A mixed pallet may hold five different products, but that does not automatically mean five different freight classes apply. Classification does not start with the pallet as a whole. It starts with the individual articles and the NMFC provisions that apply to each one.
Under NMFC Docket 2026-2, proposed Item 640 sets out different paths for determining freight class for mixed pallets, depending on whether one class applies, two or more classes apply, or an exception makes the highest-classed article applicable.
Your first step is finding out which of those paths applies to your pallet.
What makes a mixed pallet a mixed-class shipment?
A mixed pallet becomes a mixed-class shipment when the articles on it are subject to two or more freight classes.
Having different products or SKUs on the same pallet does not automatically mean different freight classes apply. Two products may still have the same freight class, while another pallet may contain articles that fall under two or more freight classes.
That difference is important when determining freight class for mixed pallets because proposed Item 640 follows different paths depending on whether one class applies or more than one class is involved.
Once you know what is on the pallet, the next step is to check the classification of each article and work out which path applies.
How do you determine freight class for mixed pallets under proposed Item 640?
To determine freight class for a mixed pallet under proposed Item 640, first check the NMFC class for each article on the pallet. That tells you whether the pallet stays under one class or needs the mixed-class rules.
Step 1: Identify the NMFC classification of each article
Start with what is actually on the pallet.
Look at each article and check:
- What the article is
- Which NMFC item or provision applies
- Its freight class
- Whether something other than density affects its class
Say your pallet holds three different products. Check the NMFC classification for all three first. You may find that they share the same class, or that more than one class applies.
That answer takes you to the next step.
Step 2: Check whether all articles are subject to one class
If every article falls under the same freight class, that class applies to the shipment.
So a pallet does not become mixed-class just because it holds several different products. When determining freight class for mixed pallets, the freight classes of those individual products are what you need to compare.
If they all share one class, follow that class. If they do not, move on to the mixed-class rules.
Step 3: If two or more classes apply, check which classification path applies
When the shipment contains articles subject to two or more classes, proposed Section 2 requires each article to be specified separately on the bill of lading.
From there, the handling unit generally follows the NMFC 13-subprovision density scale. Before following that path, check whether the Section 3 exception applies.
That exception changes how the handling unit is classified.
Step 4: Check whether the highest-classed-article rule applies
Proposed Section 3 covers certain unitized handling units where an article is classified using a factor other than the standard density-based path.
If one of those Section 3 conditions applies, the handling unit takes the class of the highest-classed article in or on the unit.
The classification paths can be summarized like this:
| Mixed pallet situation | Classification path |
|---|---|
|
All articles are subject to one class |
Use the applicable class |
|
Articles are subject to two or more classes and Section 3 does not apply |
Follow the 13-subprovision density classification path |
|
A Section 3 condition applies |
Use the class of the highest-classed article |
The Section 3 exception needs a closer look because it changes which freight class applies to the whole handling unit.
When does the highest-classed article determine the mixed pallet class?
The highest-classed article determines the mixed pallet class when the proposed Item 640 Section 3 exception applies.
This comes into play when at least one article on the handling unit has a classification condition that does not follow the normal density-based path. That includes an article that:
- Bears the HS&L symbol
- Bears the Bomburst symbol
- Has classes based on packaging
- Has classes based on greatest dimension
- Has classes based on another factor besides density
If one of these conditions applies, the whole handling unit takes the class of the highest-classed article in or on that unit.
Proposed Section 3 also states that all parties must be notified when this rule and section are used.
So when determining freight class for mixed pallets, do not stop after checking how many freight classes are involved.
You also need to see whether any article has one of these special classification conditions, because that changes how the entire pallet is classified.