Freight Class 200 typically includes items such as:
- Appliances
- Building materials
- Chemicals
- Furniture
- Machinery
- Paper products
- Plastics
- Textiles
The density of freight is measured in pounds per cubic foot (lbs/cu ft). The higher the density, the lower the freight class. For example, a shipment of bricks would have a high density and would be classified as Class 200, while a shipment of feathers would have a low density and would be classified as Class 400.
The handling characteristics of freight are also taken into consideration when determining the freight class. Items that are difficult to handle, such as fragile or hazardous materials, will be classified in a higher freight class than items that are easy to handle.
Freight class is just one of the factors that shipping companies use to determine the rate for transporting freight. Other factors include the distance the freight is being shipped, the weight of the freight, and the type of transportation being used.
