid density audits or mid-transit reclass fees.
• Non-hazardous status eliminates hazmat surcharges and reduces documentation time for faster tender-to-pickup cycles.
• Drum packaging limits spill risk and claim exposure, improving on-time performance and carrier acceptance in mixed LTL networks.
• Standardized drum and pallet footprints enable efficient cube utilization, lowering per-pound cost on multi-drum shipments.