Automotive parts freight class is one area covered in NMFC Docket 2026-2. Subject 23, officially titled Vehicle Parts, proposes moving a group of existing vehicle-part provisions under Item 193100, where density becomes the main basis for classification. The proposal also covers more than passenger-car parts, with several other vehicle-related articles included.
For shippers, the main question is whether a product they currently classify under a specific NMFC provision is included in this proposed move to Item 193100.
What automotive parts freight class changes does NMFC Docket 2026-2 propose?
Subject 23 proposes moving 18 existing vehicle-parts items into Item 193100. Right now, these parts sit under separate NMFC provisions. Under the proposal, they would instead be classified under Item 193100, where density becomes the main basis for freight class.
The proposal also changes the name of Item 190500 from “Vehicle Parts” to “Vehicle Parts Group.” It also updates the notes associated with these classifications (extra NMFC instructions or conditions attached to an item): one existing note is moved under Item 193100, seven notes that no longer apply are removed, and two new notes are added to clarify packaging requirements.
For now, all of these changes are still proposals under NMFC Docket 2026-2. They are not final NMFC rules yet.
Which vehicle parts provisions are proposed to move to Item 193100?
Subject 23 identifies 18 existing NMFC items for this proposed change. Their current classifications vary. Some use a single freight class, while others depend on how the product is packed, whether it ships assembled or taken apart, whether pieces fit inside one another to save space, or how tall the package is.
Under the proposal, all 18 individual items would be canceled and the articles would instead fall under Item 193100.
| NMFC item | What the item covers |
|---|---|
|
190580 |
Axle or spring clips, couplings, or staples |
|
190600 |
Axles |
|
190760 |
Bicycle, motorcycle, or tricycle provisions |
|
190820 |
Metal frames |
|
191160 |
Plastic amusement-car bodies |
|
191170 |
Vehicle body provisions |
|
191190 |
Baby carriage or go-cart bodies |
|
191230 |
Dump wagons |
|
191250 |
Farm wagons |
|
191290 |
Steel dumping tractors |
|
191680 |
Passenger bus, truck, or trailer doors |
|
191740 |
Golf-cart frames |
|
191760 |
Platform or warehouse truck or tractor frames |
|
191790 |
Freight automobile bodies with conveyor bottoms and sand, lime, or gravel spreaders |
|
192100 |
Fabric-reinforced rubber insulators, shields, deflectors, or straps |
|
192220 |
Tank truck or tank trailer manholes |
|
192250 |
Motorcycle or motor-scooter sidecar bodies |
|
192400 |
Removable nose-truck platforms |
Here, “canceled” refers to the individual NMFC provisions, not the products themselves. The products would still be covered under the NMFC through Item 193100 if the proposal is approved.
How does Item 193100 determine freight class for these vehicle parts?
Once these vehicle parts move under Item 193100, their freight class is based on density instead of the separate classification rules they use now.
Density is simply the shipment’s weight divided by the space it occupies, calculated in pounds per cubic foot.
That density is matched to the NMFC 13-tier density scale. The scale ranges from Class 400 for freight below 1 pound per cubic foot to Class 50 for freight at 50 pounds per cubic foot or more.
So, under the proposal, the exact freight class depends on where each shipment’s density falls on that scale. Item 193100 also remains subject to Item 170, which explains how the freight is rated if the required density information is missing when the shipment is accepted.
Why is NMFTA proposing density-based classification for these vehicle parts?
Right now, the NMFC lists many of these vehicle parts under separate provisions. NMFTA says this makes some of them harder to interpret, apply, or verify.
NMFTA also found no reports of unusual or significant issues with how these parts are handled, stored with other freight, or exposed to loss or damage during transport.
Because those factors do not require separate classification treatment, NMFTA identified density as the main transportation characteristic for this group.
That is why Subject 23 proposes moving these parts into the density-based classification structure under Item 193100.
What packaging requirements are proposed for vehicle parts shipped on pallets or skids?
Along with moving these vehicle parts under Item 193100, Subject 23 also proposes new packaging requirements for parts shipped on lift-truck skids, pallets, or platforms.
Under the proposal, the parts must be securely fastened to the pallet, skid, or platform and must not extend beyond its edges. Any exposed surfaces and edges also need suitable protection to handle the normal conditions of LTL transportation.
A second new note states that Item 193100 also applies when the package includes equipment needed to install the vehicle part.
What should vehicle parts shippers review before these proposals are finalized?
Start by checking the NMFC items you currently use for vehicle parts and compare them with the 18 items listed in Subject 23. If one of your items is included, review how its classification is proposed to change under Item 193100 and the density scale.
If you ship parts on pallets or skids, also review the proposed packaging requirements for fastening, overhang, and protection of exposed surfaces and edges.
For now, these changes remain proposals. The October 9, 2026 Disposition Bulletin will show which of these proposed changes move forward.