Classification Details
| NMFC | Description | Class |
|---|---|---|
| 48135.00 | Show more |
Notes
Note 48136: NOTE-Cloth bags used for shipments of pulverized tripoli must be paper lined so as to prevent sifting.
How to Determine Your Class
To find the correct freight class for your shipment:
- Determine cubic density for each handling unit (bag, box, or drum). Example: a 2,200 lb super sack on a 40 x 48 pallet at 27 cu ft = 81.5 pcf.
- Account for moisture: modeling clay and clay slip (≥25% water) alter weight and density. Use lined boxes or tight-head drums to prevent seepage.
- Control sifting on fine powders like tripoli or diatomite with sift-proof bags, inner liners, and stretch wrap; add corner boards to stabilize tall stacks.
- For dense ores (chrome, ilmenite, rutile), use heavy-duty pallets and banding; request forklift-able drums when unit weights exceed 3,000 lb to reduce damage.
Note: All classifications are subject to Item 170. Verify with official NMFC publications for the most current requirements.
Business Value
- Accurate density entry sets the correct freight class, preventing costly reclass fees on heavy, low-value minerals.
- Right packaging choice (drums for wet clays, lined boxes for fines) cuts leakage and sifting claims, improving carrier acceptance and on-time performance.
- One NMFC for many minerals streamlines quotes and paperwork across bags, boxes, and drums, speeding tender-to-pickup cycles.
- Optimized pack-outs raise handling-unit density for light minerals (perlite, vermiculite), often lowering class and reducing LTL spend.